Clarence William Edward James Fleay (27 December 1886 – 6 August 1955) was an Australian cricketer who played a single match for Western Australia during the 1922–23 season.

Clarrie Fleay
Personal information
Full name
Clarence William Edward James Fleay
Born27 December 1886
Gilgering, Western Australia
Died6 August 1955 (aged 68)
Katanning, Western Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleBatsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1922/23Western Australia
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 4
Batting average 4.00
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 4
Balls bowled 72
Wickets 2
Bowling average 18.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/10
Catches/stumpings 2/–
Source: CricketArchive, 30 December 2012

Born on his parents' property at Gilgering, a locality between York and Beverley in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia,[1] Fleay boarded at The High School (now Hale School) in Perth, and played Darlot Cup cricket for the school in his final two years.[2] He was one of his school's most successful batsmen, with his highest score an innings of 137 not out during the 1905–06 season.[3] After the conclusion of his schooling, Fleay returned to the country, where he regularly played in district teams.[4][5][6] At the annual Country Week tournament held in Perth, he usually represented Katanning, and sometimes captained the side.[7]

Fleay's single match at first-class level came in November 1922, against a touring Marylebone Cricket Club side led by Archie MacLaren (although John Hartley substituted as captain in the match against Western Australia).[8] His selection for the team was based mainly on his form in the preceding year's Country Week matches, with Joe Lanigan the only other player selected from country sides.[9][10] In the match, held at the WACA Ground, Fleay, an occasional right-arm medium pace bowler, took two wickets in the MCC's first innings to finish with figures of 2/10. He scored only four runs whilst batting, and was not selected at first-class level.[11] Fleay spent the remainder of his life in the country, and died in Katanning in August 1955, aged 68.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "FROM YORK TO DALE RIVER: THE COUNTRY DESCRIBED"The Western Mail. Published 13 March 1909.
  2. ^ Sport: Hale Cricketers – Old Haleians' Association. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  3. ^ "MR. A. G. RUSSELL'S TEAM v. HIGH SCHOOL: FINE BATTING BY FLEAY"The West Australian. Published 6 March 1906.
  4. ^ Miscellaneous matches played by Clarence Fleay (1) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  5. ^ "YORK CRICKET CLUB"Western Mail. Published 18 May 1907.
  6. ^ "CRICKET: COUNTRY MATCHES"The West Australian. Published 10 February 1904.
  7. ^ "CRICKET WEEK IN PERTH: SUCCESS OF KATANNING TEAM"Albany Advertiser. Published 8 March 1922.
  8. ^ First-class matches played by Clarence Fleay (1) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  9. ^ "CRICKET: WESTERN AUSTRALIA V. MACLAREN'S TEAM"The West Australian. Published 1 November 1922.
  10. ^ "VISIT OF MACLAREN'S TEAM: LOCAL PLAYERS IN STATE ELEVEN"Geraldton Guardian. Published 2 November 1922.
  11. ^ Western Australia v Marylebone Cricket Club, Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia and New Zealand 1922/23 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  12. ^ Clarence Fleay player profile – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 December 2012.