Vivian Neser

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Vivian Neser

| image =

| country = South Africa

| fullname = Vivian Herbert Neser

| nickname = Boet, Knoppie

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1894|6|16|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Klerksdorp, South African Republic

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1956|12|22|1894|6|16|df=yes}}

| death_place = Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa

| family =

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling =

| role = Wicketkeeper-batsman

| club1 = Oxford University

| year1 = 1919 to 1921

| club2 = Transvaal

| year2 = 1921–22 to 1924–25

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 18

| runs1 = 743

| bat avg1 = 27.51

| 100s/50s1 = 0/7

| top score1 = 90

| hidedeliveries = true

| wickets1 = –

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 28/15

| date = 7 July 2017

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/46572.html Cricinfo

}}

Vivian Herbert "Boet" Neser MC (16 June 1894 – 22 December 1956) was a South African cricketer and lawyer who became a judge.

Life and career

Neser was educated at Potchefstroom High School for Boys and South African College, Cape Town."Obituary: V. H. Neser", The Cricketer, Spring Annual 1957, p. 91.Wisden 1957, p. 947. He served as an officer with the Royal Field Artillery in World War I and was awarded the Military Cross.{{cite web|title=History of the Pretoria Harlequin Club|url=http://www.quins.co.za/union/history.html|website=Harlequins Rugby Club|access-date=6 August 2017}} After the war he went to Brasenose College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. He was awarded a Blue in cricket and Rugby. His highest score for Oxford University was 72 when the university beat Sussex in 1921.{{cite web|title=Sussex v Oxford University 1921|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10146.html|website=CricketArchive|access-date=4 September 2017}} He graduated with a BA (Hons.) and BCL.

Neser returned to South Africa in 1921 to practise law in Pretoria. He also played cricket as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Transvaal, scoring 90 in his first match, a victory over Natal in the Currie Cup in 1921–22.{{cite web|title=Transvaal v Natal 1921–22|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10338.html|website=CricketArchive|access-date=4 September 2017}} He captained the South African team in all five matches against S. B. Joel's XI in 1924–25,{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/3/SB_Joels_XI_in_South_Africa_1924-25.html| title = S. B. Joel's XI in South Africa in 1924–25|publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 8 July 2017}} then retired from first-class cricket. The series was tied 2–2, with one match drawn. In the first match, Neser made 80, the highest score of the match, in South Africa's first innings, and led his team to victory.{{cite web|title=South Africa v SB Joel's XI 1924–25 (1st match)|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/11/11390.html|website=CricketArchive|access-date=9 July 2017}} South Africa were also successful in the final match, which was Neser's last first-class match.{{cite web|title=South Africa v SB Joel's XI 1924–25 (5th match)|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/11/11421.html|website=CricketArchive|access-date=9 July 2017}}

Neser refereed nine Rugby internationals in South Africa in the 1920s and 1930s, including all four matches between the Springboks and the All Blacks in 1928.Wim van der Berg, The Extraordinary Book of South African Rugby, Penguin, London, 2012. He wrote a book on refereeing, Refereeing and Comments on the Laws of Rugby, in 1933.{{cite web |title=Refereeing and comments on the laws of rugby |url=https://nlsa.on.worldcat.org/search/detail/819353817 |website=NLSA |access-date=4 December 2023}} He served as president of the Harlequins Rugby Club in Pretoria.{{cite web|title=Harlequins honoured former club presidents|url=http://rekordeast.co.za/135201/harlequins-honoured-former-club-presidents/|website=Pretoria East Rekord|date=5 June 2017 |access-date=6 August 2017}}

Neser became an acting judge of the Transvaal Provincial Division of the South African Supreme Court, and was raised permanently to the Bench in 1944.

References

External links

{{cricinfo|id=46572}}
{{cricketarchive|id=3137}}

Vivian Neser

Life and career

References

External links

Further reading