| Bob Caple | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | Robert Graham Caple |
| Birth Date: | 8 December 1939 |
| Birth Place: | Chiswick, Middlesex, England |
| Death Place: | South Africa |
| Batting: | Left-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm off break |
| Club1: | Marylebone Cricket Club |
| Year1: | 1958 |
| Club2: | Middlesex |
| Year2: | 1959 |
| Club3: | Hampshire |
| Year3: | 1961–1967 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 68 |
| Runs1: | 1,581 |
| Bat Avg1: | 18.38 |
| 100S/50S1: | –/5 |
| Top Score1: | 64 |
| Deliveries1: | 2,861 |
| Wickets1: | 34 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 36.32 |
| Fivefor1: | 1 |
| Tenfor1: | – |
| Best Bowling1: | 5/54 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 32/– |
| Date: | 6 February |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Source: | http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/10654.html Cricinfo |
Robert Graham Caple (8 December 1939 — 29 December 2019) was an English first-class cricketer.
Caple was born at Chiswick in December 1939. He made his debut in first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Oxford University at Lord's in 1958. The following season, he made two first-class appearances for Middlesex against Oxford University and Cambridge University.[1] Caple left Middlesex to join Hampshire in 1961,[2] making his debut for Hampshire against Oxford University in that year. A gap of two years followed before his next appearance for Hampshire at Bournemouth in 1963, with Caple establishing himself in the Hampshire side that year. He made 65 first-class appearances for Hampshire until 1967,[1] scoring 1,531 runs at an average of 18.22;[3] he made five half centuries, with a highest score of 64 not out coming against Surrey in 1964.[2] Although Caple was also a useful off break bowler, he found himself playing for Hampshire at a time when they had strong spin bowling options, limiting his bowling for Hampshire.[2] Thus, he was limited to 28 wickets at a bowling average of 35.82;[4] he took one five wicket haul, with figures of 5 for 54 against Oxford University in 1966.[2]
Caple left Hampshire, alongside Geoff Keith, at the end of the 1967 season.[5] Following the conclusion of his playing career, he became a successful cricket coach. He coached at Bedford School for 23 years, before coaching in South Africa at St. Alban's College for sixteen years.[2] Caple died in South Africa in December 2019.[2]