John Spring (cricketer)

John Patrick Spring (1844/45 – 13 February 1907) was an Irish cricketer. While living in New Zealand, he played eight first-class matches for Otago between 1877 and 1885.[1][2]

Spring served in the British Army's 5th Fusiliers in Cape Colony in the 1860s and then in England and Scotland, playing cricket for services teams.[3]

Spring and his wife Lucy left for New Zealand on 1876, arriving in Dunedin in January 1877.[4] He worked in Dunedin as an accountant and insurance agent,[5][6] had interests in a New Zealand mining company,[7] and was secretary of the Dunedin, Peninsula and Ocean Beach Railway Company.[8] He and his wife returned to the United Kingdom in 1895.[9]

A wicket-keeper and lower-order batsman, Spring played in most of Otago's matches between 1877 and 1885. He captained the team in several matches, including the one against the touring Australians in January 1878, when the close match finished in a draw.[10] He umpired five first-class matches between 1883 and 1890.[11] He was elected president of the Otago Cricket Association in 1890.[12]