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Donald Macdonald Steele (17 August 1892 – 13 July 1962) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for South Australia from 1912 to 1921. He was later a prominent doctor in South Australia.

Donald Steele

Personal information
Full name	Donald Macdonald Steele
Born	(1892-08-17)17 August 1892 Adelaide, South Australia
Died	13 July 1962(1962-07-13) (aged 69) Adelaide
Batting	Right-handed
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1911-12 to 1920-21	South Australia
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 19 Runs scored 1142 Batting average 35.68 100s/50s 3/7 Top score 113* Balls bowled – Wickets – Bowling average – 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling – Catches/stumpings 11/0
Source: Cricinfo, 24 April 2017

Family and early life

Don Steele was one of six brothers.[1] His elder brothers David Macdonald Steele[2] and Ken Steele[3] were doctors who served as medical officers in the field in World War I. Ken also played first-class cricket for South Australia before the war.[4]

Don attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, where he played in the First XI for six years from 1907 to 1912, captaining the team in the last three years.[5] He then studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, qualifying as a doctor at the end of 1919.[6]

Cricket career

Steele played his first game for South Australia in January 1912 while still at school. He became a regular player in the state team in 1912-13 and remained a fixture in the side until the end of the 1920-21 season, studies and professional duties permitting.

In his first match in the 1912-13 season he scored 113 not out in 175 minutes against New South Wales in an innings victory for South Australia.[7] He scored his second century in 1914-15 when he made 100 in 135 minutes, also against New South Wales.[8]

He captained South Australia in the last three matches of the 1920-21 Sheffield Shield season, scoring 107 not out in the first match, against Victoria.[9] He finished the season at the top of the South Australian batting averages, with 280 runs at 56.00.[10]

He was selected to captain the Australian team to tour New Zealand at the end of the season.[11] However, he was unable to go on the tour, having made arrangements to work as a locum in Port Lincoln.[12] His professional duties prevented him from playing any further first-class cricket.

Later life

He practised as a doctor in Port Lincoln for some years[13][1] before returning to practise in Adelaide, where he and his wife lived in Glenelg.[14]

While watching a Test match at Adelaide Oval in 1925 he was called on to treat the English spin bowler Tich Freeman, who had broken his wrist while attempting a catch. Steele put the wrist in splints then took Freeman to hospital.[15]

His son Ian was also a doctor.[14]

References

External links

• Donald Steele at ESPNcricinfo
• Donald Steele at CricketArchive (subscription required)

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