| Jack McLaughlin | |
| Fullname: | John Joseph McLaughlin |
| Birth Date: | 1930 2, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Corinda, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm off-break |
| Club1: | Queensland |
| Year1: | 1949–50 to 1962–63 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 59 |
| Runs1: | 2988 |
| Bat Avg1: | 33.95 |
| 100S/50S1: | 4/16 |
| Top Score1: | 146 |
| Wickets1: | 1 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 130.00 |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 1/31 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 24/– |
| Source: | http://espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6773.html Cricinfo |
| Date: | 21 December 2017 |
John Joseph McLaughlin (18 February 1930 – 13 March 2023[1] [2]) was an Australian first-class cricketer and a commentator who played for Queensland in 59 first-class matches between 1949 and 1963.[3] [4]
Jack McLaughlin began his first-class career in 1949–50 as a cautious opening batsman, but after two seasons of only moderate success in Queensland's Sheffield Shield side he lost his place. He returned in 1956–57 as a stroke-playing middle-order batsman and outstanding fieldsman and remained in the side for several years.[5]
He made his two highest scores within a month in the 1957–58 season, both against South Australia: 136 in Adelaide, when he and Ray Reynolds added 243 for the second wicket, and 52 and 146 in Brisbane.[6] In Shield matches that season he made 615 runs at an average of 47.30.[7]
A very occasional bowler, he deliberately threw in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales in 1959–60 in protest at what he considered the dubious bowling actions of some of the New South Wales players.[5] After he retired from first-class cricket he became a columnist for The Courier-Mail, a Queensland cricket selector from 1965–66 to 1975–76, and a coach.[5]
McLaughlin also played baseball for Queensland.[8] [9]
The No.1 playing oval at Graceville Memorial Park was named the John "Jack" McLaughlin Oval in 2023 in honour of his lifelong service to cricket and the local community.