| Ian Cromb | |
| Fullname: | Ian Burns Cromb |
| Birth Date: | 25 June 1905 |
| Birth Place: | Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Death Place: | Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| International: | true |
| Internationalspan: | 1931-1932 |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Testdebutagainst: | England |
| Testdebutdate: | 27 June |
| Testdebutyear: | 1931 |
| Lasttestdate: | 4 March |
| Lasttestagainst: | South Africa |
| Lasttestyear: | 1932 |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm fast-medium, right-arm spin |
| Columns: | 2 |
| Column1: | Test |
| Matches1: | 5 |
| Runs1: | 123 |
| Bat Avg1: | 20.50 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/1 |
| Top Score1: | 51 |
| Deliveries1: | 960 |
| Wickets1: | 8 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 55.25 |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 3/113 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 1/– |
| Column2: | First-class |
| Matches2: | 88 |
| Runs2: | 3950 |
| Bat Avg2: | 29.04 |
| 100S/50S2: | 3/24 |
| Top Score2: | 171 |
| Deliveries2: | 13550 |
| Wickets2: | 222 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 27.71 |
| Fivefor2: | 10 |
| Tenfor2: | 2 |
| Best Bowling2: | 8/70 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 103/– |
| Date: | 1 April |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36618.html Cricinfo |
Ian Burns Cromb (25 June 1905 – 6 March 1984) was a New Zealand cricketer who played in five Tests from 1931 to 1932, including all three Tests of the 1931 tour of England.[1]
Cromb was born in Christchurch and attended Christchurch Boys' High School. He was an all-rounder: an aggressive batsman and a fast-medium bowler in his younger days and a spin bowler later in his career.[2] He played for Canterbury from 1929–30 to 1946–47, captaining the side from 1935–36 to 1937-38 and again from 1945–46 to 1946–47, and he also captained New Zealand in the four-match series against the visiting MCC in 1935–36.[3] As a captain, he had a "penchant for the unexpected".[2]
Cromb made his highest first-class score of 171 in Canterbury's innings victory over Wellington in the 1939–40 Plunket Shield, after taking five wickets in Wellington's first innings.[4] His best bowling figures were 8 for 70 for the New Zealanders against Middlesex in 1931.[5] Two weeks earlier he had taken 6 for 46 in the New Zealanders' innings victory over the MCC at Lord's.[6] After he retired from playing he was a coach, administrator and selector.[2] [7] He served as president of the Canterbury Cricket Association in the 1970s.
In 1930 Cromb opened a sporting goods shop in Cashel Street, Christchurch, in partnership with his fellow Canterbury and New Zealand cricketer Bill Merritt.[8] The shop was still operating under the same name in the 1990s.[9]
Cromb was also a prominent golfer, winning the South Island championship and several Canterbury championships. He helped launch the career of the New Zealand champion golfer Bob Charles.[10] Together they had a golfing tour of the United States and Great Britain between January and August 1958, Charles playing in several of the major tournaments.[11] [12]
Cromb married Valmai Kelly in Wellington in February 1935.[13] She died in July 1956; they had a son and two daughters.[14] Cromb died in a car accident in Christchurch in March 1984, aged 78.[15]