Frank Hearne

Frank Hearne (23 November 1858 – 14 July 1949) was an English born cricketer. One of the few men to play Test cricket for more than one country, he played for both England and South Africa. He was a member of the Hearne family of cricketers who played first-class cricket between 1879 and 1904 for Kent County Cricket Club and Western Province.

Early life Hearne was born on 23 November 1858 in Ealing in what was then Middlesex. His father, George Hearne, had played for Middlesex and became the groundsman at Kent's Private Banks Sports Ground in Catford where Frank worked as a young man. He was also on the MCC ground staff at Lord's. In South Africa, Hearne played mainly for Western Province, making 11 first-class appearances for the team and playing in the Champion Bat Tournament in 1890/91 and the Currie Cup from 1892/93 to 1903/04. Hearne went on to play three more Test matches for South Africa, all against Lord Hawke's team which toured in 1895/96. He was described in Wisden in 1907 as "a brilliant bat and magnificent field who did many good performances for his county".

Hearne set up a sports shop when he emigrated to South Africa and also coached cricket. He umpired in six Test matches in South Africa between 1899 and 1906. He died at Mowbray, Cape Town in 1949 aged 90.