Frank O'Keeffe was a first class cricketer who played for Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

. He was born in Waverley

Waverley, New South Wales

Waverley is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Waverley is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council....

, Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

.

He came to fame in the 1921/22 season when, having moved from Sydney he made 87 and 79 for Victoria against New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

, 180 against South Australia and 177 and 144 for 'The Rest' against Warwick Armstrong

Warwick Armstrong

Warwick Windridge Armstrong was an Australian cricketer who played 50 Test matches between 1902 and 1921. An all-rounder, he captained Australia in ten Test matches between 1920 and 1921 and was undefeated, winning eight Tests and drawing two...

's touring team, newly returned from their Ashes triumph in England.

A good off break bowler in addition to his powerful batting, he was engaged by the Church club in the Lancashire League and planned to qualify for Lancashire CCC. A thinking cricketer, he had been credited in Melbourne for having invented the practise of fielders walking in as the bowler ran in to bowl. Previously run saving fielders had tended to stay static. Tragically he fell ill with peritonitis

Peritonitis

Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...

and died in a Hampstead hospital in March 1924 aged just 27.

In a mere 9 first class games he scored 926 runs at 71.23 and took 12 wickets at 19.16 with a best of 5 for 45.