Francis James Farrelly (11 December 1895 – 21 August 1965) was a South African cricketer who played first-class cricket for Griqualand West between 1921–22 and 1930–31.

Francis Farrelly
Personal information
Full name
Francis James Farrelly
Born(1895-12-11)11 December 1895
Kimberley, Cape Colony
Died21 August 1965(1965-08-21) (aged 69)
Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeft-arm
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1921/22–1930/31Griqualand West
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 22
Runs scored 1,089
Batting average 27.22
100s/50s 0/7
Top score 94
Balls bowled 1,215
Wickets 25
Bowling average 29.12
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/57
Catches/stumpings 13/–
Source: Cricinfo, 14 May 2024

Born in Kimberley, Farrelly was educated in England at Stonyhurst College. Opening the bowling for the school's First XI in 1913, he took 134 wickets at an average of 5.39. It is believed to be the highest number of wickets taken in an English public schools season. In the 2021 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack he was retrospectively named Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year for 1913.[1]

Farrelly returned to South Africa and played for Griqualand West for nearly ten years as an all-rounder. His highest score was 94 in a Currie Cup match against Western Province in January 1926, when Griqualand West won by six wickets.[2][3] He had taken his best bowling figures the previous month: 4 for 57 on the losing side against Transvaal.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Wisden Schools Cricketers of the Year", Wisden 2021, pp. 127–41.
  2. ^ "Obituaries", Wisden 2022, p. 261.
  3. ^ "Griqualand West v Western Province 1925-26". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Transvaal v Griqualand West 1925-26". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
edit