Fred Morley

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Fred Morley

| image = Fred_Morley.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1850|12|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1884|9|28|1850|12|16|df=y}}

| death_place = Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England

| nickname = Speedy FredRandall, Derek. Thomas, Peter Wynne. The History of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Christopher Helm Publishers. 1992.Major, John Roy. More Than a Game: The Story of Cricket's Early Years. Harper Collins UK. 2007.Birley, Derek. A Social History of English Cricket. Aurum. 1999. pg267-270

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Left-arm fast

| columns = 2

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 4

| runs1 = 6

| bat avg1 = 1.50

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 2*

| deliveries1 = 972

| wickets1 = 16

| bowl avg1 = 18.50

| fivefor1 = 1

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 5/56

| catches/stumpings1= 4/–

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 232

| runs2 = 1,404

| bat avg2 = 5.40

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 31

| deliveries2 = 53,621

| wickets2 = 1,274

| bowl avg2 = 13.43

| fivefor2 = 119

| tenfor2 = 36

| best bowling2 = 8/26

| catches/stumpings2= 109/–

| international = true

| country = England

| testdebutagainst = Australia

| testdebutdate = 6 September

| testdebutyear = 1880

| lasttestagainst = Australia

| lasttestdate = 21 February

| lasttestyear = 1883

| testcap = 26

| source = http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/17092.html CricInfo

| date = 15 August

| year = 2022

}}

Frederick Morley (16 December 1850 – 28 September 1884) was a professional cricketer who was reckoned to be the fastest bowler in England during his prime, and some consider him to be the greatest fast bowler ever. During a 13-year career for Nottinghamshire and England he took 1,274 wickets at an average of 13.73.

In 1879/80 Morley toured North America with Richard Daft, and in 1880 he was selected to play in the match that later became known as the first Test match to take place in England, taking 8 for 146, including five wickets in the first innings.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62399.html |title=Only Test: England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880 |accessdate=2011-12-18 |work=espncricinfo}} He toured Australia in 1882/3 as part of the Honourable Ivo Bligh's side that aimed to recover the Ashes. However, he was hampered by an injury to his rib that he picked up when the team's ship was involved in a collision in the harbour at Colombo.Cricinfo biography on Fred Morley. http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/17092.html Official reports deemed the incident an "unfortunate incidence of chance". Rumours, however, soon surfaced regarding the supposed accidental nature of the collision, with some historians postulating malicious sabotage from rival cricket teams. After sustaining injuries, his subsequent bowling performances were poor. He never recovered from his injuries. Alienated from his family members due to his deteriorating health and subsequent inability to bring in income, Morley lived in seclusion during the remainder of his life.Ambrose, Don. Malcolm, Lorimer. Cricket Grounds of Lancashire The Association of Cricket Statisticians and History 1992 He died of congestion and dropsy in September 1884 at the age of 33.Ambrose, Don (2004) [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/0/957.html Brief profile of Frederick Morley]. Retrieved 10 May 2023. He was interred with a cricket ball placed in his left (favoured) hand.

He was married to Hannah, a seamstress, and they had at least three children, Sarah, Harold and Allen. His name was registered at birth as Frederic Morley.