Frank Allan

Not to be confused with Frank Allan (bishop) or Frank Allen (disambiguation).

Frank Allan

File:Frank Allan Bowling.jpg Caricature of Allan, 1877
Personal information
Full name	Francis Erskine Allan
Born	(1849-12-02)2 December 1849 Allansford, Victoria, Australia
Died	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nickname	The Bowler of a Century
Batting style	right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling style	left arm medium
International information
National side	Australian
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class Matches 1 31 Runs scored 5 371 Batting average 5.00 10.91 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 Top score 5 35* Balls bowled 180 Wickets 4 123 Bowling average 20.00 13.31 5 wickets in innings 0 11 10 wickets in match 0 2 Best bowling 2/30 8/20 Catches/stumpings 0/0 14/0
Source: Cricinfo

Francis Erskine "Frank" Allan (2 December 1849 in Allansford, Victoria, Australia – 9 February 1917 in Melbourne) was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1879.

In February 1869, Allan made his first-class debut for Victoria in an intercolonial match against New South Wales. Allan and Victorian captain Tom Wills obliterated the New South Wales batsmen with 8/20 in the first innings and 7/44 in the second innings respectively, securing Victoria's 78-run win. Allan's successes in intercolonial cricket earned him the sobriquet "the bowler of a century".

Allan was probably past his best by the time Test cricket arrived but had a reputation as a superb medium pace bowler (though would probably be more regarded as a spin bowler in modern cricket).

On the Australians tour of 1878 to England, Allan produced some excellent spells of bowling to take over 200 wickets in all games on the tour. However he was troubled by bouts of sickness from the point of arrival in England as he struggled to adjust to the cold weather.

Allan's only Test came against the touring Lord Harris XI in 1879. He had been selected for the first two Tests two years earlier but had declined selection both times, including preferring to attend the Warrnambool Agricultural Fair with friends than playing in the inaugural Test match.

Allan was also a leading Australian rules footballer for the South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

Sources

• Atkinson, G. (1982) Everything you ever wanted to know about Australian rules football but couldn't be bothered asking, The Five Mile Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0 86788 009 0.
• Cricinfo page