{{short description|New Zealand cricketer (1927–1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Donald Coleman | image = | country = | fullname = Donald Dacre Coleman | birth_date = {{birth date|1927|5|20|df=yes}} | birth_place = Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand | death_date = {{death date and age|1983|8|15|1927|5|20|df=yes}} | death_place = Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand | family = Ces Dacre (uncle) | batting = Right-handed | bowling = | role = | club1 = Auckland | year1 = {{nowrap|1948/49–1957/58}} | columns = 1 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 31 | runs1 = 1,212 | bat avg1 = 22.03 | 100s/50s1 = 0/7 | top score1 = 87 | hidedeliveries = true | wickets1 = | bowl avg1 = | fivefor1 = | tenfor1 = | best bowling1 = | catches/stumpings1 = 14/– | date = 5 June 2016 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36725.html ESPNcricinfo }}
'''Donald Dacre Coleman''' (20 May 1927 – 15 August 1983) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played 31 first-class matches for Auckland between 1948 and 1958.<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/36725.html |title=Donald Coleman |accessdate=5 June 2016 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>
Coleman was born in the Auckland suburb of Devonport and educated at Takapuna Grammar School. His uncle was the New Zealand cricketer Ces Dacre.<ref>{{cite book |last=McCarron |first=Tony |year=2010 |title=New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010 |page=34 |location=Cardiff |publisher=The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians |isbn=978-1-905138-98-2 |url=https://archive.acscricket.com/cricketers_series/new_zealand_cricketers_1863-64_2010/36/index.html |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref>
Coleman made his first-class debut in the 1948–49 Plunket Shield. The Australian captain Bill Brown praised Coleman's batting after he made 30 and 41 at number three for Auckland against the touring Australians in 1949–50.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Australian Captain Comments on Players |journal=Rotorua Morning Post |date=21 February 1950 |page=6 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/RMPOST19500221.2.65.2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Auckland v Australians 1949-50 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-new-zealand-1949-50-549424/auckland-vs-australians-549465/full-scorecard |publisher=Cricinfo |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref> After early success, when he was considered a potential Test player,<ref>{{cite journal |title=N.Z. Team for Tests |journal=Press |date=26 January 1952 |page=8 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19520126.2.117}}</ref> his form faded and he lost his place in the Auckland team. He returned for one final season in 1957–58, making his highest first-class score of 87 as an opening batsman against Otago in the opening match of the Plunket Shield.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canterbury v Auckland 1957-58 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/22/22770.html |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=13 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{ESPNcricinfo|id=36725}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Donald}} Category:1927 births Category:1983 deaths Category:New Zealand cricketers Category:People educated at Takapuna Grammar School Category:Auckland cricketers Category:Cricketers from Auckland Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen