Aug 25, 2011
Born in Kyogle in country New South Wales, John Gleeson grew up in Tamworth where he currently resides. He was the son of a dairy farmer from Wiangaree in north eastern New South Wales, and attributed the finger strength required to bowl with his two fingered grip to his childhood, which he spent milking cows.
Selected for 1st Class cricket quite late in his career, John debuted in Sheffield Cricket in 1966-67 and took 23 wickets in 6 matches including 5 for 28 against Victoria. He toured New Zealand with an Australian Second XI captained by Les Flavell and including Peter Philpott, Norm O’Neill, Peter Burge, Paul Sheehan, Alan Connolly, Barry Jarman, Eric Freeman and a number of other outstanding players and hardly becoming of the term “Second XI”. During the tour John scored his highest 1st class score-59 against a strong Canterbury XI.
In a career that included 29 tests, John enjoyed success in England, South Africa and India. John was known for his “mystery” ball and constantly experimented with revolutionary grips and deliveries. During the tour of South Africa in 1969-70 John took 19 wickets but was unable to dismiss Vintage Cricket President, Barry Richards who claimed to have “worked him out” and who did not fall to him in any of 7 innings he played against him.
During his Test career from 1967 to 1972, John took 93 wickets at 36.20 and scored 395 runs at 10.9. In his 1st class career he managed 430 wickets at 24.9 and scored 1,095 runs at 11.0. His best bowling in Tests was 5 for 61 and in 1st Class was 7 for 52.
John played in the true amateur era and had a career with Telecom that stretched over 40 years. He was a member of the Inaugural Governing Committee of World Series Cricket.
The Vintage Cricket Carnival in Armidale were privileged to have John Gleeson attend, meet so many cricketers who remember him well and give an entertaining and informative address.
John Gleeson, a great cricketer and a very pleasant man who did it all For the Love of the Game.
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