Since 1965
It is with sad regret that we advise of the passing of Wayne Larkins, former England player and Sutherland 1st Grade Player #82, at the age of 71 on 28 June after a short illness. Wayne played 7 matches in 1st Grade in 1978-79 and 1979-80, scoring 420 runs at an average of 46.67, with a highest score of 104. He played a significant role in the five matches he played in 1978-79, playing a significant role in our charge to the semi-finals. Unfortunately he had to return to England after the last round, thus missing the semi-final. In those five matches, he scored 34 (6 x 4) vs UNSW (won), 63 (5 x 4 & 2 x 6) vs Manly (lost), 29 (5 x 4) vs Sydney (drew), 31 (5 x 4 & 1 x 6) & 72 (13 x 4 & 1 x 6) vs Mosman (won outright) and 46 (3 x 4) vs Penrith (won outright) – a total of 275 runs at 45.5. Brian O’Dowd wrote in his 1st Grade report “The batting was bolstered by the inclusion of a congenial Englishman Wayne Larkins after Christmas. He handed in some match winning performances, underlining his class.”
The committee report included this regarding Wayne:
“During the season, the club was granted the services of young Northamptonshire player Wayne Larkins for the second half of our season. Wayne was on a Whitbread Scholarship which is made available to several promising young England cricketers every year.
Wayne impressed us all with his potential as a future England batsman and has recently been selected in the England squad for the World Cup series.
Our guest proved to be a respected member of the club and all who came in contact with him appreciated his friendship. We look forward to the opportunity of meeting him again and hope that one day he will again play for Sutherland.
The club is indebted to Geoff Glover for providing Wayne with accommodation and to the many offers of assistance to provide accommodation and airfares to provide us with Wayne’s services in the future.”
In the 1979 English season, Wayne had a consistent season, scoring 1079 runs in first class cricket at 41.50 including 3 centuries and 717 runs in one-day matches at 37.73. As mentioned above, he was in the England squad for the World Cup, making his ODI debut in their semi-final win over New Zealand and then being part of the final when West Indies easily beat England. He was selected in the England squad to tour Australia after the truce between the cricket establishment and World Series Cricket. After scoring 90 in the second innings of the tour match against NSW (which included John Dyson, Andrew Hilditch & Steve Rixon), he was selected to make his Test debut in the 3rd Test against Australia at the MCG. He scored 25 & 3 in England’s loss by 8 wickets (dismissed in both innings by Len Pascoe). After that match, England travelled to India to play a Test to celebrate the BCCI’s Golden Jubilee. Wayne played in that match, which England won easily by 10 wickets. He then returned to Sydney with his new wife for a honeymoon, playing the last two matches of the season with Sutherland.
The committee report for 1979-80 included this commentary about Wayne:
“Following his successful stint with the Club last season, it was very pleasing to see Wayne represent England in the World Cup finals in England and to be subsequently selected in the side that toured Australia in the season just ended. In last year’s report, it was written that “Wayne impressed us all with his potential as a future England batsman”. It did not take him much time to fulfill that prediction. It was a great moment for us, as well as Wayne, when he made his Test debut in the 3rd Test in Melbourne, thus becoming another Sutherland Test cricketer.
After England had played the Jubilee Test in India, Wayne returned to Australia, along with his wife Jane, for a holiday. During this time, we were delighted that Wayne agreed to play the last two games with us. He wasted no time in continuing where he left off last season, scoring a fine century against Gordon and in the process, establishing a new 1st Grade opening partnership record with Andy Hilditch. Once again, we look forward to having Wayne back with the Club and to seeing him and his wife.
The Club extends its thanks to Geoff Glover and Lindsay Joyce for organising for Wayne to play with us, and to Lindsay and his wife Susie for providing Wayne and Jane with accommodation. We are also grateful to Tynan Motors for providing the Larkins with a car to use during their stay.”
Wayne went on to play 13 Tests for England, scoring 493 runs at 20.54 with a highest score of 64. He also played 25 ODIs, scoring 591 runs at 24.62 with a highest score of 124 against Australia in Hyderabad in October 1989. In all first class cricket, he played 482 matches and scored 27,142 runs at an average of 34.44, with 59 centuries including a highest score of 252. In all List A cricket, he played 485 matches, scoring 13,594 runs at 30.75, with 26 centuries including a highest score of 172no. That innings broke the record for the highest score in the John Player League (a 40-over competition that used to be played on Sunday afternoons), a match that I happened to be at and about which I will be posting a separate article on CricConnect later tonight.
We extend our sincere condolences to Wayne’s family and friends for their sad loss.
Tom Iceton