World's oldest living cricketer in hospital on his 101st birthday

By Bipin Dani

MUMBAI (TheSportsNext) August 7, 2012: Netcare Rosebank Hospital in Johannesburg has the oldest living cricketer as their patient. Norman Gordon celebrated his 101st birthday on the hospital bed on Monday.

"Yes, we are aware about his birthday today but there can't be a cake-cutting. My father is "very very ill" and has been hospitalised since last one week here", the son, Brian said over telephone from South Africa yesterday. 

"It is the age-related illness and he is suffering from pneumonia", the son added. “He is battleing for his life. We are taking as much care as possible. But he is unable to sustain the cold here. The weather is too cold”.

“Most of the day, he is bed ridden. He has lost the vision of his eyes and therefore can’t watch the matches on TV", the son added.

The patient is under the care of physician, Stanley Abkiewicz in the Ruby Ward.

"Dr. Ali Bacher visited the patient in the hospital recently", the son added.

Norman Gordon is the oldest living Test cricketer, and is first to reach 100 years of age.   

Gordon, who played five Test matches (in those days, only the fewer matches were held) is the only survivor of the Timeless Test (South Africa vs. England at Durban in 1939), and the last living person to have played Test cricket before World War II.