David Johnson (cricketer, born 1971): Difference between revisions

David Johnson

Personal information
Born	(1971-10-16)16 October 1971 Arsikere, Karnataka, India
Died	20 June 2024(2024-06-20) (aged 52) Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	India
Test debut (cap 208)	10 October 1996 v Australia
Last Test	26 December 1996 v South Africa
Domestic team information
Years	Team
	Karnataka cricket team
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 2 39 Runs scored 8 437 Batting average 4.00 11.20 100s/50s 0/0 1/0 Top score 5 101* Balls bowled 240 5,936 Wickets 3 125 Bowling average 47.66 28.63 5 wickets in innings 0 8 10 wickets in match 0 1 Best bowling 2/52 8/55 Catches/stumpings 0/– 20/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 30 October 2022

David Johnson (16 October 1971 – June 2024) was an Indian cricketer known for his brief international career as a fast bowler. He played in two Test matches for India in 1996, making his debut against Australia. Despite his promising start and notable pace, he struggled with consistency and fitness, which limited his opportunities at the international level. Johnson continued to play domestic cricket for Karnataka, where he had more success and contributed significantly to his team's bowling attack. After retiring from playing, he was involved in coaching and mentoring young cricketers. David Johnson committed suicide by jumping from the 4th floor of a private apartment on 20 June 2024. Sources told that Johnson took the extreme step due to depression..

Career

On the back of a strong domestic performance for Karnataka, Johnson made his Test debut in the inaugural Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Feroz Shah Kotla in 1996. He then even accompanied the team to the tour of South Africa and played the first Test at Durban. That happened to be his last international outing.

Johnson, though, continued to play for Karnataka till the 2001/02 season. During the late 90s, when Karnataka dominated the domestic circuit, Johnson was part of the pace battery which included Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad and Dodda Ganesh. In 2009 as the KSCA launched the Karnataka Premier League, he came out of retirement and turned up for Belagavi Panthers. And after a six year hiatus during which time he was part of the BCCI’s panel of match officials, Johnson came back and featured in the KPL again in 2015 playing five matches in the season.

Since his first-class retirement, Johnson has been doing odd jobs for survival, even moving to Chennai before coming back to the cricketing fold thanks to former India batsman and KSCA administrator Brijesh Patel. According to those in his close circles, to help him financially, a benefit match was also organised and the funds from the match were used to get him a house, in which he lived. In the last few years, Johnson was also involved in conducting periodic coaching camps in Bengaluru. But owing to different issues, he couldn’t prolong even his coaching career.

Death

Johnson has passed away in an incident after a fall from his balcony in the fourth floor of an apartment in Bengaluru.

According to Kothanur police officials, Johnson is believed to have committed suicide after jumping from the third floor of his house in Hennur. A UDR (unnatural death report) has been filed at the Kothanur police station. The body is taken for postmortem to the Ambedkar Medical College Hospital at Shampura main road. Cops also said that he was also unwell due to alcohol addiction. He was survived by his wife and three children. According to those in the know, Johnson had been battling health issues for the past year and has been in and out of hospital. It was learnt that Johnson spent the last week at the hospital and was discharged only three days ago. He was survived by his wife.