| Don McRae | |
| Fullname: | Donald Alexander Noel McRae |
| Birth Date: | 25 December 1914 |
| Birth Place: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Death Place: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Heightft: | 6 |
| Heightinch: | 3 |
| International: | true |
| Internationalspan: | 1946 |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Testcap: | 37 |
| Testdebutagainst: | Australia |
| Testdebutdate: | 29 March |
| Testdebutyear: | 1946 |
| Batting: | Left-handed |
| Bowling: | Left-arm medium |
| Club1: | Canterbury |
| Columns: | 2 |
| Column1: | Test |
| Matches1: | 1 |
| Runs1: | 8 |
| Bat Avg1: | 4.00 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 8 |
| Deliveries1: | 84 |
| Wickets1: | 0 |
| Bowl Avg1: | – |
| Fivefor1: | – |
| Tenfor1: | – |
| Best Bowling1: | – |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 0/– |
| Column2: | First-class |
| Matches2: | 17 |
| Runs2: | 354 |
| Bat Avg2: | 15.39 |
| 100S/50S2: | 0/0 |
| Top Score2: | 43 |
| Deliveries2: | 3,862 |
| Wickets2: | 56 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 22.51 |
| Fivefor2: | 1 |
| Tenfor2: | 0 |
| Best Bowling2: | 5/20 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 11/– |
| Date: | 1 April |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/37713.html Cricinfo |
Donald Alexander Noel McRae (25 December 1914 – 10 August 1986) was a double international sportsman, representing New Zealand in cricket and in soccer. His last first-class cricket match was in New Zealand's first Test match against Australia in 1946.
McRae played first-class cricket for Canterbury from 1937–38 to 1945–46 as a tall, economical left-arm medium-pace bowler and useful lower-order batsman. In his first match, against Otago, he top-scored in the second innings with 43, which remained his highest first-class score. In 1943–44, playing for a New Zealand XI against a New Zealand Services XI, he opened the bowling and took 5 for 20 off 17 overs in the first innings. In his four inter-provincial matches in 1944-45 he took 17 wickets at 13.29, and was considered one of the best bowlers in New Zealand.[1]
When the Plunket Shield resumed in 1945–46, McRae took 13 wickets in the three matches at 23.69. He took only one wicket when the Australians defeated Canterbury by an innings,[2] but still made the Test side three weeks later. He opened the bowling and took 0 for 44 and made 0 and 8 in another innings defeat,[3] and never played first-class cricket again.
McRae made a single appearance as goalkeeper for New Zealand in association football against Australia on 4 July 1936, conceding 7 goals in the 1–7 loss.[4] His domestic club at the time was Nomads United.
McRae served with the New Zealand Army in World War II as a lance-corporal.[5] He and his wife Dorothy, who died in 1974, had one daughter.[6] He died at his home in Christchurch in August 1986.[7]