Cricket SA pays tribute to Zimbabwe’s Jackie du Preez

Cricket SA (CSA) paid tribute to Jackie du Preez who died in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday.

Du Preez, 77, had been suffering from a heart condition.

Du Preez was one of the many Zimbabweans to play for South Africa under the banner of the SA Cricket Association in his country’s pre-independence days.

Part of a rare breed of leg-spinners in South African domestic cricket in the 1960s, he was also a good enough batsman to be regarded as a genuine all-rounder. He represented South Africa in the final two Test matches against Australia in the 1966-67 season.

In a first-class career that lasted nearly 20 years, he made more than 4 000 first-class runs, including a century, and took 296 wickets, including 11 ‘fifers’. He also took 80 catches.

In later years he served as a national selector of Zimbabwe Cricket.

“On behalf of the CSA Family I extend our deepest condolences his family, friends and cricketing colleagues,” said CSA acting chief executive Jacques Faul.

In partnership with ANA and Sports Leo