John Waite (cricketer)

{{Short description|South African cricketer (1930–2011)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{EngvarB|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = John Waite

| image = File:South African team in ANZ 1952-53.jpg

| caption = The South African touring team in 1952–53.
Waite is seated at left.

| fullname = John Henry Bickford Waite

| birth_date = {{birth-date|19 January 1930}}

| birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa

| death_date = {{death-date and age|22 June 2011|19 January 1930}}

| death_place =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling =

| role = Wicketkeeper-batsman

| columns = 2

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 50

| runs1 = 2405

| bat avg1 = 30.44

| 100s/50s1 = 4/16

| top score1 = 134

| deliveries1 = –

| wickets1 = –

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 124/17

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 199

| runs2 = 9812

| bat avg2 = 35.04

| 100s/50s2 = 23/45

| top score2 = 219

| deliveries2 = 20

| wickets2 = 0

| bowl avg2 = –

| fivefor2 = –

| tenfor2 = –

| best bowling2 = –

| catches/stumpings2 = 427/84

| international = true

| country = South Africa

| testdebutagainst = England

| testdebutdate = 7 June

| testdebutyear = 1951

| lasttestdate = 12 February

| lasttestagainst = England

| lasttestyear = 1965

| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/47857.html Cricinfo

| date = 3 December

| year = 2020

}}

John Henry Bickford Waite (19 January 1930 – 22 June 2011){{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/520390.html |title=John Waite dies at 81 |accessdate=22 June 2011 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}} was a South African cricketer who played in fifty Tests from 1951 to 1965.

He was born in Johannesburg, Transvaal, and educated at Hilton College and Rhodes University.{{cite web |title=John Waite |website=The Daily Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419050302/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8597459/John-Waite.html |archive-date=2019-04-19 |url-status=live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8597459/John-Waite.html}} A right-handed batsman and wicket keeper, he was the first South African to play 50 Tests for his country{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/149639.html |title=An Invincible arrives |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |accessdate=22 January 2019}} and is generally acknowledged to be one of South Africa's finest wicket keepers.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8597459/John-Waite.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=John Waite | date=24 June 2011}} His total of 141 dismissals in Test matches stood as a record for his country until it was overtaken by Dave Richardson. In 1953–54 he set a new Test best of 23 dismissals in a single series, against New Zealand and broke his own record in 1961–62, with 26, also against New Zealand. He was also a solid batsman, scoring 76 on debut against England at Trent Bridge, and averaging over 30 in Tests with four Test centuries.

In addition to his Test career, he played first class cricket for Eastern Province and Transvaal, making his debut in 1948 and retiring in 1966. His highest first-class score was 219 for Eastern Province against Griqualand West.