Frank Williams

Frank Williams (1876 – 17 July 1946) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played 26 first-class matches as a wicket-keeper for Otago between the 1898–99 and 1908–09 seasons. Williams was born at Bath in England in 1876. He played for the Albion club in Dunedin, where he served on the committee, and first represented Otago in a match against Southland during the 1895–96 season. He made his first-class debut for the provincial side against Canterbury in December 1898 and went on to play 26 times in first-class matches for Otago. Considered a "crack" wicket-keeper, Williams effected 48 first-class dismissals and was selected to keep wickets for South Island against North Island in 1901–02. Not considered much of a "recognised batsman", he scored a total of 295 first-class runs with a highest score of 39 runs, although in club cricket he batted in a "vigorous manner", this likely leading to his nickname of "Bash". He was Otago's first-choice wicket-keeper for 11 seasons, playing his final first-class match in February 1909.