Gus Kelly
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| Batting style | Right-handed batsman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling style | Right-arm fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Source: Cricket Archive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gustavus William Francis Blake "Gus" Kelly (2 April 1877 in Dublin, Ireland – 16 August 1951 in County Roscommon, Ireland)[1] was an Irish cricketer. A right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler,[1] he played 18 times for the Ireland cricket team between 1895 and 1914[2] including nine first-class matches. He also played first-class cricket for Oxford University and the MCC.[3]
Early life
Born in Dublin, he first attended Clongowes Wood College, then a centre of excellence for cricket before boarding at the Oratory School, near Reading, Berkshire where he was a key member of the Oratory XI. He lastly spent a short time at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire.
Playing career
Kelly made his debut for Ireland against Surrey in August 1895. He played twice more for Ireland that month, including a match against the MCC at Lord's, but it would be six years before he again featured in high-level cricket.[2]
He made his first-class debut playing for Oxford University against Surrey in May 1901. He played for the university against Somerset the following month,[3] before returning to the Ireland side to play against South Africa.[2] He played four more first-class matches for Oxford University that year, gaining his blue when he played against Cambridge University in July.[3]
He played ten first-class matches for Oxford University in 1902, including a matches against his native Ireland and the touring Australian team,[3] and returned to the Ireland team for a match against London County in June 1903. He played three more times for Ireland[2] before he made his first-class debut for them against Yorkshire in May 1907.[3] He also played for Ireland against South Africa that year.[2]
His appearances for Ireland were sporadic over the rest of his career, playing against Philadelphia (twice) and Yorkshire in 1908, against Scotland in 1910 and 1911[2] before he played a first-class match for the MCC against Oxford University in June 1912.[3] He played for Ireland against South Africa that year, and played twice more against Scotland before his career came to an end in July 1914.[2]
Statistics
In all matches for Ireland, Kelly scored 204 runs at an average of 8.87 with a top score of 30 against South Africa in June 1901. He took 41 wickets at an average of 17.12, with a best innings bowling performance of 5/42 against Scotland in July 1910, the only time he took five wickets in an innings for Ireland.[2]
Personal life
In 1900, he married Eily Mary Comyn, whose brother Dan Comyn was a splendid opening bat for Dublin University, Phoenix and Ireland. Two of their sons, Acheson and Gustavus, both played for Ireland.[1]
He served as High Sheriff of Roscommon