Frank Irish

Who is Frank Irish?

Arthur Frank Irish, born at Dudley, then in Worcestershire, on 23 November 1918 and died at Sidmouth, Devon on 17 July 1997, played first-class cricket for Somerset for one season, and Minor Counties cricket for Devon for many years.

Irish was a right-handed middle-order batsman and an occasional right-arm medium pace bowler who played club cricket for Sidmouth and Minor Counties cricket for Devon from the mid-1930s. At the end of August 1939, in between Devon games, he also played for Somerset's second eleven in non-competitive matches against Glamorgan's second eleven.

After successful seasons for Devon in the immediate post-war years, Irish was recruited as a professional by Somerset for the 1950 season and immediately became a regular in the side, batting at No 3. In his first first-class match, a friendly against Glamorgan, he made 76 and 25, and the 76 was to be his highest first-class score. Just a few days later, he top-scored for his side with 67 on his County Championship debut against Sussex. And a week later in Somerset's next match he made 36 and 70 against Middlesex at Lord's.

As the season progressed, though, Irish found runs harder to come by and he passed 50 only once more in an innings, making an unbeaten 75 in the return match with Sussex at Worthing. He was injured soon after this innings and, according to Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, "after missing many matches he decided to give up full-time cricket".