Charles Frank (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Charles Newton Frank - A survivor from the First World War where he had been badly gassed, Charles Frank - known as Charlie - returned home to forge a short first-class career from 1919 to 1926. He played for Transvaal
throughout that time and announced himself on the cricket scene by scoring 108 on his debut for the province against Australia Imperial Forces
at Johannesburg
in October 1919. Diminutive in stature, Frank was born in Jagersfontein
, Orange Free State
, on 27 January 1891, and died in Bryanston
, Johannesburg on 25 December 1961, aged 71. During Australia’s visit to South Africa in 1921/22, he was selected for all three Test
matches of the tour and played a starring role in the second game of the series, played at Johannesburg. Forced to follow on in their second innings 207 runs behind, Frank batted for over eight and a half hours in scoring 152 to prevent an Australian victory. His time at the crease, against a strong Australian attack comprising J.M. Gregory, E.A. McDonald
and A.A. Mailey
, included partnerships of 105 with H.W. Taylor
and 206 with A.W. Nourse
. Frank’s century remains one of the slowest on record for a Test match. But it produced the draw that took the series to a final match decider which Australia subsequently won comfortably by ten wickets. No obituary appeared within the pages of Wisden for Frank after his death.
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
throughout that time and announced himself on the cricket scene by scoring 108 on his debut for the province against Australia Imperial Forces
Australian Imperial Forces cricket team
The Australian Imperial Forces cricket team toured England between May and September 1919, playing 28 first-class matches after the First World War. Its overall record was 12 wins, 4 losses and 12 draws...
at Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in October 1919. Diminutive in stature, Frank was born in Jagersfontein
Jagersfontein
Jagersfontein is a small town in the Free State province of South Africa. The original farm on which the town stands was once the property of a Griqua Jacobus Jagers, hence the name Jagersfontein. He sold the farm to CF Visser in 1854. A diamond rush started in 1870 after farmer JJ de Klerk found a...
, Orange Free State
Orange Free State
The Orange Free State was an independent Boer republic in southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, and later a British colony and a province of the Union of South Africa. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province...
, on 27 January 1891, and died in Bryanston
Bryanston, Gauteng
Bryanston is an upper class, wealthy residential suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. First named as an area in 1949, it was established in 1969 as a suburb of Sandton and provided with tarred roads and municipal services, but after municipal boundaries were revised following the end of Apartheid,...
, Johannesburg on 25 December 1961, aged 71. During Australia’s visit to South Africa in 1921/22, he was selected for all three Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
matches of the tour and played a starring role in the second game of the series, played at Johannesburg. Forced to follow on in their second innings 207 runs behind, Frank batted for over eight and a half hours in scoring 152 to prevent an Australian victory. His time at the crease, against a strong Australian attack comprising J.M. Gregory, E.A. McDonald
Ted McDonald
Edgar Arthur "Ted" McDonald was a cricketer who played for Tasmania, Victoria, Lancashire and Australia, as well as being an Australian rules footballer who played with Launceston Football Club, Essendon Football Club, and Fitzroy Football Club.A very fast bowler with the...
and A.A. Mailey
Arthur Mailey
Arthur Alfred Mailey was an Australian cricketer who played in 21 Test matches between 1920 and 1926....
, included partnerships of 105 with H.W. Taylor
Herbie Taylor
Herbert Wilfred Taylor MC was a South African cricketer who played 42 Tests for his country including 18 as captain of the side. Specifically a batsman, he was an expert on the matting pitches which were prevalent in South Africa at the time and scored six of his seven centuries at home...
and 206 with A.W. Nourse
Dave Nourse
Arthur William "Dave" Nourse, born at Croydon, England on 26 January 1878 and died at Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 8 July 1948, was a cricketer who played for Natal, Transvaal, Western Province and South Africa....
. Frank’s century remains one of the slowest on record for a Test match. But it produced the draw that took the series to a final match decider which Australia subsequently won comfortably by ten wickets. No obituary appeared within the pages of Wisden for Frank after his death.