Bruce Bowley

Bruce Leonard Bowley (1 January 1922 – 14 May 2014) was an Australian cricketer who played 30 first-class matches for South Australia between 1947 and 1952, and a World War II Prisoner of War.

Early life The son of South Australian cricketer Leonard Bowley, and Minnie (née Trestrail), Bowley was born at Blyth Private Hospital in Blyth, South Australia.

Bowley's family moved to Adelaide soon after his birth and Bowley made his Adelaide Grade debut Bowley then moved to Kensington Cricket Club, where his father had played. and was in Singapore when it fell to the Japanese in 1942. During this time, both in and out of captivity, Bowley continued to play cricket, including for a local team in the Malayan cricket season Bowley reached the rank of Sergeant by the time of his discharge on 19 October 1945.

First-class career Following his return to Australia, Bowley joined East Torrens Cricket Club, Sturt until his retirement at the end of the 1958/59 season.

Bowley made his highest first-class score of 169 against the touring West Indies, in December 1951, the highest score made against the West Indian team during the tour. Bowley opened the batting and scored very slowly at first, reaching his century in 283 minutes but thereafter scoring a run a minute, leading long time cricket writer Johnnie Moyes to state that Bowley had "played a curious innings"

Later in the 1951/52 season, Bowley was batting for South Australia against New South Wales when, he was struck on the head by a bouncer from fast bowler Alan Walker. Bowley was taken to hospital for tests and Richie Benaud later wrote that he was shaken by the incident as he fielding close to Bowley and "was on the spot as he (Bowley) reeled away from the crease and fell." Author Kevin Blackburn suggests that Bowley may have played Test cricket if not for the war.

Bowley was described as "by nature a stroke-maker with a tendency to throw away his wicket through a sudden ambition to hit the bright lights"

Hockey career Bowley played for Burnside Hockey Club and served as President and Vice Patron of the South Australian Hockey Association, and was made a Life Member.

In addition to his father playing first-class cricket, Bowley's aunt married Test cricketer Arthur Richardson and Bowley's son Ian played for and coached Kensington.

Bowley was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1993 for his service to hockey and cricket as a player, coach and administrator.