Former Australian Test wicketkeeper Barry Jarman dies aged 84
Barry Jarman played 14 seasons of first-class cricket. Photo: ABC News
Former Australian Test cricketer and wicketkeeper Barry Jarman has died at the age of 84.
During 13 first-class seasons, Jarman played 19 Test matches and stood in as captain during the 1968 Ashes series in England.
The stocky wicketkeeper made his first-class debut for South Australia in 1955 and was a mainstay of the state side until retiring at the end of 1969.
During that time he was responsible for 560 dismissals.
He had a great understanding of the game and his knowledge was a valuable resource for his captains.
“I remember [SA captain] Les Favell said to me ‘son, you might be vice-captain of Australia and you might be vice-captain of South Australia but if I need any advice I will be going to Jarmo, not to you’,” recalled Ian Chappell.
Jarman made his Test debut against India at Kanpur in 1959 and eventually played 19 Test matches, scoring 400 runs and taking 50 catches.
His career frustration was being stuck behind Queensland wicketkeeper Wally Grout in the national team.
As a backup, he toured regularly and was an important influence on the teams.
“When you have 17 players in a touring party, you can get little divisions at times with various states might try to stay together,” recalled former test bowler Eric Freeman.
“But Barry was the one where if we went out for a drink we went out in groups not just one or two guys.”
Barry Jarman (centre, front row) with other members of the 1961 Test team in a reunion in 2010. Photo: AAP
On the 1968 Ashes tour, Jarman captained Australia in place of the injured Bill Lawry during the Headingley Test.
Coincidentally, Tom Graveney was also filling in as England captain.
“We got halfway out to the middle and Tom Graveney said, ‘hey hang on, there is something wrong here, usually someone takes a photo when we toss the coin, we don’t want to miss that do we?’ and so he went back and got a photographer,” he recalled.
After retiring as a player, Jarman used his wide knowledge as one of the International Cricket Council’s first match referees and also ran a sports store.
-ABC
