Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has heard with sadness and profound shock of the passing of Richard Dolley at the age of 61 from the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time of his passing he was a member of the Eastern Province Cricket Board and Deputy Principal of Westering High School in Port Elizabeth.
He had a distinguished playing career as an all-rounder, representing the Eastern Province team under the jurisdiction of the South African Cricket Board (SACB) in 36 first-class matches between 1982 and 1991, scoring more than 1100 runs and taking 100 wickets.
“This is another sad day for the CSA family,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki. “He was very much in the prime of his life as a cricket administrator and educator, two fields in which he had already offered a great deal to his community.
“The Dolley family is synonymous with cricket in the Eastern Cape. Both his sons, Corbyn and Brad, represented Eastern Province as did his younger brother, Gary, and his nephew, Josh.
“He was unfortunate that his playing career came to an end just as the unity process was being completed which offered cricketers of all backgrounds the chance finally to live their dreams on the stage they deserved.
“On behalf of the CSA family I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues in Eastern Province Cricket and Westering High School, and his friends,” concluded Mr Moseki.
CEO Dr Mark Williams paid tribute on behalf of Eastern Province Cricket. “Richard Dolley was a sportsman of excellence, competitive but one who understood the spirit of sport. He will be missed by many in the cricket fraternity, particularly in the Eastern Cape in our schools’ cricket.
“He served Eastern Province Cricket with dedication in the best interests of the game.”
