Frank Druce

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Frank Druce
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = -
tests = 5
test runs = 252
test bat avg = 28.00
test 100s/50s = -/1
test top score = 64
test balls = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 5/-
FCs = 66
FC runs = 3416
FC bat avg = 35.21
FC 100s/50s = 9/12
FC top score = 227*
FC balls = 528
FC wickets = 8
FC bowl avg = 33.50
FC 5s = -
FC 10s = -
FC best bowling = 1/8
FC catches/stumpings = 66/-
debut date = 13 December
debut year = 1897
last date = 26 February
last year = 1898
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11940.html

Norman Frank Druce (January 1, 1875, Denmark Hill, London – October 27, 1954, Milford on Sea, Hampshire) was an England cricketer who played in 5 Tests from 1897 to 1898. He is one of the very few Test cricketers to have made his claims for inclusion purely upon his performance for an Oxbridge university. He had played a few times for Surrey in 1895 and 1897, when the team was a powerful force in county cricket, but his performance was so modest that he had difficulty justifying his place.

Druce began his career in cricket with the Marlborough Eleven between 1891 and 1893, captaining them in his last season before moving to Cambridge University in 1894. He did little in his first season but in 1895, with very dry weather and firm pitches whilst University cricket was being played, he scored 786 runs in 17 innings for the university at an average of 56. He made an impressive 50 on a fiery pitch for the Gentlemen against an extremely strong Players attack (with Richardson, Mold and Peel prominent) at Lord's in July, but playing for Surrey in July and August that year Druce was a complete failure on a succession of sticky wickets - so much so that in seven matches he scored only 111 runs from ten innings.

In 1896, Druce again did well for Cambridge even if - with the weather even drier than in the corresponding period of 1895 - he could not be said to have advanced. He was not available for Surrey after the University season ended, but in 1897, after being appointed captain of Cambridge University, he surpassed his 1895 form, averaging 66 an innings. Although he was again disappointing for Surrey later than year, his form was so good for the University that "Wisden" chose Druce as one of their "Five Cricketers of the Year" for 1898 and he toured Australia.

Although England were overwhelmed as bowlers like Richardson and Briggs lost form, Druce did not do badly, averaging 28 in his five Tests.

Although it was rumoured that Druce would play for Kent in 1898, it was, according to Wisden that year, thought that "very little will be seen of him in first-class cricket". In fact, Druce "could not spare any time at all" for county cricket as he moved into business, and though he played two more first-class matches for MCC and H.D.G. Leveson Gower's XI in 1902 and 1909, his serious cricket had ended with his Ashes tour. However, his 152 for Free Foresters against Cambridge University as late as 1912 does suggest he would have done a good deal had he been able to play even occasionally.

Druce was a rather unorthodox batsman focused chiefly on hitting, and for his day his hitting on the leg-side was exceptional in quality. Although he was not a pure slogger, his defence on sticky wickets was not the equal of the best batsmen of his day, as shown in August 1895.

External links

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/0/215/f_Batting_by_Season.html First-class batting averages]