Frank Hearne

A famous cricketing family, Frank Hearne was a solid batsman with a strong defence and a range of attacking shots, favouring the off-side. He also occasionally bowled fast round-arm. A Kent regular, in 1888-89 he toured South Africa with Major Warton's side and stayed on at the end of the trip on health grounds, setting up a sports outfitters in Cape Town. He was soon invited to play for Western Province, and in an era when qualification for a new territory such as South Africa was extremely relaxed, within two years he was making his debut against his two brothers, who were both making their own debuts for England. He toured England in 1894, and to add to the mixed family loyalties, his son, George Hearne, played for South Africa as well.
Martin Williamson