Les Watt

Who was Les Watt?

Leslie Watt was a New Zealand cricketer who played one Test for New Zealand, against England in March 1955.

In first class cricket he played 48 matches between 1942-43 and 1962-63, making just over 2,000 runs at a batting average of 23.30. He often opened the batting for Otago with Bert Sutcliffe, whose first-class average was more than twice as high.

Watt's highest first-class score was 96 against Auckland in 1950-51, when he and Sutcliffe batted throughout the first day to put on 373 for the first wicket. Later that season the pair put on 178 for the first wicket against Central Districts. Otago won the Plunket Shield, Sutcliffe scoring 610 runs and Watt 326 in the four matches. It was his most productive season.

In 1954-55, batting at number six for Otago, Watt came third in the Plunket Shield averages with 237 runs at 47.40, and made 37 not out in a trial match for South Island against North Island. He was selected for the First Test at Dunedin, making his Test debut with Noel McGregor and Ian Colquhoun, and batting at number six he was bowled twice, for 0 and 2. He was replaced in the Second Test team by Matt Poore.