Gus Kempis

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = South African
country = South Africa
country abbrev = RSA
name = Gus Kempis
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Left-arm medium
tests = 1
test runs = 0
test bat avg = 0.00
test 100s/50s = 0 / 0
test top score = 0*
test balls = 168
test wickets = 4
test bowl avg = 19.00
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 3/53
test catches/stumpings = 0 / 0
FCs = 6
FC runs = 60
FC bat avg = 6.00
FC 100s/50s = 0 / 0
FC top score = 24
FC balls = 1,248
FC wickets = 45
FC bowl avg = 13.00
FC 5s = 4
FC 10s = 2
FC best bowling = 7/33
FC catches/stumpings = 2 / 0
debut date = 12 March
debut year = 1889
last date = 12 March
last year = 1889
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/45794.html Cricinfo

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.

References

# "World Cricketers - A Biographical Dictionary" by Christopher Martin-Jenkins published by Oxford University Press (1996)
# "The Wisden Book of Test Cricket, Volume 1 (1877-1977)" compiled and edited by Bill Frindall published by Headline Book Publishing (1995)
# "Who's Who of Cricketers" by Philip Bailey, Philip Thorn & Peter Wynne-Thomas published by Hamlyn (1993)
# www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players