Douglas Ovenstone dies aged 90

Douglas Ovenstone, who toured England as South Africa's reserve wicketkeeper in 1947, has died at his home in Llandudno, Cape Town at the age of 90. He was described by Wisden as a stylish wicketkeeper, very much in the style of Godfrey Evans, the England wicketkeeper at the time.

Ovenstone, who was injured at El Alamein while serving with South African forces in World War 2, was picked as understudy to John Lindsay but broke a finger between the third and fourth Tests and with that his chance of playing disappeared. Lindsay played in the first three Tests, and George Fullerton, who had been selected as a batsman who could 'keep in an emergency, played in the last two Test matches. These were Lindsay's only Tests while Fullerton toured England again (as a batsman) in 1951.

Ovenstone played four Currie Cup matches and retired in early 1948, citing business reasons for his early retirement.

A director in a family business specialising mainly in the fishing industry, he was later instrumental in opening the High Noon farm near Villiersdorp in the Western Cape, where many exotic wild animals were kept. The farm produced a number of fruits, with apples being the main fruit produced.

In 20 first-class matches he scored 437 runs at 14.56, took 40 catches and made 15 stumpings.