Leo O'Connor (cricketer)

Leo Patrick Devereaux O'Connor (11 April 1890 – 16 January 1985) was an Australian first-class cricketer who captained and kept wicket for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.

Leo O'Connor
Personal information
Full name
Leo Patrick Devereaux O'Connor
Born(1890-04-11)11 April 1890
Died16 January 1985(1985-01-16) (aged 94)
BattingRight-handed
RelationsBrian O'Connor (son)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1912/13–1929/30Queensland Bulls
FC debut31 January 1913 Queensland v New South Wales
Last FC17 January 1930 Queensland v South Australia
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 46
Runs scored 3,311
Batting average 39.89
100s/50s 9/13
Top score 196
Catches/stumpings 82/21
Source: CricketArchive, 16 November 2022

He was the first person ever to captain Queensland at cricket and represent them in Australian rules football, a feat later replicated by Aub Carrigan. His son, Brian O'Connor, also played both cricket and football for Queensland.

Football

Prior to commencing his first class cricket career, O'Connor played briefly with Australian rules football club Essendon in the VFL.

Cricket

He made his first appearance for Queensland in 1913 and was a regular for the state whenever they played a first class match over the following decade and a half. When Queensland made their Sheffield Shield debut in 1926-27 O'Connor was named as their inaugural captain.

Their first game was against New South Wales at Brisbane and with Queensland set 400 to win in the 4th innings he opened the batting and made 196 before being run out.[1] He had been the last wicket to fall and Queensland fell just 8 runs short of the target.

Queensland travelled to Sydney the following week to play their away fixture and O'Connor scored a century in both innings, thus becoming the first Queenslander to do so in Shield history.[2] It would be a good season for O'Connor with the bat, he finished with 731 runs at 66.45.[3]

Notes
  1. "Scorecard: NSW vs Queensland at Brisbane 1926-27". CricketArchive.
  2. "Leo O'Connor and the Queensland quest". Cricinfo.
  3. "Sheffield Shield 1926-27 Leading Batsmen". CricketArchive.

References
  • Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
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