Karl Schneider
Encyclopedia
Karl Joseph Schneider was a cricket
er who played for Victoria
and South Australia
(SA). A tiny man at just 157cm tall, he was born in the Melbourne
suburb of Hawthorn
and was a specialist left-hand batsman who occasionally bowled right-arm wrist spin
. Schneider showed precocious talent as a schoolboy player and was selected for his first-class debut as a 17-year old while attending Xavier College
, Melbourne. Batting at number eight, he contributed 55 runs to Victoria's (then) world record total of 1059, against Tasmania
. Despite this promising start, Schneider had to wait two years for another opportunity and he eventually relocated to Adelaide in 1926 when it became obvious that he was not going to get a regular place in the strong Victorian batting line-up. Schneider was also a noted footballer
and he joined the Norwood club
on his move to Adelaide.
In 1926–27, his first season with SA, Schneider hit 605 runs at an average of 50.41 to help the team win the Sheffield Shield
. He then scored another 520 runs (at 52.00) the following season to earn selection for the Australian second team that toured New Zealand
in the autumn of 1928. He had a successful tour (averaging 46.85) and appeared likely to break into the Test team in the coming years. However, he collapsed while horse riding during the latter stages of the New Zealand tour, the first signs of the illness that took his life later in the year. He died of leukaemia before the next cricket season commenced at Kensington Park
(SA), only three weeks after his 23rd birthday.
Schneider played 20 first-class matches, scoring 1509 runs (at 48.67) and taking 10 wickets (at 35.50). He made six centuries, the highest of which was 146 for SA against New South Wales
at the Sydney Cricket Ground
in January 1927.
Karl Schneider holds the runs record for the Xavier College 1st XI. During his four seasons in the firsts (1921, 1922, 1923, 1924) he made 1642 runs including 7 centuries. He captained the team in 1922, 1923 and 1924 and won premierships in 1923 and 1924.
Karl also holds the wickets record for the Xavier 1st XI taking an unprecedented 139 wickets.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played for Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
and South Australia
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
(SA). A tiny man at just 157cm tall, he was born in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Hawthorn
Hawthorn, Victoria
Hawthorn is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara...
and was a specialist left-hand batsman who occasionally bowled right-arm wrist spin
Wrist spin
Wrist spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the cricket technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball...
. Schneider showed precocious talent as a schoolboy player and was selected for his first-class debut as a 17-year old while attending Xavier College
Xavier College
Xavier College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, with its main campus located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, Melbourne. Batting at number eight, he contributed 55 runs to Victoria's (then) world record total of 1059, against Tasmania
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
. Despite this promising start, Schneider had to wait two years for another opportunity and he eventually relocated to Adelaide in 1926 when it became obvious that he was not going to get a regular place in the strong Victorian batting line-up. Schneider was also a noted footballer
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
and he joined the Norwood club
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
on his move to Adelaide.
In 1926–27, his first season with SA, Schneider hit 605 runs at an average of 50.41 to help the team win the Sheffield Shield
Pura Cup
The Sheffield Shield is the domestic cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Prior to the Shield being established, a number of intercolonial matches were played. The Shield, donated by Lord Sheffield, was first contested during...
. He then scored another 520 runs (at 52.00) the following season to earn selection for the Australian second team that toured New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the autumn of 1928. He had a successful tour (averaging 46.85) and appeared likely to break into the Test team in the coming years. However, he collapsed while horse riding during the latter stages of the New Zealand tour, the first signs of the illness that took his life later in the year. He died of leukaemia before the next cricket season commenced at Kensington Park
Kensington Park, South Australia
Kensington Park is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Burnside in South Australia....
(SA), only three weeks after his 23rd birthday.
Schneider played 20 first-class matches, scoring 1509 runs (at 48.67) and taking 10 wickets (at 35.50). He made six centuries, the highest of which was 146 for SA against New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
at the Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
in January 1927.
Karl Schneider holds the runs record for the Xavier College 1st XI. During his four seasons in the firsts (1921, 1922, 1923, 1924) he made 1642 runs including 7 centuries. He captained the team in 1922, 1923 and 1924 and won premierships in 1923 and 1924.
Karl also holds the wickets record for the Xavier 1st XI taking an unprecedented 139 wickets.