Les Favell
 Favell in 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 6 October 1929 Arncliffe, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 14 June 1987 (aged 57) Magill, South Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Test debut (cap 198) | 26 November 1954 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 27 January 1961 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricInfo, 19 May 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cricket career
Leslie Ernest Favell MBE (6 October 1929 – 14 June 1987) was an Australian cricketer who played in 19 Test matches between 1954 and 1961. South Australia's fourth highest run scorer, Favell was a much loved character and a daring batsman who liked to hit the ball around the ground.
Favell moved to South Australia in 1951, joining the East Torrens Cricket Club. He debuted for South Australia the same year, playing 121 games (1951–1970) and captaining 95 games, including Sheffield Shield victories in 1963–64 and 1968–69.[1][2] He made his Test debut against England in 1954–55 at Brisbane after making 84 and 47 against them for South Australia, but he failed in the series and was dropped. He is mentioned in Lord Kitchener's calypso single The Ashes (Australia vs MCC 1955): "Les Favell got going, his wicket went tumbling", referring to his 30, caught Cowdrey bowled Tyson, the first wicket of Tyson's seven in the 3rd Test at Melbourne.
He scored 12,379 runs in first-class cricket, the most by an Australian player who never toured England.[3]
Captaincy
Favell was a positive captain, seeking scoring at a high rate for the time of 300 runs per day, regardless of wickets lost, to increase chances of successful run chases later in the game.[4]
Recognition
Favell was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1969 New Year Honours for service to cricket.[5]
The Favell-Dansie Indoor Centre, Adelaide Oval's indoor cricket centre, is named after both Favell and his contemporary, Neil Dansie.
Personal life
Favell and his wife Berry[6] had a son. Favell died of kidney cancer.[7]
References
- ↑ Leslie Ernest (Les) Favell. Australian Dictionary of Biography.
- ↑ Mike Coward (4 September 2010) Mike Coward on Les Favell, his Favourite Cricketer | Cricket. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ↑ "Simply marvellous". ESPN Cricinfo. 6 October 2005. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ↑ https://www.thetimes.com/sport/cricket/article/ben-stokes-mike-atherton-ian-chappell-captaincy-n9hkggmng
- ↑ "Mr Lesley Ernest Favell". It's an Honour. 1 January 1969. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ↑ https://www.espn.co.uk/cricket/story/_/id/23162285/statement-saca-president-passing-berry-favell
- ↑ https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/les-favell-5220
- 1929 births
- 1987 deaths
- Australian Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Australia Test cricketers
- South Australia cricketers
- Cricketers from Sydney
- Sportsmen from New South Wales
- 20th-century Australian sportsmen
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- Australian cricket biography, 1920s birth stubs