Chris Wilkins
Encyclopedia
Christopher Peter Wilkins (born 31 July 1944) is a former South Africa
n cricket
er who played for Border
from 1962/63 to 1970/71, for Derbyshire
, from 1970 to 1972, for Eastern Province
from 1972/73 to 1977/78 and for Natal from 1978/79 to 1982/83.
Wilkins was born at King William's Town
, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His cricketing career started with Border in 1962, when he represented them for the first time in the season's Currie Cup
tournament. He was the South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year in 1966. He continued playing for Border through to the 1969/70 season, and represented them for the last time when visited by the travelling Australians
in February 1970.
In 1970, Wilkins switched from the South African game to the English game, making his debut for Derbyshire in May of the same year against Yorkshire
. Wilkins spent October to February in his homeland before moving back to England to play for Derbyshire again in the 1971 season
, though he stayed in England over the winter and was a first-team choice once again in the 1972 season.
At the end of the 1972 season, Wilkins moved back to South Africa, but this time played for Eastern Province, having agreed a deal with Border to play for them. Eastern Province over the next few years had slightly better fortunes in their half of the Currie Cup draw than Border in theirs. He did not appear for an English county side again. Wilkins continued playing in South Africa until 1982. At the end of his career, Wilkins played twice for Natal.
Wilkins was a right-handed batsman and played 357 innings in 198 matches with an average of 32.63 and a top score of 156. He also playe 91 innings in 91 one-day matches. He was a right-arm medium-pace bowler and took 142 first-class wickets at an average of 35.50 and a best performance of 4 for 19. In the one-day game he took 80 wickets with a best performance of 5 for 40. He was also an occasional wicket-keeper.
Wilkins' brother Andrew and uncle Albert also played first-class cricket in South Africa
, Andrew also appearing for Border at the same time as his brother's early career was taking off.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played for Border
Border cricket team
Border cricket team is the team representing the Border province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa. The team began playing in March 1898....
from 1962/63 to 1970/71, for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
, from 1970 to 1972, for Eastern Province
Eastern Province cricket team
Eastern Province cricket team is the team representing the Eastern Province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 1988–89, 1991–92; shared - 1989–90* Standard Bank Cup - 1989–90, 1991–92...
from 1972/73 to 1977/78 and for Natal from 1978/79 to 1982/83.
Wilkins was born at King William's Town
King William's Town
King William's Town is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River. The town is about 40 minutes' motorway drive WNW of the Indian Ocean port of East London...
, Eastern Cape, South Africa. His cricketing career started with Border in 1962, when he represented them for the first time in the season's Currie Cup
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
tournament. He was the South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year in 1966. He continued playing for Border through to the 1969/70 season, and represented them for the last time when visited by the travelling Australians
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
in February 1970.
In 1970, Wilkins switched from the South African game to the English game, making his debut for Derbyshire in May of the same year against Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. Wilkins spent October to February in his homeland before moving back to England to play for Derbyshire again in the 1971 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1971
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1971 was the centenary cricket season of the English club Derbyshire which had first played in 1871. In the County Championship, they won one match to finish seventeenth in their seventy-seventh season in the Championship. They won seven matches in the John...
, though he stayed in England over the winter and was a first-team choice once again in the 1972 season.
At the end of the 1972 season, Wilkins moved back to South Africa, but this time played for Eastern Province, having agreed a deal with Border to play for them. Eastern Province over the next few years had slightly better fortunes in their half of the Currie Cup draw than Border in theirs. He did not appear for an English county side again. Wilkins continued playing in South Africa until 1982. At the end of his career, Wilkins played twice for Natal.
Wilkins was a right-handed batsman and played 357 innings in 198 matches with an average of 32.63 and a top score of 156. He also playe 91 innings in 91 one-day matches. He was a right-arm medium-pace bowler and took 142 first-class wickets at an average of 35.50 and a best performance of 4 for 19. In the one-day game he took 80 wickets with a best performance of 5 for 40. He was also an occasional wicket-keeper.
Wilkins' brother Andrew and uncle Albert also played first-class cricket in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Andrew also appearing for Border at the same time as his brother's early career was taking off.