Len Balcam

Leonard Frank Balcam (born 20 August 1957) is an Australian former cricketer. He played five first-class cricket matches for Queensland between 1978 and 1980 and seven for Victoria between 1982 and 1984.[1]

Len Balcam
Personal information
Full name
Leonard Frank Balcam
Born (1957-08-20) 20 August 1957
Melbourne, Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeft-arm fast-medium
RoleBowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1978/79–1979/80Queensland
1981/82–1983/84Victoria
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A
Matches 12 8
Runs scored 100 18
Batting average 9.09 4.50
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 21 9
Balls bowled 1,939 450
Wickets 29 11
Bowling average 33.93 28.72
5 wickets in innings 0 1
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 3/35 5/49
Catches/stumpings 2/– 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 3 February 2021

Cricket career

Balcam began his cricket career in Victoria playing for the Footscray All Technical Schools cricket team in the early 1970s,[2] and he later played for the Footscray Cricket Club in grade cricket alongside Merv Hughes and Tony Dodemaide.[3]

He moved to Queensland at some point where he joined the South Brisbane District Cricket Club and he began playing for the Queensland First-class side in 1978.[4] He was described as being part of Queensland's "new pace battery" as he debuted in the side at the same time as fellow pace bowler George Brabon.[5] He achieved notice for scoring "unexpected extra runs" as a tailend batsman in a match against Western Australia in his first season.[6] In November 1978 he played for Queensland against the touring English Test team,[7] and took 3 for 56 notably bowling David Gower,[8] and had a short but notable performance with the bat being part of a partnership with John Maclean which scored 54 runs in just 47 minutes.[9] In December 1978 he was criticized for "spraying the new ball" while trying to achieve extra pace in a match against Tasmania.[10] Ahead of the 1979-80 season Balcam was dropped by Queensland, with fast bowler Carl Rackemann joining the side,[11] although he did play one match in the season in which he took three wickets.[12]

He returned to Victoria after being dropped by Queensland and in 1982 he began playing for the Victorian First-class side.[13] He played against another touring England side in 1982,[14] and also against a touring New Zealand side dismissing Martin Crowe albeit after he had scored a century.[15] He represented Victoria in their tour game against Sri Lanka in February 1983.[16] He was dropped by Victoria in the 1983-84 season but recalled after Rod McCurdy was injured however it was his last season of First-class cricket.[17] He remained a member of the Victorian squad until at least 1987.[18]

Balcam coached the Williamstown Cricket Club for the 2004-05 season.[19]

State career statistics

Balcam was a regular in the Queensland First-class side for one season and despite performing well statistically, averaging well below 25.00 with the ball, he was dropped from the side the following season with the exception of being recalled for one isolated game. He did not play First-class cricket for two seasons but returned to state level cricket for Victoria for the 1982-83 season in which he performed well with the ball. He struggled the following season, averaging over 80, which was his final First-class season.

Balcam only played one List-A game for Queensland in which he took five for 49, his best figures at state level. He debuted for Victoria in List-A cricket before being selected in the first-class side but struggled in his three seasons for the team failing to average below 30.00 in any of them.

References
  1. "Leonard Balcam". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  2. "Footscray Technical School Blue and Gold 1973". Victoria University Archives at issuu.com. n.d. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. "DUTY FIRST FOR SELFLESS DADS". Greenvale Kangaroos Cricket Club. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. "South Brisbane District Cricket Club: A History - 1897-2018, p 164" (PDF). South Brisbane District Cricket Club. n.d. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  5. "Top England team today". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 24 November 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. "Hohns, 89, leads Qld to safety". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 13 November 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  7. "Top England team today". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 24 November 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  8. "WARNING SOUNDED FOR TEST". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 26 November 1978. p. 28. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  9. "England, one down, needs 114 to win". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 27 November 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  10. "Victoria crumbles to NSW attack". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 16 December 1978. p. 48. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  11. "New Queensland Players". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 23 October 1979. p. 20. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  12. "Queensland Australian First-Class Season 1979/80: Averages". Cricinfo. n.d. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  13. "Malone retires, after WA win". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 7 March 1982. p. 28. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  14. "England scratches to make 275 runs". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 5 December 1982. p. 23. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  15. "Strong NZ position with century by Howarth". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 12 December 1982. p. 29. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  16. "Victoria, Sri Lanka evenly poised". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 4 February 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  17. "CRICKET Victorian hopes in Shield game hit by loss of McCurdy". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 29 December 1983. p. 14. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  18. "Vic's Shield Hopes Fading". Canberra Times. Canberra, ACT. 22 March 1987. p. 6. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  19. "WCC Coaches". Williamstown Cricket Club. n.d. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
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