Reginald Sidney Ellis (26 November 1917 – 21 June 2015) was an Australian pilot, flying instructor and cricketer.[2]
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| Full name | Reginald Sidney Ellis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 November 1917 Light Pass, South Australia[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 21 June 2015 (aged 97) Adelaide, South Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 8 April 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service/ | Royal Australian Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1940–1945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Flight lieutenant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | No. 463 Squadron RAAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ellis was a pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, flying Lancaster bombers. He flew 11 sorties over occupied Europe.[3] He ranked as a flight lieutenant and was part of No. 463 Squadron RAAF.[2] He also served as a flying instructor in the UK during the war, and continued after the war as a flying instructor with the Royal Aero Club of South Australia.[4]
Ellis played in the Victory Tests in England between ex-servicemen of Australia and England immediately after World War II, and then toured India and Australia with the Australian Services XI.[3] He also played one first-class match for South Australia in 1945/46.[5]
A left-arm orthodox spin bowler, Ellis was the most successful of the Services' bowlers in the matches in England, taking 23 wickets at an average of 19.13,[6] with a best performance of 5 for 43 and 5 for 24 in the final match in Scarborough.[7] Later, he took 5 for 25 and 3 for 32 when the Services XI beat Ceylon by an innings.[8] His best figures were 6 for 144 for the Services XI against New South Wales in January 1946.[9]
The last surviving member of the Services XI, Ellis was guest of honour at Sachin Tendulkar's Bradman Oration in Canberra in 2011. He died in June 2015, aged 97.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Argent, Peter (25 February 2015). "Cricket collector". Barossa and Light Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Reginald Sidney Ellis". Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b Hilfery, Tim (17 December 2011). "WWII pilot's invite from Tendulkar". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ a b Wisden 2016, pp. 208–9.
- ^ "Reg Ellis". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "First-Class Bowling for Australian Services". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "HDG Leveson-Gower's XI v Australian Services 1945". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "All Ceylon v Australian Services 1945-46". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "New South Wales v Australian Services 1945-46". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
External links edit
- Reg Ellis at ESPNcricinfo
- "Reg Ellis - Victory Test Player". Cricket.com.au. 15 December 2011. - video interview by Mark Nicholas