John Solanky

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = John Solanky
country = Tanzania
fullname = John William Solanky
dayofbirth = 30
monthofbirth = 6
yearofbirth = 1942
placeofbirth = Dar es Salaam
countryofbirth = Tanganyika
dayofdeath = 7
monthofdeath = 10
yearofdeath = 2003
placeofdeath = Carrickfergus, County Antrim
countryofdeath = N Ireland
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right-arm off spin/medium pace
role = Bowler
club1 = Glamorgan
year1 = 1972-1976
club2 = Devon
year2 = 1969
club3 = Coast Cricket Association XI
year3 = 1964
club4 = East African Invitation XI
year4 = 1963
type1 = First-class
debutdate1 = 2 November
debutyear1 = 1963
debutfor1 =
East African Invitation XI
debutagainst1 = MCC
lastdate1 = 11 August
lastyear1 = 1976
lastfor1 = Glamorgan
lastagainst1 = Somerset
type2 = List A
debutdate2 = 10 May
debutyear2 = 1969
debutfor2 = Devon
debutagainst2 = Hertfordshire
lastdate2 = 8 August
lastyear2 = 1976
lastfor2 = Glamorgan
lastagainst2 = West Indies
deliveries = balls
columns = 2
column1 = First-class
matches1 = 84
runs1 = 2374
bat avg1 = 20.46
100s/50s1 = 0/9
top score1 = 73
deliveries1 = 9917
wickets1 = 183
bowl avg1 = 25.34
fivefor1 = 8
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 6/63
catches/stumpings1 = 17/0
column2 = List A
matches2 = 91
runs2 = 1134
bat avg2 = 18.29
100s/50s2 = 0/2
top score2 = 60
deliveries2 = 3626
wickets2 = 92
bowl avg2 = 27.46
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = 0
best bowling2 = 4/23
catches/stumpings2 = 21/0
date = 16 August
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4747/4747.html CricketArchive

John William Solanky (30 June 1942–7 October 2003) was a Tanzanian cricketer. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/other/content/player/23973.html John Solanky] , Cricinfo. Retrieved on 2008-08-16.] A right-handed batsman and right-arm off spin/medium pace bowler, he played for Glamorgan County Cricket Club between 1972 and 1976. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4747/4747.html John Solanky] , CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-08-16.]

Biography

Early life and career

Born in Dar es Salaam in 1942, John Solanky played twice for Tanganyika - against Uganda in 1959 and 1960. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4747/Other_matches.html Other matches played by John Solanky] , CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-09-04.] He made his first-class cricket debut in November 1963, playing for an East African Invitation XI against the MCC in Kampala. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4747/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by John Solanky] , CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-08-21.]

He played a second first-class match in 1964, for a Coast Cricket Association XI against Pakistan International Airlines in Mombasa, but soon emigrated to England due to political changes in Tanzania.2004, [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/208961.html Obituaries P-S] , Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Retrieved on 2008-08-16.] Here he began to play league cricket in Devon and represented Devon County Cricket Club in the Minor Counties Championship between 1967 and 1969, also making his List A debut when he played for Devon against Hertfordshire in the first round of the 1969 Gillette Cup. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4747/List_A_Matches.html List A matches played by John Solanky] , CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-08-16.]

Glamorgan career

His bowling and batting at minor counties level attracted the attention of first-class county scouts, and he was signed by Glamorgan, making his debut for the county in a friendly match against Worcestershire in April 1972. He made his competitive debut for them four days later, playing a Benson & Hedges Cup match against Gloucestershire, and his County Championship debut the following month in a match against Hampshire. After the season, Solanky returned to Africa with his county side, playing a three match series against the Zambia national cricket team.

His 1973 season started with various John Player League and Benson & Hedges Cup matches in addition to first-class matches against Cambridge University and New Zealand, and by this time he had become a regular in the Glamorgan side.

Solanky played in several matches for Glamorgan over the following few years, and also played against his old East African team as they warmed up for the 1975 World Cup. His Glamorgan career eventually came to an end in 1976 when the county signed West Indian all-rounder Collis King. He was still on the books at the county in 1977, and played for the Under-25s (though he was 34 at the time) [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4747/Warwick_Pool_Under-25_Matches.html Warwick Pool Under-25 Matches played by John Solanky] at CricketArchive] and Second XI that year. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4747/Second_Eleven_Championship_Matches.html Second Eleven Championship matches played by John Solanky] , CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-08-16.]

Later life and career

After leaving Glamorgan, Solanky spent a year as a cricket coach and squash professional in South Wales before moving to Northern Ireland in 1980. He played for and coached Lisburn and Cliftonville Cricket Clubs, coaching future Ireland internationals such as Kyle McCallan, Andrew Patterson and Mark Patterson.

In the late 1980s he began teaching technology at a school in Carrickfergus, continuing to play as an amateur with Cliftonville CC until 1993. He remained in the teaching profession until he died suddenly from a heart attack in 2003.

Cricket statistics

In 84 first-class matches, Solanky scored 2374 runs at an average of 20.46 with a top score of 73 for Glamorgan against Cambridge University in 1975. Solanky took his 100th first-class wicket in the same match. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/35/35310.html Glamorgan v Cambridge University] , 1975-07-04, CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-09-04.] He took 183 wickets at an average of 25.34, with best innings bowling figures of 6/63 against Derbyshire in 1975. In 91 List A matches, he scored 1134 runs at an average of 18.29, with a top score of 60 against Derbyshire in 1975. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/35/35145.html Derbyshire v Glamorgan in 1975] , 1975-06-01, CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-09-04.] He took 92 wickets at an average of 27.46, with best innings bowling figures of 4/23 for Glamorgan against Nottinghamshire in 1973. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/33/33689.html Nottinghamshire v Glamorgan in 1973] , 1973-08-12, CricketArchive. Retrieved on 2008-09-04.]

References

External links

*cricinfo|ref=other/content/player/23973.html
*cricketarchive|ref=Archive/Players/4/4747/4747.html