Keith Carmody
Encyclopedia
Douglas Keith Carmody was an Australian first class
cricketer who played during the 1940s and 1950s.
He was Western Australia
's captain when they won their first ever Sheffield Shield and is credited as being the inventor of the 'umbrella field'.
Born in Mosman
, Carmody started his career with New South Wales
. He made his Sheffield Shield debut against Queensland
in 1939/40, his only game before the competition was suspended because of the war. During World War II
, Carmody joined the Royal Australian Air Force
but continued playing cricket with the Australian Services team
, touring England and India in 1945. Carmody was at one stage imprisoned at Stalag Luft III
, having been shot down off the coast of Holland. He was eventually freed by the Russian army.
When the war ended he returned to Shield cricket for the 1946/47 season. The following summer he crossed to Western Australia who had just joined the competition and Carmody was appointed as their inaugural captain. Carmody made his highest first class score of 198 against South Australia
in Perth
during the season. They went on to win the competition in their first attempt and Carmody remained in charge until Ken Meuleman
took over in 1956-57.
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
cricketer who played during the 1940s and 1950s.
He was Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
's captain when they won their first ever Sheffield Shield and is credited as being the inventor of the 'umbrella field'.
Born in Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
, Carmody started his career with New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
. He made his Sheffield Shield debut against Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
in 1939/40, his only game before the competition was suspended because of the war. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Carmody joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
but continued playing cricket with the Australian Services team
Australian Services cricket team
The Australian Services XI was a cricket team comprising solely military service personnel during World War II. They became active in May 1945 after the defeat of Nazi Germany. The team played matches against English cricket sides of both military and civilian origins to celebrate the end of the war...
, touring England and India in 1945. Carmody was at one stage imprisoned at Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II that housed captured air force servicemen. It was in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan , southeast of Berlin...
, having been shot down off the coast of Holland. He was eventually freed by the Russian army.
When the war ended he returned to Shield cricket for the 1946/47 season. The following summer he crossed to Western Australia who had just joined the competition and Carmody was appointed as their inaugural captain. Carmody made his highest first class score of 198 against South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
during the season. They went on to win the competition in their first attempt and Carmody remained in charge until Ken Meuleman
Ken Meuleman
Kenneth Douglas Meuleman was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1946....
took over in 1956-57.