Ralph Spraggon
New Zealand cricketer
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Ralph Dew Spraggon (13 August 1872 – 11 September 1939) was a New Zealand cricketer who played six first-class matches for the Otago between 1894 and 1897.[1]
Dunedin, New Zealand
Palmerston North, New Zealand
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ralph Dew Spraggon | ||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 August 1872 Dunedin, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Died | 11 September 1939 (aged 67) Palmerston North, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Role | Batsman | ||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||
| 1894/95–1896/97 | Otago | ||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 8 August 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Life and career
Spraggon was born in Dunedin but moved to England with his family as a boy. He was educated at the City of London School before returning to New Zealand, where he took a position in Dunedin as a commercial traveller for D. Benjamin & Co, importers.[2][3]
Described as "a dashing batsman and a first-class fieldsman",[4] Spraggon made his highest score of 40 not out against Canterbury in February 1897. Batting at number nine, he "hit out lustily" in a "brilliantly played innings" that helped Otago win the match after trailing in the first innings.[5][6] Earlier that season, in Otago's match against the touring Australian team, his score of 36, batting at number 12 in the Otago XV, was the highest score on either side.[7]
Spraggon was transferred by D. Benjamin & Co to Wellington in 1898.[8][9] He married Maud Carnell in Napier in February 1903.[10] Shortly afterward, he transferred to the National Provident and Friendly Societies Department in Wellington, where he worked for 20 years.[11] After some time in Napier, where he suffered serious injuries in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, he moved to Palmerston North, working for the Labour Department.[2] After a few months of illness, he died in Palmerston North in September 1939, aged 67, leaving a widow and their son.[2]