Donald Steele
Personal information
Full name
Donald Macdonald Steele
Born(1892-08-17)17 August 1892
Adelaide, South Australia
Died13 July 1962(1962-07-13) (aged 69)
Adelaide
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1911-12 to 1920-21South Australia
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 19
Runs scored 1142
Batting average 35.68
100s/50s 3/7
Top score 113*
Balls bowled –
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings 11/0
Source: Cricinfo, 24 April 2017

Donald Macdonald Steele (17 August 1892 – 13 July 1962) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for South Australia from 1912 to 1921. He was later a prominent doctor in South Australia.

Family and early life

Don Steele was one of six brothers.[1] His elder brothers David Macdonald Steele[2] and Ken Steele[3] were doctors who served as medical officers in the field in World War I. Ken also played first-class cricket for South Australia before the war.[4]

Don attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, where he played in the First XI for six years from 1907 to 1912, captaining the team in the last three years.[5] He then studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, qualifying as a doctor at the end of 1919.[6]

Cricket career

Steele played his first game for South Australia in January 1912 while still at school. He became a regular player in the state team in 1912-13 and remained a fixture in the side until the end of the 1920-21 season, studies and professional duties permitting.

In his first match in the 1912-13 season he scored 113 not out in 175 minutes against New South Wales in an innings victory for South Australia.[7] He scored his second century in 1914-15 when he made 100 in 135 minutes, also against New South Wales.[8]

He captained South Australia in the last three matches of the 1920-21 Sheffield Shield season, scoring 107 not out in the first match, against Victoria.[9] He finished the season at the top of the South Australian batting averages, with 280 runs at 56.00.[10]

He was selected to captain the Australian team to tour New Zealand at the end of the season.[11] However, he was unable to go on the tour, having made arrangements to work as a locum in Port Lincoln.[12] His professional duties prevented him from playing any further first-class cricket.

Later life

He practised as a doctor in Port Lincoln for some years[13][1] before returning to practise in Adelaide, where he and his wife lived in Glenelg.[14]

While watching a Test match at Adelaide Oval in 1925 he was called on to treat the English spin bowler Tich Freeman, who had broken his wrist while attempting a catch. Steele put the wrist in splints then took Freeman to hospital.[15]

His son Ian was also a doctor.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Out Among the People". The Advertiser. 8 February 1935. p. 23.
  2. ↑ "STEELE, David MacDonald MC & Bar". Anzacs Online. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Kenneth Nugent STEELE". The AIF Project. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Kenneth Steele". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Miscellaneous matches played by Donald Steele". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "University versus North Adelaide". Chronicle. 6 December 1919. p. 18.
  7. ↑ "South Australia v New South Wales 1912-13". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "South Australia v New South Wales 1914-15". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Victoria v South Australia 1920-21". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Batting and fielding for South Australia, Sheffield Shield 1920-21". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "Australia v New Zealand. The Commonwealth Team". The Register. 17 January 1921. p. 7.
  12. ↑ "The New Zealand Trip. Dr Steele Unable to Go". The Journal. 17 January 1921. p. 1.
  13. ↑ "Dr Don Steele". Sport. 18 October 1926. p. 14.
  14. 1 2 "About People". The Advertiser. 15 April 1950. p. 12.
  15. ↑ "Injuries to Englishmen". Sunday Times. 18 January 1925. p. 1.
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