David Johnson, a former Indian pacer, died on Thursday at the age of 52 in Bengaluru. He played two Tests in 1996, taking three wickets, and had a domestic career that included 39 First-Class matches, 125 wickets, four five-fors, and a ten-for.
Johnson was among the fastest bowlers in India, and his success on the domestic circuit—he bowled 10 for 152 against Kerala in the 1995–96 Ranji Trophy season, for example—paved the way for him to join the Indian team.
In the 1996 one-off Test in New Delhi, he made his Test debut against Australia. During Australia’s tour of India, he successfully dismissed Michael Slater.
Despite being included on the South Africa tour, the right-arm bowler only saw action in the opening Test match, where he claimed the wickets of Brian McMillan and Herschelle Gibbs.
The BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, sent his sympathies via X. “Our sincere sympathies go out to David Johnson’s family and friends, the former Indian fast bowler. We shall never forget his contributions to the game,” Shah stated.
I was saddened to learn of my cricketing comrade David Johnson’s demise. Sincere sympathies to his family. The former leg-spinner for India, Anil Kumble, writter on X, “Gone too soon, ‘Benny’.”
