Robert Gleeson Explained

Robert Gleeson
Fullname:Robert Anthony Gleeson
Birth Date:10 December 1872
Birth Place:Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony
Death Place:Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, South Africa
Batting:Right-handed
Bowling:Right-arm medium
Columns:2
Column1:Test
Matches1:1
Runs1:4
Bat Avg1:4.00
100S/50S1:0/0
Top Score1:3
Deliveries1:
Wickets1:
Bowl Avg1:
Fivefor1:
Tenfor1:
Best Bowling1:
Catches/Stumpings1:2/–
Column2:First-class
Matches2:9
Runs2:312
Bat Avg2:18.35
100S/50S2:0/2
Top Score2:71
Deliveries2:166
Wickets2:7
Bowl Avg2:9.85
Fivefor2:0
Tenfor2:0
Best Bowling2:4/9
Catches/Stumpings2:6/–
International:true
Country:South Africa
Testdebutagainst:England
Testdebutdate:13 February
Testdebutyear:1896
Onetest:true
Source:https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/188/188.html CricketArchive
Date:13 November
Year:2022

Robert Anthony Gleeson (10 December 1872 – 27 September 1919)[1] was a South African cricketer who played one Test match in 1896.

A useful batsman and a medium-pace bowler, Robert Gleeson's first-class career spanned the years 1894 to 1904, interrupted by a break of six years between 1897 and 1903. Playing for Eastern Province, he was more effective in the first half of his career, hitting up scores of, amongst others, 67 against Transvaal at Cape Town in March 1894[2] and 71 against Natal at Johannesburg in March 1897.[3] He also recorded his best bowling figures during this period, 4 for 9 against Griqualand West at Cape Town in March 1894.

When Lord Hawke brought an England side to South Africa in 1895–96, Gleeson was selected for the First Test, played at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth. Scoring just 3 in South Africa's first innings and 1 not out in their second, as well as holding two catches, he failed to impress enough to secure a place for the other two matches in the series.[4]

Gleeson, who worked as a wool buyer, married a widow, Florence Hall, in Port Elizabeth in April 1919.[5] He died in September that year, aged 46.[6]

References

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Robert Anthony Gleeson . Find-a-Grave . 1 July 2023.
  2. Web site: Transvaal v Eastern Province 1893-94 . CricketArchive . 1 July 2023.
  3. Web site: Eastern Province v Natal 1896-97 . CricketArchive . 1 July 2023.
  4. Web site: 1st Test, Gqeberha, February 13 - 14, 1896, England tour of South Africa . Cricinfo . 1 July 2023.
  5. Web site: Marriage Register . Ancestry.com.au . 1 July 2023.
  6. Web site: Robert Gleeson . Cricket Archive . 1 July 2023.