Gus Kelly

Irish cricketer

This article is about Irish cricketer (1877–1951). For his son, see Gustavus Kelly. For the Australian politician, see Gus Kelly (politician).

Gus Kelly

Cricket information

Batting| Right-handed
Bowling| Right-arm fast
International information
National side|

* Ireland

Career statistics
| Competition | First-class

|

Matches | 26
Runs scored | 614
Batting average | 16.59
100s/50s | 0/1
Top score | 52
Balls bowled | 2567
Wickets | 55
Bowling average | 22.85
5 wickets in innings | 2
10 wickets in match | 0
Best bowling | 5/32
Catches/stumpings | 10/–

Source: CricketArchive, 6 December 2022

Gustavus William Francis Blake Kelly (2 April 1877 – 16 August 1951)[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

[edit]

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, before going up to Lincoln College, Oxford.

## Playing career

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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

[edit]

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

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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 in 1920.

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Cricket Archive profile". Archived from the original on 11 January 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2006.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h "CricketEurope Stats Zone profile". Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 31 December 2006.
3. ^ a b c d e f First-class matches played by Gus Kelly Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine at CricketArchive