Eric Marx
{{short description|South African cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use South African English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Eric Marx
| image = File:WFE Marx.jpg
| caption =
| fullname = Waldemar Frederick Eric Marx
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1895|7|4|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Johannesburg, South African Republic
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1974|6|2|1895|7|4|df=yes}}
| death_place = Durban, Natal, South Africa
| batting = Left-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium-pace
| columns = 2
| column1 = Tests
| matches1 = 3
| runs1 = 125
| bat avg1 = 20.83
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 36
| deliveries1 = 228
| wickets1 = 4
| bowl avg1 = 36.00
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 3/85
| catches/stumpings1= 0/–
| column2 = First-class
| matches2 = 9
| runs2 = 656
| bat avg2 = 41.00
| 100s/50s2 = 2/1
| top score2 = 240
| deliveries2 = 780
| wickets2 = 13
| bowl avg2 = 30.84
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 3/85
| catches/stumpings2= 2/–
| international = true
| country = South Africa
| testdebutfor =
| testdebutagainst =
| testdebutdate = 5 November
| testdebutyear = 1921
| lasttestdate = 26 November
| lasttestfor =
| lasttestagainst =
| lasttestyear = 1921
| source = https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/eric-marx-46184 Cricinfo
| date = 18 June 2019
}}
Waldemar Frederick Eric Marx (4 July 1895 – 2 June 1974) was a South African cricketer who played in three Tests in 1921.{{cite web |title=Eric Marx |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/411/411.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=13 March 2023}}
Life and career
Marx was born in Johannesburg and educated at Malvern College in England. He created a world record that stood for 73 years when he scored 240 on his first-class debut, for Transvaal against Griqualand West at Johannesburg in December 1920.Wisden 1995, p. 1234. Opening the batting, he hit 39 fours and a six, and took only 225 minutes. By the end of the first day, 16 December, Transvaal had dismissed Griqualand West for 141 after declaring at 457 for 9: 598 runs for 19 wickets off 121.3 six-ball overs in a day's play.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9992.html Transvaal v Griqualand West, 1920-21] In the next three matches he opened both batting and bowling, hitting another century against Orange Free State (on an opening day that yielded 645 runs for 16 wickets)[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10020.html Transvaal v Orange Free State, 1920-21] and taking 7 wickets at 25.42.
When the Australians toured in October and November 1921, Marx made 65 (the top score) against them for Transvaal, batting at number six,{{cite web |title=Transvaal v Australians 1921-22 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10323.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=13 March 2023}} and was picked for the three Tests. Batting in the middle order and opening the bowling, he was only moderately successful, his best match being the Second Test, in which he made 36 and 34 and took three wickets.{{cite web |title=2nd Test, Johannesburg, November 12 - 16, 1921, Australia tour of South Africa |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-south-africa-1921-22-61377/south-africa-vs-australia-2nd-test-62532/full-scorecard |website=Cricinfo |access-date=13 March 2023}}
Marx played one more match for Transvaal in December 1921. His first-class cricket career, which lasted just over 12 months, ended when he went to work on the mines of the East Rand and the mine manager refused to give him time off to play first-class cricket.Denys Heesom, [http://magazine.cricketarchive.com/Magazine/1974/vol_55_no_11/34/index.html "Forgotten? W.F.E. Marx Rediscovered"], Cricketer, November 1974, p. 33. Heesom, who met Marx, referred to him as Wally, not Eric.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=46184}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marx, Eric}}
Category:People educated at Malvern College
Category:South Africa Test cricketers
Category:South African cricketers
Category:Cricketers from Johannesburg
Category:South African expatriates in England
Category:Cricketers who have scored double centuries on first-class cricket debut