Ward made his
first-class debut for
South Island against
North Island in a trial match for the
1958 tour of England. He took five catches in the first innings, and was selected as
Eric Petrie's deputy on the tour. He made his
Plunket Shield debut for
Canterbury in 1959–60, and was selected to tour
South Africa in 1961-62, where he served as deputy to
Artie Dick. He finally made his Test debut in 1963–64 in the First Test against the
South African touring team, but then lost his place to Dick, who was a superior batsman. He replaced Dick for the Third Test against Pakistan in New Zealand in
1964–65, and went on the tour of India and Pakistan in 1965 as the sole wicket-keeper. He made his highest Test score of 35 not out in the First Test against India, when he and
Richard Collinge put on 61 for the last wicket, but injury forced him out after the
Indian leg of the tour, and Dick again replaced him. Later that year, in
England, Ward returned to the side, replacing Dick for the Third Test. His last Test was the Fourth Test against
India in 1967-68. Ward continued to play for Canterbury until the end of the 1970–71 season. He scored his only first-class fifty against
Wellington in 1969-70 when, batting at number five, he made 54 not out. He represented
South Canterbury in the
Hawke Cup from 1960 to 1976. His son
Barry kept wicket for Canterbury in the 1986–87 season. Ward died in
Timaru on 12 January 2021 after a short illness, aged 83. ==References==