John Mitchell (cricketer)

Born in Auckland,^[1][2] Mitchell began his first-class career in 1964 for Northern Districts.^[1] He began successfully, playing three matches over the summer of 1964/65 and scoring 212 runs at 53.00,^[3] including one half century and the only century of his career, 127 not out on debut against the touring Pakistan team. He also took his only first class wicket in this debut match, that of Abdul Kadir.^[3][4]

Mitchell had a far less successful season over the summer of 1965/66. where he again played three matches for Northern Districts; however his return was only 71 runs at 14.20, with a high score of 38.^[3] The following season, his last for Northern Districts, returned 252 runs from six matches at 22.90, with two fifties and a high score of 74.^[3] For the next season, Mitchell moved to Otago.^[1][2] He played two matches in the 1968/69 season, scoring 99 runs at 33.00, the second highest season average of his career, with a single half century of 52 his highest score.

Mitchell also played two first-class matches for the New Zealand Under-23s. In the 1966–67 match against Central Districts he scored 74 out of the Under-23s' first innings of 140.^[5]

Later, Mitchell played his club cricket for Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club in Canterbury, first joining when he was attending teachers' college. He was the first president of The Willows Cricket Club in Loburn, Canterbury, serving from 1994 to 2003.^[6] At the end of his teaching career Mitchell was divisional principal at Burnside High School.

• John Mitchell at ESPNcricinfo