Catching up with... cricketer John Ward | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Timaru's John Ward may not have been the most elegant batsman to grace the Canterbury and New Zealand cricket sides, but his commitment to the team could never be questioned.

On the 1965 tour to India, Pakistan and England, Ward played through two tests with a broken finger, despite the pain. "It was hard work but it had to be done," Ward said.

Broken fingers were to hinder him throughout his career, preventing him from playing more than eight tests. On the 1961 tour to South Africa he broke a finger in a provincial game against Natal, finishing his tour early.

"It was a bit of a disappointment but you have to take the good with the bad," Ward said.

Ward played his club cricket in Timaru, originally as a spin bowler, but when his club side was short of a keeper he drew the short straw.

He made his debut for Canterbury in the 1959-60 season, playing 95 first class matches, taking 227 catches behind the wicket and 27 stumpings. He scored a total of 1117 runs at an average of 12.41 with a highest score of 54 not out.

He retired from first class cricket at the end of the 1970-71 season.

For New Zealand Ward scored a total of 75 runs with a highest score of 35 not out and an average of 12.50. He took 16 catches and one stumping.

The highlights of his career were the three tours to England, South Africa and India-Pakistan-England.

Each was six months long and Ward said by the time the tours finished players were looking forward to getting home.

"Coming from a minor association to play for Canterbury and playing with guys like Brian Hastings and Dick Motz was great," Ward said.

He said wicketkeepers needed to be able to bat in the modern game, particularly one-day cricket, and said the equipment used was far superior to what he was given.

Today Ward, 67, enjoys hitting a ball of a different sort.

He is a member of both the Highfield and Twizel golf clubs, playing off a 19 handicap. Although retired, Ward is kept busy helping his sons with their business and farms, and looking after his six grandchildren.