Jump to content

Stephen Lester

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Stephen Lester
Personal information
Full name
Stephen Garland Lester
Born(1906-03-18)18 March 1906
Amberley, North Canterbury, New Zealand
Died24 October 1971(1971-10-24) (aged 65)
Christchurch, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1929/30–1935/36Canterbury
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 16
Runs scored 595
Batting average 22.88
100s/50s 0/2
Top score 64
Balls bowled 1,893
Wickets 26
Bowling average 34.61
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/21
Catches/stumpings 8/0
Source: Cricinfo, 12 July 2019

Stephen Garland Lester (18 March 1906 – 24 October 1971) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Canterbury from 1929 to 1936.

Career

A right-handed middle-order batsman and medium-pace bowler, Lester was a regular member of the Canterbury team in the early 1930s. His highest score came in his second match, when he scored 12 and 64 and took 2 for 45 and 3 for 56 against Wellington in the Plunket Shield.[1] His best bowling figures came a year later against Auckland, when in Canterbury's four-wicket victory he took 4 for 21 and 2 for 73 and made 35.[2] When there was speculation about the possible addition of a 15th player to the New Zealand team to tour England in 1931, Lester was one of the players in contention; however, only 14 toured.[3] A year later he was twelfth man for New Zealand in the First Test against South Africa in 1931-32, played in Christchurch.[4]

During the Second World War Lester served in New Zealand in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, first as a flying officer, then as a squadron leader and commanding officer of the Christchurch Wing.[5][6] He was a member of the New Zealand Cricket Council.[7]

The Stephen Lester Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the bowler taking the most wickets in the Christchurch men's premiership competition.[8]

Personal life

Lester worked as a stock and station agent.[9] In March 1932 he married Eleanor West-Watson, whose father was the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch.[10] They had two sons and a daughter.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Wellington v Canterbury 1929-30". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Canterbury v Auckland 1930-31". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Cricket team's tour". New Zealand Herald: 13. 14 March 1931.
  4. ^ R.T. Brittenden, New Zealand Cricketers, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1961, opp. p. 164.
  5. ^ "Cricket: NZ Council's annual meeting". Press: 3. 17 November 1942.
  6. ^ "Public Notices". Press: 15. 9 May 1945.
  7. ^ "Cricket and the War". Evening Star: 4. 22 November 1940.
  8. ^ "CMCA awards evening". Christchurch Metro Cricket. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  9. ^ a b "John Lester". Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  10. ^ "[untitled photograph and caption]". Press: 2. 30 March 1932.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stephen_Lester&oldid=1236086366"