Denis Aberhart
{{short description|New Zealand cricketer and school teacher}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Denis Aberhart
| image =
| caption =
| country = New Zealand
| fullname = Denis Charles Aberhart
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|3|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Motueka, Tasman, New Zealand
| death_date =
| death_place =
| family = Wayne Aberhart (brother)
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium
| club1 = Central Districts
| year1 = {{nowrap|1976/77–1982/83}}
| club2 = Canterbury
| year2 = 1983/84
| columns = 2
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 38
| runs1 = 597
| bat avg1 = 13.65
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 40*
| deliveries1 = 6,094
| wickets1 = 101
| bowl avg1 = 23.16
| fivefor1 = 5
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 6/55
| catches/stumpings1= 24/–
| column2 = List A
| matches2 = 17
| runs2 = 82
| bat avg2 = 8.20
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 15*
| deliveries2 = 848
| wickets2 = 20
| bowl avg2 = 29.05
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 4/32
| catches/stumpings2= 4/–
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/denis-aberhart-36207 Cricinfo
| date = 23 November
| year = 2021
}}
Denis Charles Aberhart (born 23 March 1953) is a New Zealand former first-class cricketer who played for Canterbury and Central Districts between 1976/77 and 1983/84. He was a school teacher who served as principal of several schools in Christchurch.
Life and career
Aberhart was a right-arm medium-pace bowler and useful lower-order batsman. His best first-class figures were 6 for 55 for Central Districts against Auckland in 1982–83. Auckland, chasing 284 to win, were 269 for 6 before Aberhart took the last four wickets to give Central Districts victory by eight runs.{{cite web |title=Central Districts v Auckland 1982–83 |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1982-83/NZ_LOCAL/SHLTR/CD_AUCK_SHLTR_06-08JAN1983.html |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=24 November 2021}} In December 1981 he won the player of the match award when he took 4 for 32 against Auckland when Central Districts won by three wickets.{{cite web |title=Auckland v Central Districts 1981–82 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/41/41894.html |publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=24 November 2021}} He also played for Marlborough in the Hawke Cup. Captaining Marlborough in a Hawke Cup elimination match in 1979–80 against Buller, he took 5 for 11 and 7 for 21 (match figures of 37.2–22–32–12).{{cite web |title=Marlborough v Buller 1979–80 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/127/127930.html|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=24 November 2021}}
Aberhart became coach of Canterbury during the 1990s before serving as full-time coach of New Zealand between 2001 and 2004. He was a director of Canterbury Cricket for eleven years, and is a board member of the Marlborough Cricket Association.{{cite web |title=Board and Staff |url=https://marlboroughcricket.co.nz/board-and-staff/ |website=Marlborough Cricket Association |access-date=22 November 2021}}
Aberhart was a school teacher for nearly 50 years. He was Principal of St Paul's School in the Christchurch suburb of Dallington, then of Our Lady of Fatima School in another suburb, Mairehau, and was finally Principal of Our Lady of Victories School in Upper Riccarton, Christchurch, between 2015 and his retirement in July 2021.{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Fiona |title=Pulling up stumps: Former Black Caps coach retires as Chch school principal |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/pulling-stumps-former-black-caps-coach-retires-chch-school-principal |access-date=23 November 2021 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=2 July 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=36207}}
{{New Zealand Squad 2003 Cricket World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aberhart, Denis}}
Category:Canterbury cricketers
Category:Central Districts cricketers
Category:Cricketers from Motueka
Category:Heads of schools in New Zealand
Category:New Zealand cricket administrators
Category:New Zealand cricket coaches