Langley dead

ADELAIDE, MAY 15. Former Australian wicketkeeper Gil Langley has died aged 81, the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) said today.

Wisden named Langley one of its five cricketers of the year in 1957, despite being part of a well- beaten Australian side in England in 1956 and missing two Tests because of injury.

In the Lord's Test of 1956, Langley completed nine dismissals, then a world record. Langley played 26 Tests in the 1950s, taking 83 catches and making 15 stumpings. He averaged 14.96 with the bat in Tests including one half-century.

In his final game for South Australia in 1957, he made exactly 100 before being stumped off the bowling of New South Wales leg- spinner Richie Benaud.

Langley also played Australian rules football for South Australia. He served as a selector for the South Australian State cricket team and was also a SACA board member. SACA said in a statement that Langley was a popular figure and was also a state parliamentarian for more than 20 years. Langley died on Monday night after a long illness, the statement said.

- Reuters

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