| Malcolm Francke | |
| Fullname: | Fredrick Malcolm Francke |
| Birth Date: | 21 March 1939 |
| Birth Place: | Mount Lavinia, Colombo, Ceylon |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Legbreak googly |
| Columns: | 2 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 61 |
| Runs1: | 696 |
| Bat Avg1: | 10.54 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 37* |
| Deliveries1: | 12,090 |
| Wickets1: | 178 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 31.02 |
| Fivefor1: | 8 |
| Tenfor1: | 1 |
| Best Bowling1: | 6/62 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 31/– |
| Column2: | List A |
| Matches2: | 12 |
| Runs2: | 50 |
| Bat Avg2: | 12.50 |
| 100S/50S2: | 0/0 |
| Top Score2: | 26 |
| Deliveries2: | 636 |
| Wickets2: | 17 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 22.47 |
| Fivefor2: | 0 |
| Tenfor2: | 0 |
| Best Bowling2: | 4/23 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 4/– |
| Source: | https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8213/8213.html CricketArchive |
| Date: | 3 February |
| Year: | 2023 |
Fredrick Malcolm Francke (born 21 March 1939) is a former Australian first-class cricketer who played for Queensland.
A leg spinner, Francke played for Ceylon in 1957/58, and worked and played cricket in England for several years prior to migrating to Australia. He reports having had offers to play first-class county cricket in England but chose not to because it would have been a full-time commitment requiring him to suspend his career as an accountant. He represented Queensland from 1971/72 to 1985/86, making his debut against a touring World XI side.[1] Francke dismissed Clive Lloyd twice and also took the wickets of captain Rohan Kanhai and Sunil Gavaskar. He went on to take a total of 167 career first class wickets for Queensland with an innings best of 6 for 62 against South Australia in 1974.
In a 1977 article Ian Chappell called Francke "a very steady type of spinner, with good line and length, but I can't really see him bowling out Test batsmen. As well, he is getting on in years."[2]
He appeared to have played his last game in 1980 but made a return 6 years later to play in the 1985/86 Sheffield Shield season.[3] [4]
In 1975 he was part of a rebel tour of South Africa, playing for the Brian Close-led DH Robins XI.
Leading Australian spinner Ashley Mallett considered Francke to be the best legspinner in Australia during his time and was disappointed Francke never played Test cricket.[5] He had been mentioned in particular as a test chance in 1972/73[6] and 1973/74[7] and 74/75.[8]
In September 2018, he was one of 49 former Sri Lankan cricketers felicitated by Sri Lanka Cricket, to honour them for their services before Sri Lanka became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).[9] [10]