Len Maddocks, Australian cricketer, Died at 90

  Sports

Leonard Victor “Len” Maddocks was born on May 24, 1926, in Beaconsfield, Victoria and died on September 1, 2016.

He was an Australian cricketer and cricket administrator.

Len played in seven Tests from 1954 to 1956.

Maddocks played first-class cricket for Victoria and Tasmania and was trapped lbw by Jim Laker, as the last dismissal of ten in an innings by the latter, at Old Trafford in 1956.

He was a wicket-keeper.

Len vied with Gil Langley for the position of Australian gloveman, replacing him when Langley was injured, although pressure from Langley, Don Tallon and Wally Grout, some of Australia’s finest glovemen, meant he only played 7 tests.

Len’s career as a cricket administrator was marred by the 3-0 loss in the 1977 Ashes tour, and the World Series Cricket split during his managerial reign of the Australian cricket team.

His brother, Richard and son, Ian, both played first-class cricket for Victoria.

Following the death of Arthur Morris on August 22, 2015, he became the oldest surviving Australian Test cricketer.

After Harold Stapleton’s death the following month, he also became the oldest living Australian first-class cricketer.

Len Maddocks passed away at 90 years old.