Vale Harcourt Dowsley

An outstanding schoolboy sportsman, Dowsley played five first-class matches for Victoria between 1937 and 1947.

He scored 336 runs at the excellent average of 56, with a top-score of 72* on debut at the MCG in February 1938.

He scored three half-centuries, took three catches and claimed two wickets at 37.

Dowsley played 35 matches for VCA Colts (1936-37 – 1938-39) and 75 matches for Melbourne (1939-40 – 1949-50) and was captain of the Demons’ 1948-49 premiership win over South Melbourne.

In all Premier matches, he scored 3091 runs at 25.33, with 146 the highest of his two centuries.

He also took 66 wickets at 28.72 with best figures of 5-42.

Dowsley also played four VFL matches for Carlton in 1941, but was called up for the services in World War II, going on to become a highly decorated pilot fighting the Japanese in the South-West Pacific.

With Dowsley’s passing, the mantle of Victoria’s oldest first class cricketer now sits with his 1948-49 Melbourne wicketkeeper, Dr Ian McDonald.