Len Darling

{{short description|Australian cricketer}}

{{for|the English footballer|Len Darling (footballer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Len Darling

| image = Len Darling 1934.jpg

| caption = Darling in 1934

| birth_date = 14 August 1909

| birth_place = South Yarra, Victoria, Australia

| death_date = 24 June 1992 (aged 82)

| death_place = Daw Park, South Australia

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role = Batsman

| columns = 2

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 12

| runs1 = 474

| bat avg1 = 27.88

| 100s/50s1 = 0/3

| top score1 = 85

| deliveries1 = 162

| wickets1 = 0

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1= 8/–

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 100

| runs2 = 5,780

| bat avg2 = 42.50

| 100s/50s2 = 16/26

| top score2 = 188

| deliveries2 = 3,075

| wickets2 = 32

| bowl avg2 = 46.93

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 3/57

| catches/stumpings2= 59/–

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1933–1937

| country = Australia

| testdebutagainst = England

| testcap = 147

| testdebutdate = 10 February

| testdebutyear = 1933

| lasttestdate = 1 January

| lasttestagainst = England

| lasttestyear = 1937

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4899.html Cricinfo

| date = 10 September

| year = 2019

}}

Leonard Stuart Darling (14 August 1909 – 24 June 1992) was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Test matches from 1933 to 1937.{{cite web |title=Len Darling |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4899.html |website=Cricinfo |accessdate=14 November 2018}}

Darling once told a story of fielding on the boundary at the Sydney Cricket Ground and positioning himself to catch a big hit from Don Bradman. While the ball was still in the air, according to Darling, the crowd yelled at him to drop the catch. This occurred in Bradman's last innings for New South Wales in 1934. Darling did in fact take the catch to end Bradman's innings. Bradman was out for 128, with him hitting three sixes in the over, and getting caught while trying to hit his fourth.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Len Darling married his wife Phyllis ("Bobby") in 1937. They had two daughters. He served in the Australian Army with the 24th Australian Anti-Aircraft Battery in World War II.{{cite web |title=Darling, Leonard Stuart |url=http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?ServiceId=A&VeteranId=680073 |website=World War II Nominal Roll |accessdate=13 November 2018}}