Frank Williams (cricketer)
 Frank Williams in 1930 | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 1876 Bath, Somerset, England | ||||||||||||||
| Died | 17 July 1946 (aged 69–70) Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper | ||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||
| 1898/99–1908/09 | Otago | ||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Source: CricInfo, 21 August 2019 | |||||||||||||||
Frank Williams (1876 – 17 July 1946) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played 26 first-class matches as a wicket-keeper for Otago between the 1898–99 and 1908–09 seasons.[1]
Williams was born at Bath in England in 1876.[2] He played for the Albion club in Dunedin, where he served on the committee, and first represented Otago in a match against Southland during the 1895–96 season.[3][4] He made his first-class debut for the provincial side against Canterbury in December 1898 and went on to play 26 times in first-class matches for Otago.[5]
Considered a "crack" wicket-keeper, Williams effected 48 first-class dismissals and was selected to keep wickets for the South Island against the North Island in 1901–02.[6][7] Not considered much of a "recognised batsman", he scored a total of 295 first-class runs with a highest score of 39 runs, although in club cricket he batted in a "vigorous manner", this likely leading to his nickname of "Bash".[4] He was Otago's first-choice wicket-keeper for 11 seasons, playing his final first-class match in February 1909.[4][5]
After his playing career was over, Williams stood as an umpire, including in first-class matches.[5][7] He served on the committee of the Otago Cricket Association, was a selector for Otago teams, and was one of the selectors who chose the New Zealand teams that toured England in 1927 and 1931.[4][7]
In later life Williams took up lawn bowls and was a member of the St Kilda club in Dunedin.[4] Professionally he worked as a tailor and operated a shop in Dunedin until his retirement.[4][7] He died at Dunedin in 1946 leaving two sons and a daughter.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ "Frank Williams". CricInfo. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010, p. 140. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. ISBN 978 1 905138 98 2 (Available online at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 5 June 2023.)
- ^ Cricket: The Albion Club, Otago Daily Times, issue 10597, 15 September 1896, p. 3. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 23 February 2024.)
- ^ a b c d e f g "Mr Frank Williams". Otago Daily Times: 6. 17 July 1946.
- ^ a b c Frank Williams, CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 February 2024. (subscription required)
- ^ Notes by Long Slip, Otago Witness, issue 2500, 12 February 1902, p. 52. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 23 February 2024.)
- ^ a b c d Frank Williams dead, Evening Star, issue 25845, 16 July 1946, p. 4. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 23 February 2024.)