Billy King (cricketer)

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Billy King
country = Ireland
fullname = William Robert King
partialdates = true
dayofbirth = 16
monthofbirth = 12
yearofbirth = 1902
placeofbirth = County Clare
countryofbirth = Ireland
dayofdeath =
monthofdeath = 1
yearofdeath = 1987
placeofdeath = Dublin
countryofdeath = Ireland
batting = Left-handed
bowling = Left-arm orthodox spin
club1 = Dublin University
year1 = 1922
columns = 0
date = 15 December
year = 2007
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30788/30788.html CricketArchive

William Robert "Billy" King (16 December 1902 in County Clare, Ireland – January 1987 in Dublin) [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30788/30788.html Cricket Archive profile] ] was an all-round sportsman who played cricket for both Ireland [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CSTATZ/irelandall/bio/k/king_wr.html CricketEurope Stats Zone biography] ] and the Straits Settlements, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30788/all_teams.html Teams played for by Billy King] at CricketArchive] and played rugby union for Singapore.

Biography

Educated mainly in Tipperary, he excelled at sport, particularly cricket and rugby union. He entered Dublin University in 1921, where he quickly found himself part of the cricket team, for whom he played a first-class match against Essex in 1922. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30788/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Billy King] at CricketArchive] His sole appearance for the Irish national side came against Wales in August 1923, [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CSTATZ/irelandall/ire1499.htm CricketEurope Stats Zone profile] ] scoring 45 as Ireland beat Wales by an innings.

Soon after that match, he took up an appointment in Singapore, and eventually played both rugby for Singapore and cricket for the Straits Settlements, playing against the Federated Malay States in 1926. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/125/125950.html Scorecard] of Federated Malay States v Straits Settlements, 31 July 1926 at CricketArchive] He joined the army in 1941, and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the Battle of Singapore. He was captured when the city fell and spent the remainder of the war in Changi Prison. He later returned to live in Ireland, and married late in life, having children in his late 70s.

References