Frank O'Keeffe

Who was Frank O'Keeffe?

Frank O'Keeffe was a first class cricketer who played for Victoria. He was born in Waverley, Sydney.

He came to fame in the 1921/22 season when, having moved from Sydney he made 87 and 79 for Victoria against New South Wales, 180 against South Australia and 177 and 144 for 'The Rest' against Warwick Armstrong's touring team, newly returned from their Ashes triumph in England.

A good off break bowler in addition to his powerful batting, he was engaged by the Church club in the Lancashire League and planned to qualify for Lancashire CCC. A thinking cricketer, he had been credited in Melbourne for having invented the practise of fielders walking in as the bowler ran in to bowl. Previously run saving fielders had tended to stay static. Tragically he fell ill with peritonitis and died in a Hampstead hospital in March 1924 aged just 27.

In a mere 9 first class games he scored 926 runs at 71.23 and took 12 wickets at 19.16 with a best of 5 for 45.