Paul Randles (cricketer)

Paul John Leonard Randles (21 May 1922 – 1 May 1979) was a South African cricketer, rugby player and lawyer. He played first-class cricket for Natal between 1952 to 1957.

Paul Randles
Personal information
Full namePaul John Leonard Randles
Born(1922-05-21)21 May 1922
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa
Died1 May 1979(1979-05-01) (aged 56)
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicketkeeper-batsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1952-53 to 1957-58Natal
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 28
Runs scored 599
Batting average 17.11
100s/50s 0/2
Top score 67
Balls bowled 0
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings 51/23
Source: Cricinfo, 9 March 2020

Paul Randles was born in Pietermaritzburg in Natal and educated at Hilton College, where he was head boy.[1] He volunteered in World War II, serving in the Umvoti Mounted Rifles. He was taken prisoner at the fall of Tobruk in June 1942 and held in several PoW camps in Italy (PG 60, PG 41, PG 49 and Dulag 226). When the Italian Armistice was announced on 8 September 1943 he was released by the camp commandant and remained a fugitive for four months. During December 1943 he was sheltered and fed by the Pellegrini family near San Donato Val di Comino. In January 1944 he was recaptured by the Germans and imprisoned in Stalag VII-A, Moosburg. Later that year he was moved to Stalag IV-B, Muhlberg, and then to Stalag IV-G, Oschatz, a forced labour camp, where he remained until the end of the war.[1][2]

After the war, Randles studied law and became senior partner in the law firm Randles Davis and Wood in Pietermaritzburg.[1] He represented Natal at both rugby and cricket. He was Natal's wicket-keeper from 1952-53 to 1957–58.[3] His most successful season was his first, when he scored 272 runs at an average of 22.66, including his highest first-class score of 67 against Orange Free State, and took 18 catches and 10 stumpings.[4]

References
  1. "Pte Paul John Leonard Randles". The Wartime Memories Project. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  2. Jennifer Potgieter, Dad's War, 2016.
  3. "Paul Randles". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  4. "First-class batting and fielding in each season by Paul Randles". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.