TONY CARTWRIGHT - TRIBUTE TO A CLUB LEGEND
Oamaru Cricket Club is deeply saddened at the passing of Tony, one of the club’s greatest players of all time, yet grateful and happy for the wonderful life he led and the commitment he made to the club.
Tony was a quiet man who preferred to let his actions on the field speak on his behalf. Those actions spoke volumes! At the end of a glittering career, Tony had amassed at least 185 appearances for Oamaru Cricket Club in the days when one match involved two Saturdays. In other words, Tony committed at least 370 Saturdays to his club cricket career across four decades in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
Tony’s record sits at the very capstone of the club’s individual success statistics: Batting - 185 matches; 196 innings; 46 not outs; 5847 runs at an average of 38.98 including 10 hundreds & 29 half-centuries with a high score of 175. Bowling – 691 wickets at 9.82; 58 5 wicket bags; 10 x 10 wickets in a match; strike rate of 20.68 and best bowling of 8/27.
Tony also had a prodigious representative cricket career with 75 matches for North Otago; 1623 runs; 232 wickets including a best of 8/81; 16 five wicket bags and 6 first class Plunkett Shield matches for a very strong Otago side. It was generally thought at the time that Tony was unlucky not to be picked to represent New Zealand.
Tony’s contribution to the club and North Otago’s cricket community is underscored by his incredible statistical returns, however, it was Tony’s time, energy, commitment, hard work, leadership, positivity, humour, benevolence and mentoring that the club is most grateful for. Tony was made up as a life member of the club in 1984.
Tony shared a great friendship with Bill Cubitt, a life member and legend of the club, and the two were inseparable both on the field over their playing decades and socially off it for their entire adult lives, together with their families. Bill will miss Tony terribly. The fun that Tony, Bill and life member Ken Thickett used to have in the slips and gully together and the stories they still share today are a classic part of the club’s history and folklore.
Tony’s legacy was carried on by his proud sons David and Nigel who themselves fashioned imposing records for the club during the 1980s and 90s. Many batsmen from around the region did not enjoy facing the hostility and sheer pace of David who returned 263 wickets at 12.31 in his 73 match career. Nigel was an accomplished batsman who made 2123 runs at an impressive average of 37.25 in his 56 matches for the club.
Tony’s stature on the field was immense and, in his retirement, it grew to be monumental. The players of today appreciated Tony’s presence as a supporter and as a club member at prizegivings and functions.
At this sad time the life members, members, players, sponsors and supporters of the mighty Oamaru Cricket Club wish to extend our very deepest and sincere sympathies to David, Nigel, Dot and Tony’s family for the passing of one of our Greatest of All Time. The club’s gratitude to Tony is boundless.