Gus Kempis Cricketer
Gustav Adolph Kempis, was born in Port Elizabeth, Cape Province, South Africa on August 4, 1865, and died of a fever on Chiloane Island, Mozambique on May 19, 1890, aged just 24. But for his early death, South Africa could have had a supreme bowler for several more years as they moved into what became the origins of their first-class era. A left-arm medium pacer, he delivered the ball with great control of length and could break it either way off the pitch. After taking 13 wickets in just three non first-class bowling innings against R.G. Warton’s touring English side in 1888-89, he was selected for what became the very first Test match between the two countries, played at Port Elizabeth. He failed with the bat but took 3 for 53 and 1 for 23 as England won comfortably by 8 wickets. The following season, playing for Natal, Kempis took 41 wickets at an average of 12.42 apiece. These figures came from just five matches and included four hauls of more than 5 wickets in an innings and two of 10 wickets in a match: 7 for 35 (and 4 for 29) against Port Elizabeth, 7 for 44 against Kimberley, 7 for 33 (and 3 for 76) against Western Province and 5 for 20 against Cape Town Clubs. His death went unrecorded at the time and therefore no obituary appeared for him within Wisden.
Personal facts
| Birth date | January 01, 1865 |
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| Date of death | January 01, 1890 |