During his 12-year career, Ivan de Kretser was an automatic choice for Ceylon, playing in both Right Inside and Centre Half positions.
He captained the country on seven occasions, including our first Asian Games team in 1962 and Great Britain in 1964.
This was his farewell match before emigrating to Great Britain in 1964 with his wife Romaine (de Hoedt) and family.
It is noteworthy that Hugh Aldons, Freddie White and Ivan played their farewell match before emigrating, as captains of Ceylon.
Ceylon copied the Indian style of 5-3-2-1 formation and these four legends played as Centre Halves, the heart and soul of the team.
CAREER RECORD
IVAN C. DE KRETSER (born 1930)
(Centre Half, Right Inside)
(Burgher RC and Mercantile HA)
1953 Ceylon HA Tour of Madras and Bangalore
1955 vs Pakistan
1955 vs Delhi Wanderers
1955 vs Madras HA
1956 vs Mysore HA
1957 Ceylon HF tour of Madras
1958 vs Madras HA
1060 Ceylon HF tour of North India
1960 Ceylon HF tour of Madras and Bangalore (captain)
1960 vs Indian Olympic team
1960 vs New Zealand
1961 vs Indian Wanderers (captain)
1962 Ceylon HF tour of Singapore and Malaysia (captain)
1962 Asian Games, Djakarta
(captain)
1962 vs Pakistan (2 Tests)
1963 vs Madras HA (captain)
1963 vs Mysore HA (captain)
1963 vs Mysore HA (captain)
1964 vs Great Britain (captain)
(2 Tests)
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