He was a right-handed opening batsman and became a regular member of the Rhodesian side for 15 years starting in 1957–58, at one stage captaining them.
Gripper made his debut for the Rhodesian cricket team in the 1957–58 season,[2] playing 83 first class games in the Currie Cup for the territory between 1957–58 and 1971–72.
[5] Gripper also occasionally bowled some right-arm medium pace, taking 3 wickets at an average of forty runs apiece in his first class career.
[9] Gripper has also been accused by some of being involved in the players strike that crippled the country's national team during the Zimbabwe Cricket Crisis.
[10][11] Gripper was approached by ZCU chairman Ozias Bvute in an attempt to negotiate a compromise deal with the rebel players.