Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
WA Cricket is mourning the loss of former Western Australian player Peter Kelly, who recently passed away aged 81.
Kelly, a diminutive opening batter, played 20 Sheffield Shield games for WA between 1964-65 and 1966-67, scoring 1,329 runs at 37.97 including two centuries and seven half-centuries.
Born in Mosman, Sydney, Kelly moved to WA and signed with North Perth Cricket Club, where his performances earned him a First Class debut for WA versus Victoria in November 1964 at the WACA Ground.
The following season, Kelly became the first WA player to score a century in each innings against the MCC, tallying 119 and 108 not-out. The second of those two knocks came despite being struck on the head with a short ball, which forced him to retire hurt before resuming his innings later in the match.
That November, Kelly – the father of former WA player Rob Kelly – compiled his highest score of 132, defying New South Wales during a Sheffield Shield contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
All told, Kelly’s First Class career yielded 1,611 runs at 40.27 with four centuries and seven half-centuries.
WA Cricket sends its deepest condolences to his friends and family.
WA Cricket, formerly known as the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA), is the governing body for cricket in Western Australia. Established on November 5, 1885, the WACA opened its iconic ground, the WACA Ground, in 1893.
