Neil Harvey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Neil Harvey

Harvey in 1950
Personal information
Full name	Robert Neil Harvey
Born	(1928-10-08) 8 October 1928 (age 96) Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Nickname	Ninna
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off-spin
Role	Top-order batsman
Relations	Mick Harvey (brother) Ray Harvey (brother) Merv Harvey (brother)
International information
National side	Australia (1948–1963)
Test debut (cap 178)	23 January 1948 v India
Last Test	15 February 1963 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1946/47–1956/57	Victoria
1958/59–1962/63	New South Wales
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 79 306 Runs scored 6,149 21,699 Batting average 48.41 50.93 100s/50s 21/24 67/94 Top score 205 231* Balls bowled 414 2,574 Wickets 3 30 Bowling average 40.00 36.86 5 wickets in innings 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 1/8 4/8 Catches/stumpings 64/0 229/0
Source: CricketArchive, 29 February 2008

Robert Neil Harvey (born 8 October 1928) is a famous Australian former cricketer. He played for the Australian cricket team from 1948 to 1963. He was the team's vice-captain from 1957 until he retired.

Neil Harvey was a left-handed batsman who liked to attack the ball. He was also a great fielder and sometimes bowled off-spin. Many people thought he was the best fielder of his time. When he retired, he had scored the second-most runs and centuries for Australia in Test cricket.

He was one of six brothers who played cricket, and four of them played for Victoria. Neil Harvey joined the Test team in January 1948, when he was just 19 years old. In his second match, he became the youngest Australian to score a Test century, a record that still stands today.

Harvey was the youngest player in the famous 1948 "Invincibles" team led by Don Bradman. This team toured England and is known as one of the best cricket teams ever. Neil Harvey started his career very strongly, scoring six centuries in his first thirteen Test innings. He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1954. This was because he scored over 2,000 runs during the 1953 tour of England.

Early Life & Cricket Beginnings

The laneway next to the family home in Fitzroy where the Harvey brothers learned to play cricket. In this photo, Harvey is recreating the event in 1950.

Neil Harvey was the fifth of six boys born to Horace Harvey. The family moved to Melbourne in 1926, settling in Fitzroy. All six boys learned to play cricket from their father. They played with a tennis ball on cobblestones or a marble in the backyard.

Neil started playing cricket at age nine as a wicket-keeper for his school team. He once scored 112 runs in a school final. At twelve, he joined the local Fitzroy club. By age fourteen, he was playing for the first-grade team. He later stopped wicket-keeping to focus on his batting.

First-class cricket, which is a high level of cricket, started again in 1945–46 after World War II. Neil Harvey was selected for the Victorian team at 18. In his second first-class match, he scored his first century, making 154 runs. He said his elder brother Merv, who also played Test cricket, inspired him.

Harvey made his debut in the Sheffield Shield competition against New South Wales. He scored 49 runs in the second innings, helping Victoria win the title. Later, he played against Wally Hammond's English team. He scored 69 runs, and his opponents knew he would become a Test player.

Test Debut & "The Invincibles"

Harvey in 1948

In 1947–48, Neil Harvey played in two Shield matches with his brothers Merv and Ray. He scored 87 against the touring Indian cricket team. He was then chosen for an Australian XI team that played India before the Tests.

Three months after his 19th birthday, Harvey played his first international match. This was in the Fourth Test against India in January 1948. He scored 13 runs in his only innings. The selectors kept him for the Fifth Test in Melbourne. On 7 February 1948, he scored 153 runs. This made him the youngest Australian to score a Test century, a record he still holds.

This great innings helped him earn a spot on the 1948 tour of England. This team was known as "The Invincibles." At first, Harvey found it hard to play in English conditions. He struggled in his first few innings.

However, he improved his game. He scored 100 not out against Sussex before the first Test. He was still the 12th man for the first two Tests. But when opener Sid Barnes got injured, Harvey got his chance in the Fourth Test.

A Century on Ashes Debut

Harvey played his first Ashes Test at Headingley. England had scored 496 runs. Australia was struggling at 3 wickets for 68 runs. Harvey, the youngest player, joined Keith Miller. They launched a strong counterattack. Miller hit many boundaries, and Harvey joined in.

Harvey reached his century in 177 minutes, hitting 14 fours. He scored 112 runs from 183 balls. He was the first Australian left-hander to score a century on his Ashes debut. His innings helped Australia score 458 runs. In the second innings, Harvey took two amazing catches. Australia then chased down a world record 404 runs to win the match.

He finished the tour with 1129 runs at an average of 53.76. He was also known as an amazing fielder. Many said he was the best fielder in the Australian team.

Becoming a Key Batsman

Harvey batting in 1950

After Don Bradman retired, Neil Harvey had to take on more responsibility. He became a key batsman for Australia. In the 1949–50 tour of South Africa, he set several Australian records. He scored 660 runs at an average of 132.00 in the Tests. This was the most runs by a visiting batsman in South Africa.

He scored 178 runs in the Second Test and an unbeaten 151 runs in the Third Test. This 151 not out was one of his best innings. He scored it on a difficult, crumbling pitch. He guided Australia to an unlikely victory. He scored four centuries in a row in the series. He finished the series with 116 runs in the Fifth Test, as Australia won 4–0.

In the 1950–51 Ashes series in Australia, Harvey scored 362 runs at 40.22. He had three half-centuries. He helped Australia win the series 4–1.

The 1951–52 season was less successful for him. He scored 261 runs at 26.10 against the West Indian cricket team. He found it hard to play against the spin bowlers Alf Valentine and Sonny Ramadhin.

Peak Performance Years

Harvey batting in 1952

The 1952–53 season saw Neil Harvey at his best. He scored 109 and 52 in the First Test against South Africa. He then scored 190 in the Third Test in Sydney. This helped Australia win by an innings. He made it three centuries in a row with 116 in Adelaide.

He scored his highest Test score of 205 in the Fifth Test in Melbourne. Australia won the series 4–0. Harvey scored 834 runs at 92.66 in the series. This was a record for a series against South Africa. In total, he scored 1,659 runs at 63.81 for the season. This was the second-highest tally in Australian history.

Harvey at Lord's in 1953

In 1953, he toured England again. He became only the third Australian in 25 years to score 2,000 runs on an Ashes tour. He scored 2,040 runs at 65.80. He made ten centuries, twice as many as any other player.

In the Tests, he scored 346 runs at 34.60. He was the second-highest run-scorer for Australia. He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year for his great performances.

The 1954–55 season saw England tour Australia. Harvey scored 162 in the First Test in Brisbane. This helped Australia win by an innings. In the Second Test in Sydney, he played one of his greatest innings. He scored an unbeaten 92 runs on a very difficult pitch. No other batsman scored more than 15 runs in that innings. England won the match, but Harvey's innings was legendary.

He then toured the West Indies in 1955. He started with two centuries, scoring 133 in the First and Second Tests. He also scored his second double century, 204, in the Fifth Test. He finished the series with 650 runs at 108.33.

Challenges and Leadership

The 1956 Ashes tour to England was tough for Neil Harvey and the Australian team. The English spin bowlers, Jim Laker and Tony Lock, were very successful. Harvey struggled, scoring only 197 runs at 19.70 in five Tests. In one match, Laker took a world record 19 wickets, and Australia lost badly.

After the tour, Australia played Tests in Pakistan and India. Harvey scored 96 on a difficult pitch in the First Test in Dhaka. He was ill during the innings but still played brilliantly. He then scored 140 in the Second Test in Mumbai. He finished the India series with 253 runs at 63.25.

In 1957, the Australian team leaders retired. Neil Harvey was the most experienced player. Many expected him to become captain. However, the captaincy went to Ian Craig, who was only 22 years old. Harvey was named vice-captain.

Harvey was upset by this decision. He showed his skill by scoring 209 runs for Victoria against New South Wales. This was his first double century for Victoria. He finished the season with an average of 104.50.

In 1958, Harvey moved to New South Wales for a job. This meant he gave up the Victorian captaincy. When Ian Craig became ill, Richie Benaud was made Australian captain instead of Harvey. Harvey continued as vice-captain.

Vice-Captain and Final Years

As vice-captain to Richie Benaud, Neil Harvey helped Australia win the Ashes 4–0 in 1958–59. His best innings was a brilliant 167 in the Second Test in Melbourne. This helped Australia win the match.

In 1959–60, Australia toured Pakistan and India. Harvey scored 96 on a very difficult matting pitch in Dhaka. This innings was called "one of his most dazzling." He also scored 114 in the First Test in Delhi and 102 in the Third Test in Mumbai. Australia won both series.

In his last years, Harvey's Test scores were not as high. However, he still had some great moments. In 1961, he captained Australia for the only time in a Test match. This was at Lord's against England. Benaud was injured, so Harvey led the team in a famous match known as "The Battle of the Ridge." Australia won by five wickets. Harvey said it was "probably my proudest moment."

He scored 114 in the First Test of that series. He also made 73 and 53 in the Third Test. Australia won the series 2–1.

Neil Harvey retired at the end of the 1962–63 season. He scored his 21st and final Test century, 154, in the Fourth Test in Adelaide. In his last Test match in Sydney, he took six catches, equaling a world record. He retired as Australia's most capped player at the time. Only Don Bradman had scored more runs and centuries for Australia.

Playing Style & Legacy

Neil Harvey was known for his artistic and aggressive batting style. He was a short man but had great timing. He was especially good against spin bowling, often charging down the pitch to hit the ball. Even though he ran out of his crease a lot, he was never stumped in a Test match.

He believed that any ball could be hit for runs. After Donald Bradman retired, Harvey was seen as Australia's leading batsman. He was the first Australian to score Test centuries in 15 different cities. He also scored 67 first-class centuries across 35 venues in six countries.

Harvey started as a wicket-keeper but became an amazing fielder. He was known as one of the best fielders in the world. He played baseball in winter, which helped his fielding skills. His throws were very fast and accurate.

After retiring from playing, Harvey became an Australian selector from 1967 to 1979. He was chairman of selectors from 1971 onwards. He was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2009, he was one of the first 55 players inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. He also received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018 for his service to cricket.

As of February 2025, Neil Harvey became the oldest living Test cricketer.

Test Match Performance

Test Centuries

This table shows the centuries Neil Harvey scored in Test matches.

• In the column Runs, * means he was not out.
• The column Match is the Test match number in Harvey's career.

Runs	Match	Opponent	City	Venue	Year	Result
153	2	India	Melbourne, Australia	Melbourne Cricket Ground	1948	Won
112	3	England	Leeds, England	Headingley	1948	Won
178	6	South Africa	Cape Town, South Africa	Newlands	1949	Won
151*	7	South Africa	Durban, South Africa	Kingsmead	1950	Won
100	8	South Africa	Johannesburg, South Africa	Ellis Park	1950	Drawn
116	9	South Africa	Port Elizabeth, South Africa	St George's Park	1950	Won
109	20	South Africa	Brisbane, Australia	Brisbane Cricket Ground	1952	Won
190	22	South Africa	Sydney, Australia	Sydney Cricket Ground	1953	Won
116	23	South Africa	Adelaide, Australia	Adelaide Oval	1953	Drawn
205	24	South Africa	Melbourne, Australia	Melbourne Cricket Ground	1953	Lost
122	27	England	Manchester, England	Old Trafford Cricket Ground	1953	Drawn
162	30	England	Brisbane, Australia	Brisbane Cricket Ground	1954	Won
133	35	West Indies	Kingston, Jamaica	Sabina Park	1955	Won
133	36	West Indies	Port of Spain, Trinidad	Queen's Park Oval	1955	Drawn
204	39	West Indies	Kingston, Jamaica	Sabina Park	1955	Won
140	47	India	Mumbai, India	Brabourne Stadium	1956	Drawn
167	54	England	Melbourne, Australia	Melbourne Cricket Ground	1958	Won
114	61	India	Delhi, India	Feroz Shah Kotla	1959	Won
102	63	India	Bombay, India	Brabourne Stadium	1960	Drawn
114	70	England	Birmingham, England	Edgbaston	1961	Drawn
154	78	England	Adelaide, Australia	Adelaide Oval	1963	Drawn