Artie Dick

Who is Artie Dick?

Arthur Edward Dick played 17 Tests for New Zealand as a wicket-keeper.

He made his first-class debut for Otago on Christmas Day 1956, playing as a middle-order batsman. He continued as a batsman with moderate results until he was selected for the tour of South Africa in 1961-62. John Ward, who was also selected, was an experienced wicket-keeper who had toured England in 1958, but his batting was weak, and so Dick, who had kept wicket only once in first-class cricket, for Otago against the MCC in 1958-59, was given a chance with the gloves.

His kept wicket when the team stopped at Perth on the way to South Africa and played a match against Western Australia, but conceded 32 byes in the match. However, his form improved when the team reached Africa and he kept wicket in all five Tests, taking 21 catches and 2 stumpings, although he conceded 52 byes in the series, against only 9 by his South African counterpart John Waite. His 50 not out in the second innings of the Third Test in Cape Town helped New Zealand to its first Test victory outside New Zealand. On the way back to New Zealand the team again played in Australia, and Dick made his only first-class century, 127 against New South Wales, after coming in to bat with the New Zealanders 32 for 5.