William Duff (cricketer)

William Dick Duff MC (19 September 1890 – 7 October 1953) was a South African soldier and cricketer.

William Duff
Personal information
Full name
William Dick Duff
Born(1890-09-19)19 September 1890
Pietermaritzburg, Natal
Died7 October 1953(1953-10-07) (aged 63)
Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa
BowlingRight-arm leg-spin
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1919–20 to 1924–25Transvaal
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 10
Runs scored 72
Batting average 9.00
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 18 not out
Balls bowled 1035
Wickets 24
Bowling average 31.33
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/37
Catches/stumpings 7/–
Source: Cricinfo, 27 October 2017

Military career

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Born in Pietermaritzburg, William Duff enlisted as a private in the 1st Mounted Rifles (Natal Carbineers) in August 1914 and was commissioned a lieutenant in the 6th South African Infantry in December 1915. He embarked for East Africa in January 1916, and was severely wounded on 21 March. After recovering and returning to duty in November 1916, he served as aide-de-camp to the General Officer Commanding the 2nd East African Infantry Brigade. Suffering from malaria and anaemia, he was released from service on 2 January 1918. He was awarded the Military Cross.[1]

Cricket career

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A leg-break and googly bowler, Duff made his first-class debut in 1919. Playing in his first Currie Cup match a year later, he took 4 for 37 and 3 for 55 in Transvaal's innings victory over Griqualand West.[2]

He played irregularly for Transvaal over the next four seasons. In 1924–25 when S. B. Joel's English team toured, he took three wickets against them for Transvaal in a first-class match[3] followed immediately by seven wickets for East Rand in a two-day match.[4] He was selected for South Africa in the second and third of the five unofficial Tests, but took only three wickets. He played no further first-class cricket.

References

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  1. ^ "Lot 1221". Dix Noonan Webb. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Transvaal v Griqualand West 1920–21". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Transvaal v S. B. Joel's XI 1924–25". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  4. ^ "East Rand v S. B. Joel's XI 1924–25". CricketArchive. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
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