Born December 6, 1933, Cape Town, Cape Province
Died May 11, 2016, Sunningdale, Cape Town, Western Cape (aged 82 years 157 days)
Major teams South Africa, Western Province
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium
Profile
James Edward Pothecary was a South African cricketer who played in three Tests in 1960. He was born in Cape Town, Cape Province and died there too.Jim Pothecary was a useful right-handed lower-order batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler who played for several seasons for Western Province in South African domestic cricket without particular distinction. But in 1959-60, he took 25 wickets at the low average of 14 runs per wicket,and was selected for the 1960 South African tour to England.
He had a disappointing tour, as did most of the South African side, and was not in the first-choice team that contested the first two Test matches. But the controversy that blew up over the fast bowler Geoff Griffin, who was called by several umpires for throwing, meant there was a vacancy to partner opening bowler Neil Adcock in the last three Tests, and Pothecary was called up. He failed to take a wicket in his first match, at Trent Bridge, but at Old Trafford he took five wickets in the drawn match. Even better followed at The Oval, where Pothecary took four wickets in the England first innings, and Adcock took six, as the home team were bowled out for just 155. But though South Africa had a first innings lead of 264, they were unable to force victory, and Pothecary failed to take a wicket in England's second innings, which opened with a partnership of 290 by Geoff Pullar and Colin Cowdrey.Pothecary played in South African cricket until 1964-65 but was chosen for no more Tests.
Test debut England v South Africa at Nottingham, Jul 7-11, 1960
Last Test England v South Africa at The Oval, Aug 18-23, 1960
First-class span 1954/55 - 1964/65
