After playing first-class cricket for nearly 20 years and scoring over 12,000 runs, Ackerman turned to coaching, where he was instrumental in the development of the young Hashim Amla. In 2000 the South African board persuaded him not to take up the job as Zimbabwe national coach by giving him charge of the South Africa A and the Under-19 sides.

He made his debut for South African Schools at the age of 14 years and eight months - the youngest at that time - and his first-class debut for Border at 16. When he scored his maiden first-class century the next year against the visiting MCC side, he became only the second schoolboy to reach the landmark against an international touring team.

Ackerman opened with Gavaskar for the Rest of the World XI and scored a century in the first Test and half-centuries in the final two. He averaged 37.41 on the tour. He led Western Province to victory in the 1977-78 Currie Cup. He also played for Northamptonshire from 1967 to 1971, scoring over 1000 runs in three of those seasons.

His son HD Ackerman, the former South Africa batsman, also played for Western Province and retired from Leicestershire in 2009.
Cricinfo staff September 2009