Ross Dykes

{{Short description|New Zealand cricketer (1945–2020)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Ross Dykes

| country = New Zealand

| fullname = Ross Alexander Dykes

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1945|2|26|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|11|30|1945|2|26|df=y}}

| death_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling =

| role = Wicketkeeper-batsman

| family =

| club1 = Auckland

| year1 = {{nowrap|1967/68–1976/–77}}

| columns = 2

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 31

| runs1 = 723

| bat avg1 = 20.08

| 100s/50s1 = 0/2

| top score1 = 82

| hidedeliveries = true

| catches/stumpings1 = 57/24

| column2 = List A

| matches2 = 8

| runs2 = 74

| bat avg2 = 14.80

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 38

| catches/stumpings2 = 8/3

| date = 14 November

| year = 2018

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36945.html Cricinfo

}}

Ross Alexander Dykes (26 February 1945 – 30 November 2020) was a New Zealand cricketer who played 31 first-class matches for Auckland in the Plunket Shield between 1967 and 1977. A wicketkeeper and left-handed batsman, he made 81 dismissals and scored 723 runs.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/21/21827/21827.html |title=Player Profile: Ross Dykes |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=10 March 2010}}

Dykes continued to serve cricket, becoming a New Zealand selector for 13 years,{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/story/209681.html | title=Dykes resigns as New Zealand selector | work=ESPN Cricinfo | date=20 May 2005 | accessdate=10 December 2015}} then chief executive of the Otago Cricket Association for 10 years, retiring in 2015. A major achievement of his tenure was the development of University Oval in Dunedin as New Zealand's seventh Test ground.{{cite web | url=http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/cricket/319762/cricket-dykes-safe-pair-hands | title=Cricket: Dykes: a safe pair of hands | work=Otago Daily Times| author =Seconi, Adrian | date=15 October 2014 | accessdate=10 December 2015}}

Dykes died in Auckland on 30 November 2020, aged 75.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzc.nz/news-items/ross-dykes-passes-away-aged-75 |title=Ross Dykes passes away: aged 75 |date=30 November 2020 |publisher=New Zealand Cricket |access-date=1 December 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/123556788/one-of-nz-crickets-great-men-tributes-flow-after-death-of-ross-dykes |title='One of NZ Cricket's great men': Tributes flow after death of Ross Dykes |date=30 November 2020 |work=Stuff.co.nz |access-date=1 December 2020}}