Robert Armitage (cricketer)

{{short description|South African cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name =

| image =

| country = South Africa

| fullname = Robert Lawrence Sugden Armitage

| birth_date = 9 July 1955

| birth_place = Grahamstown,
Cape Province, South Africa

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2000|12|9|1955|7|9}}

| death_place = Grahamstown,
Eastern Cape, South Africa

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| nickname =

| family =

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm off break

| role =

| club1 = Eastern Province

| year1 = 1973/74–1987/88

| club2 = Northern Transvaal

| year2 = 1976/77–1977/78

| club3 = Eastern Province B

| year3 = 1979/80–1987/88

| club4 = Cambridgeshire

| year4 = 1980

| columns = 2

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 109

| runs1 = 3,923

| bat avg1 = 23.21

| 100s/50s1 = 4/15

| top score1 = 171*

| deliveries1 = 14,749

| wickets1 = 205

| bowl avg1 = 31.65

| fivefor1 = 7

| tenfor1 = 1

| best bowling1 = 7/97

| catches/stumpings1 = 47/–

| column2 = List A

| matches2 = 55

| runs2 = 969

| bat avg2 = 25.50

| 100s/50s2 = –/5

| top score2 = 73

| deliveries2 = 1,466

| wickets2 = 35

| bowl avg2 = 27.20

| fivefor2 = –

| tenfor2 = –

| best bowling2 = 4/18

| catches/stumpings2 = 15/–

| date = 21 July

| year = 2019

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/43967.html Cricinfo

}}

Robert Lawrence Sugden Armitage (9 July 1955 – 9 December 2000) was a South African first-class cricketer.

Armitage was born in Grahamstown in July 1955 and later studied at Rhodes University.{{cite news|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sport/cricket/farewell-rob-armitage-491347 |title=Farewell Rob Armitage |date=2000-12-16 |work=Independent Online |accessdate=2019-07-22}} He made his debut in first-class cricket for Eastern Province against Transvaal at The Wanderers in the 1973–74 Currie Cup. He made 109 appearances in first-class cricket until 1987–88 Castle Bowl, making ninety appearances for Eastern Province, nine appearances for Eastern Province B, six appearances for Northern Transvaal, and four appearances for South African Universities.{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/12/12895/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Robert Armitage |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}} Playing as an all-rounder, he scored 3,923 runs in first-class cricket, 3,376 of which came for Eastern Province at an average of 24.11 and a high score of 171 not out.{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/12/12895/f_Batting_by_Team.html |title=First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Robert Armitage |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}} Making four centuries and thirteen half centuries, his highest first-class score came against Northern Transvaal in the 1981–82 season.{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/42/42043.html |title=Northern Transvaal v Eastern Province, SAB Currie Cup 1981/82 |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}} With his right-arm off break bowling, he took 205 wickets, 143 of which came for Eastern Province at a bowling average of 35.84 and best figures of 7 for 97.{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/12/12895/f_Bowling_by_Team.html |title=First-class Bowling For Each Team by Robert Armitage |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}} He took seven five wicket hauls, with his best figures coming against Transvaal in the 1975–76 season.{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/35/35928.html |title=Eastern Province v Transvaal, SAB Currie Cup 1975/76 (Section A) |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}}

He made his debut in List A one-day cricket for Eastern Province against Border in the 1974–75 Gillette Cup. He played List A cricket until November 1987, making 55 appearances. These included 51 matches for Eastern Province, in addition to one match for Northern Transvaal and three matches for South Africa,{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/12/12895/List_A_Matches.html |title=List A Matches played by Robert Armitage |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}} at a time when South Africa was suspended from international cricket as a result of apartheid. He scored 969 runs at an average of 25.50 in his 55 List A matches, with a high score of 73. With the ball, he took 35 wickets at an average of 27.20, with best figures of 4 for 18. He was a South African cricketer of the year in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/12/12895/12895.html |title=Player profile: Robert Armitage |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}}

In addition to playing first-class and List A cricket, he also played minor counties cricket in England for Cambridgeshire in 1980, making eight appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/12/12895/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html |title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Robert Armitage |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=2019-07-22 |url-access=subscription}} He died in Grahamstown in December 2000, following a long struggle with cancer.