Mick Commaille      

Wisden obituary

Mick Commaille, who died in Cape Town on July 27, aged 73, represented South Africa at both cricket and, as outside or inside-right, at association football. He played cricket against England in South Africa in five Test matches in 1909 and two in 1927, and took part in five in England in 1924 when vice-captain to H. W. Taylor. It was in the opening Test of this tour that A. E. R. Gilligan and M. W. Tate, bowling unchanged, dismissed South Africa at Edgbaston for 30. Mick Commaille also visited Australia under P. W. Sherwell in 1911, but did not appear in a Test. In 22 innings against England, he hit 355 runs, average 16.90, his highest score being 47.

Generally an opening batsman, he played for Cape Town for many years, his best season being that of 1912 when he exceeded 1,000 runs. From his early twenties till he was 47, he assisted Western Province in the Currie Cup competition and then joined Orange Free State, for whom he (186) and S. K. Coen (165) shared in a record second wicket partnership of 305. Commaille later played for Griqualand West, whom he captained. He had been Secretary of the South African Football Association and an administrator for the Western Province FA.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack