Headley James Keith, who died on November 17, 1997, aged 70, was a left-hand batsman, strong off the back foot, who was an important component of the powerful Natal batting line-up of the 1950s. Keith failed to make a successful transition into Test cricket, though he toured both Australia and England, and in 1952-53 became the first South African to score two centuries in a match in Australia: against Victoria at the MCG. He made his debut in the Melbourne Test, scoring 40 not out to seal victory and square the series; he also made 57 in the Lord's Test of 1955 and 73 at Leeds two Tests later. Both times he was watchful rather than dominant. Keith played eight Tests in all, but did little in the others. He was a useful slow left-armer at Currie Cup level.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

Headley Keith Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

Format	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100s	50s	6s	Ct	St
Tests	8	16	1	318	73	21.20	0	2	0	9	0
FC	74	113	8	3203	193	30.50	8	14	-	61	0

Bowling

Format	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
Tests	8	2	108	63	0	-	-	-	3.50	-	0	0	0
FC	74	-	7915	2174	79	5/27	-	27.51	1.64	100.1	-	2	0

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Test

Debut/Last Matches of Headley Keith

Test Matches

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Debut

Australia vs South Africa at Melbourne - February 06 - 12, 1953

Last

South Africa vs England at Durban - January 25 - 30, 1957

FC Matches

Span

1950/51 - 1957/58

Recent Matches of Headley Keith

Match	Bat	Date	Ground	Format
South Africa vs England	6 & 22	25-Jan-1957	Durban	Test # 436
South Africa vs England	14 & 4	01-Jan-1957	Cape Town	Test # 435
South Africa vs England	42 & 2	24-Dec-1956	Johannesburg	Test # 434
Sth Africans vs England XI	60 & 24	31-Aug-1955	Hastings	FC
Sth Africans vs Kent	12 & 0	24-Aug-1955	Canterbury	FC