Mervyn Kelaart

Allanson Mervyn Henry Kelaart (7 May 1908 – 2 February 1968) was a Ceylonese cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1932 and 1940. He scored Ceylon's first international century.

Mervyn Kelaart

Personal information
Full name	Allanson Mervyn Henry Kelaart
Born	7 May 1908 Colombo, Ceylon
Died	2 February 1968 (aged 59) Melbourne, Australia
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium-pace
Relations	Ed Kelaart (brother) Ernie Kelaart (nephew)
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 10 Runs scored 407 Batting average 20.35 100s/50s 1/1 Top score 101 Balls bowled 1479 Wickets 16 Bowling average 38.12 5 wickets in innings 0 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 4/70 Catches/stumpings 8/–
Source: Cricinfo, 26 September 2017

Mervyn Kelaart was a left-handed batsman who was particularly proficient at cutting and leg-glancing, and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.[1] At St. Joseph's College, Colombo, he headed both the batting and bowling averages.[2] On Ceylon's first tour, to India in 1932-33, batting at number three he scored a century in the first of the two matches against India, 101 out of Ceylon's total of 287. His brother Ed was Ceylon's captain in the match.[3] Mervyn also toured India in 1940-41.

He married Neliya Foenander in Colombo in June 1933. They had two daughters and two sons. In 1957 they moved to England, and 1964 they moved to Australia.[4][5]

References

1. I. M. Mansukhani, "Ceylon Tour in India", The Cricketer, Spring Annual, 1933, p. 74–75.
2. Wisden 1969, p. 982.
3. "India v Ceylon, Lahore 1932-33". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
4. "Sri Lanka Burgher Family Genealogy: PEREIRA Family #1215". Rootsweb. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
5. Ludovici, Lorenz (1 January 1991). "A Quest for Cousins" (PDF). The Journal of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon. Retrieved 26 September 2017.

External links

• Mervyn Kelaart at ESPNcricinfo
• Mervyn Kelaart at CricketArchive (subscription required)