Former Australia Wicketkeeper John Maclean Passes Away at 80

Former Australia and Queensland wicketkeeper John Maclean has died at the age of 80 after a long illness.

Maclean played four Test matches and two One Day Internationals for Australia. All his international games came during the 1978-79 Ashes series at home against England. This was a difficult time for Australian cricket. Many of the country’s best players, including first-choice wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, were banned from playing for Australia because they joined World Series Cricket. This gave Maclean his chance at the highest level.

Cricket Australia is mourning the passing of Australian wicketkeeper John Maclean.

An enormous contributor to @qldcricket, Maclean represented Australia in four Tests and two ODIs between 1978-79.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former teammates. pic.twitter.com/DNyIDzwgeX

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) May 17, 2026

Maclean made his first-class debut for Queensland in 1968. He made an immediate impact by breaking the state record for most dismissals in a single season. The old record was held by former Australia wicketkeeper Wally Grout. In his first season, Maclean also scored his highest first-class score of 156 runs.

His good form earned him a place on an Australia development tour of New Zealand in 1969-70. He travelled with other future stars like Greg Chappell and Dennis Lillee. But later that year, selectors chose Rod Marsh ahead of Maclean for the first Ashes Test. Maclean had to wait until 1978-79 for his next chance. That season turned out to be his last as a first-class cricketer.

Maclean was an important part of Queensland’s team during the 1970s. He captained Queensland in 30 of his 86 Sheffield Shield matches. He gave up the captaincy to help bring Greg Chappell to Queensland from South Australia.

By the end of his first-class career, Maclean had 385 dismissals. This included 354 catches and 31 stumpings. Among keepers, his 314 dismissals for Queensland are the fourth-most in the state’s history. He is also 11th on the all-time list for the Sheffield Shield.

Maclean received an MBE in 1980 for his services to cricket. He later became vice-president of Queensland Cricket in 1990-91 and then president from 1992 to 1994. He also served as the players’ committee representative to the Australian Cricket Board, which is now known as Cricket Australia. He was given life membership of Queensland Cricket in 1998.

“As a player, he led from the front and the tributes from past teammates and the wider community since his passing have emphasised his ‘team first’ leadership as well as his generous nature,” Pike said.

“He played in an era that admired tough, dedicated players who gave their all on the field and then enjoyed the camaraderie that followed the game. He flew the flag for Queensland in all he did, as a player and then as a coach, businessman and administrator.

“John was a passionate contributor as a Life Member and enjoyed seeing the success that Queensland has enjoyed over the past 30 years. We share our condolences with his family and many friends.”

                                               

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