| Alister Howden | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Fullname: | Alister MacDonald Howden |
| Birth Date: | 20 August 1877 |
| Birth Place: | Rothesay, Bute, Scotland |
| Death Place: | Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm leg-spin |
| Club1: | Auckland |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 11 |
| Runs1: | 95 |
| Bat Avg1: | 7.91 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 29 |
| Deliveries1: | 1,888 |
| Wickets1: | 53 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 18.00 |
| Fivefor1: | 4 |
| Tenfor1: | 1 |
| Best Bowling1: | 7/87 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 5/– |
| Date: | 1 November |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/37445.html Cricinfo |
Alister MacDonald Howden (20 August 1877 – 25 November 1938) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played first-class cricket for Auckland between 1906 and 1914.[1]
Howden was born in Scotland and moved to New Zealand with his family as a boy. After attending Otago Boys' High School he worked for the Bank of Australasia in Invercargill before taking other positions in financial institutions in New Zealand.[2] He went into business as a grain and produce merchant in Auckland in the 1900s.[2]
In 1908-09 Howden took 7 for 87 and 5 for 61 with his leg-spin to help Auckland retain the Plunket Shield against Otago, dismissing his brother Ernest in each innings.[3] In January 1910, after Howden had taken six wickets against Canterbury and eight against Wellington to help Auckland retain the Shield, an Auckland cricket writer said: "it is the opinion of many experts that he is without exception the best bowler in New Zealand at present".[4] He was selected in the first of the two matches New Zealand played against Australia later that season, but had no success.[5]
He was also an accomplished golfer who won several local championships.[2]
Howden died in November 1938, aged 61, survived by his wife and four sons.[2] He left an estate worth 11,000 pounds.[6] A short biography (containing family trees) titled Alister MacDonald Howden: A True Sportsman 1875-1938 was published in 2015.[7]