Name:

Craig, Ian D

Nickname:

The Colt

Date of Birth:

12 Jun 1935

Gender:

Male

Place of Birth:

Yass, NSW

Career:

Test: 1953 - 1958
First Class: 1951 - 1961

Teams:

Australia (Country)
NSW (Regional)

Ian Craig arrives on world stage (1952/53)

Ian Craig: Teenage prodigy, youngest to captain Australia

Ian Craig was born on 12th June 1935 in Yass, NSW and died aged 79 on 16 Nov 2014.

Craig made his first class debut as a 16-year-old right handed batsman in the 1951-52 season. The next season, after becoming the youngest to score a double-ton - an unbeaten 213 against the touring South Africans - he earned a comparison which forever weighed heavily when dubbed "the next Bradman" as he made his Test debut at the age of 17 - the youngest ever to play for Australia.

He was named Australia's youngest captain at 22 years but only played 11 Tests for Australia after contracting hepatitis in 1958. He returned to first class cricket but retired at the age of 26.

Craig scored 358 runs in his 11 Tests and in 144 first-class matches, he scored 7328 runs at an average of 37.96, including 15 tons and 38 half-centuries.

Source: CricketCrowd Staff Reporter