| Neale Thompson | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Fullname: | Neale Robert Thompson |
| Birth Date: | 2 February 1937 |
| Birth Place: | Invercargill, New Zealand |
| Batting: | Left-handed |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 18 |
| Runs1: | 420 |
| Bat Avg1: | 15.00 |
| 100S/50S1: | 1/0 |
| Top Score1: | 100 |
| Hidedeliveries: | true |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 5/– |
| Date: | 1 January |
| Year: | 2022 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/38659.html Cricinfo |
Neale Robert Thompson (born 2 February 1937) is a New Zealand former cricketer and badminton player. He played eighteen first-class matches for Otago between the 1956–57 and 1962–63 seasons,[1] and represented New Zealand at badminton.
Thompson was born at Invercargill and educated there at Southland Boys' High School. A left-handed batsman, he played in the New Zealand Colts team in the mid-1950s. At the time, even before he had played first-class cricket, he was considered a future Test player.[2] [3] However, his eventual first-class career was moderate. He had his best season in 1958–59, when he scored 254 runs at an average of 42.33, and converted the only first-class fifty of his career into a century: 100 not out in Otago's victory over Northern Districts.[4] [5] He played Hawke Cup cricket for Southland from 1954 to 1979; he opened the batting during Southland's long tenure as title-holders between March 1973 and February 1977.[6]
Thompson also represented New Zealand at badminton.[7] He won four New Zealand doubles titles and represented the country in five international series from 1958 to 1960.[8]
Thompson met his wife, Fay, when they both represented Southland in badminton. They live in retirement in Winton, Southland.[8]