Kelly Jim Image 7 New South Wales 1905

Description

Port Melbourne, Victoria born wicket-keeper Jim Kelly was the regular wicket keeper for New South Wales for two seasons, playing his grade cricket for Paddington, before being selected for his first tour to England in 1896. With Jack Blackham having retired, Kelly accompanied Victoria’s A.E. Johns in the tour party, but Kelly’s stronger batting soon saw him promoted to principal glovesman. He made his Test match debut at Lord’s in June 1896, and played in all three of the Test matches. and during the tour he made 59 dismissals, with 37 catches and 22 stumpings. While undoubtedly not the equal of the legendary Blackham, he was considered as a more than competent replacement.

In 1899 he returned to England for the second time, again with Johns as back-up, Kelly playing in all five of the Test matches, missing only 7 games of the tour’s 35 matches. On the tour he scored 103 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston and averaged 23 with the bat against 16 previously. In the Test match at Headingley, he came in at 39-5, scoring 33 to steady the Australian innings. Kelly toured England again in 1902 and 1905, and in 1903 was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. His career came to an end from medical advice, after he was struck above the heart while keeping during a Test at Old Trafford in 1905. He played 36 Test matches for Australia, making 63 dismissals with 43 caught and 20 stumpings. He averaged a shade over 17 with the bat in Test matches, with a highest score of 46 not out.

In all first class cricket, Kelly played 185 matches between 1894-95 and 1906-07, and effected 357 dismissals with 245 catches and 112 stumpings. He scored 3 centuries and 16 half centuries with a highest score of 108, at an average of 19.94.