13 Facts About Louis Tancred

Louis Joseph Tancred was a South African cricketer who played in 14 Test matches from 1902 to 1913, including three as captain.

Louis Tancred made his first-class debut for Transvaal against Western Province on 24 March 1897, scoring 40 and 15.

The next season, Louis Tancred starred in the Currie Cup, scoring 120 against Natal and averaging 36.12 for the season, placing him second in the batting averages.

Louis Tancred's flourishing cricketing career was waylaid by the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War.

Louis Tancred served as a trooper with the Western Province Mounted Rifles and awarded the Queen's Medal for bravery.

Louis Tancred eventually made his Test debut against Australia on 11 October 1902 at Johannesburg, scoring 97 and 24.

Louis Tancred's 97 was the highest score by a South African on Test debut until Andrew Hudson's 163 against the West Indies in 1992.

Louis Tancred went into seclusion for a few days before returning to the South African side to post some large scores late in the tour, including 250 against Scotland.

Louis Tancred made a pair in his only Test of the tour.

In 1912 Louis Tancred played in the Triangular Tournament between England, Australia and South Africa, including three matches as captain in the absence of the injured Frank Mitchell.

Louis Tancred averaged only 20.29 during the tour and South Africa lost all three matches he captained.

Louis Tancred played his final Test the next season, against England at Johannesburg, making 13 and 20 and finishing with 530 Test runs at an average of 21.20.

Louis Tancred's disillusionment was such that Tancred strongly advised his son Louis Jnr not to embark on a career in sport.