Gordon Rorke

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Australian Flag
Gordon Rorke
Australia (AUS)
Gordon Rorke
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling type Right-arm fast
Tests First-class
Matches 4 36
Runs scored 9 248
Batting average 4.50 10.78
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 7 35
Balls bowled 703
Wickets 10 88
Bowling average 20.30 24.60
5 wickets in innings 0 3
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 3/23 6/52
Catches/stumpings 1/0 10/0

Test debut: 30 January 1959
Last Test: 19 December 1959
Source: [1]


Gordon Frederick Rorke (born June 27, 1938, Mosman, New South Wales) is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests in 1959.

Rorke made his Test debut in January 1959 in the Fourth Test of the Ashes series against England in Adelaide. It was an impressive debut, taking 3/23 off 18.1 eight-ball overs in the first innings (including the wickets of Colin Cowdrey for 84, Tom Graveney and Willie Watson) and 2/70 from 34 overs in the second innings. Rorke claimed three wickets in the Fifth Test at Melbourne a fortnight later, and was selected to tour Pakistan and India the following year.

Rorke did not play Pakistan in the opening three Tests of the 1959-60 tour, but was selected when Ray Lindwall withdrew from the opening Test against India at Delhi. Rorke played little role in the following Test at Kanpur, bowling only two overs before being forced to retire ill. His situation became so grave he was flown back to Australia for medical treatment. Following this illness, Rorke struggled in first-class cricket, eventually losing his place in the New South Wales Sheffield Shield squad in 1964.

Rorke's bowling action was considered by some to be suspicious. [2]