Gustav Kempis
Encyclopedia
Gustav Adolph Kempis, was born in Port Elizabeth, Cape Province
, South Africa
on August 4, 1865, and died of a fever on Chiloane Island, Mozambique
on May 19, 1890, aged just 24. But for his early death, South Africa could have had a supreme bowler for several more years as they moved into what became the origins of their first-class
era. A left-arm medium pacer, he delivered the ball with great control of length and could break it either way off the pitch. After taking 13 wickets in just three non first-class bowling innings against R.G. Warton’s touring English side
in 1888-89, he was selected for what became the very first Test
match between the two countries, played at Port Elizabeth. He failed with the bat but took 3 for 53 and 1 for 23 as England won comfortably by 8 wickets. The following season, playing for Natal, Kempis took 41 wickets at an average of 12.42 apiece. These figures came from just five matches and included four hauls of more than 5 wickets in an innings and two of 10 wickets in a match: 7 for 35 (and 4 for 29) against Port Elizabeth, 7 for 44 against Kimberley
, 7 for 33 (and 3 for 76) against Western Province and 5 for 20 against Cape Town Clubs. His death went unrecorded at the time and therefore no obituary appeared for him within Wisden.
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on August 4, 1865, and died of a fever on Chiloane Island, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
on May 19, 1890, aged just 24. But for his early death, South Africa could have had a supreme bowler for several more years as they moved into what became the origins of their first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
era. A left-arm medium pacer, he delivered the ball with great control of length and could break it either way off the pitch. After taking 13 wickets in just three non first-class bowling innings against R.G. Warton’s touring English side
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in 1888-89, he was selected for what became the very first 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...
match between the two countries, played at Port Elizabeth. He failed with the bat but took 3 for 53 and 1 for 23 as England won comfortably by 8 wickets. The following season, playing for Natal, Kempis took 41 wickets at an average of 12.42 apiece. These figures came from just five matches and included four hauls of more than 5 wickets in an innings and two of 10 wickets in a match: 7 for 35 (and 4 for 29) against Port Elizabeth, 7 for 44 against Kimberley
Griqualand West cricket team
The Griqualand West cricket team is the first-class cricket team that represents the province of Griqualand West in South Africa. For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, Griqualand West has merged with Free State to form the Eagles from October 2004....
, 7 for 33 (and 3 for 76) against Western Province and 5 for 20 against Cape Town Clubs. His death went unrecorded at the time and therefore no obituary appeared for him within Wisden.