JOHANNESBURG: Former South Africa wicketkeeper John Waite died in Johannesburg late on Wednesday at the age of 81, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Thursday.

Waite, who was the first South African to play 50 test matches for his country, played his last test in February 1965 against England in Port Elizabeth.

“It is always sad to hear of the passing of one of our legends of the game for that he truly was,” CSA Chief Executive Gerald Majola said in a statement.

“We will always treasure his great contribution in many different ways to the game we all love,” Majola added.

Waite scored 2,405 runs at an average of 30.44, with four centuries, and held at then-South Africa test record of 141 dismissals behind the stumps.