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Edward Liddle's International Profiles
D S McKenzie
  • Born
  • Educated
  • Occupation Army Officer
  • Debut 31 July 1930 v MCC at the Mardyke
  • Cap Number 380
  • Style Right hand bat
  • Teams Cork County

DS McKenzie was a British Army officer about whom it has, so far, proved impossible to discover biographical information beyond that shown above. Despite an extensive search of military records I have been unable satisfactorily to identify him.

DS McK, who a team photograph reveals to have been a tall man of military bearing, was a good batsman for Cork County in the upper middle order. Playing in both matches the County had with Dublin University in 1930, he failed in the two innings encounter at College Park in mid-June. However he was far from alone in this. Forced to follow on after the hosts had made 391, the County lost by 9 wickets. DS McK, who came in at 5 falling for 0 and 5, being run out on the second occasion. However it was a different matter in the one day match at The Mardyke which followed a month later. A closely fought match ended in a draw with the hosts seven runs short and their last pair together. This was largely due to the medium pace swing bowling of Tom Dixon who took six of the nine wickets which fell. The County would probably have lost had it not been for DS McK who topscored with 63. Oddly, though he survived Dixon's attack, he was bowled by Bill Loughery, a good enough batsman to play for Ireland, but not highly thought of as a bowler.

DS McK also represented Munster at Interprovincial level but no scores of his matches have been seen. A team photograph from 1931 shows him in a side which also includes W la R Bourchier and FH Hall., the latter as captain.

McKenzie's one match for Ireland came at the end of July 1931 when Ireland fielded what can only be described as a somewhat strange side against MCC. With an eye on the local gate, the selectors eventually - as there were several late changes to the team - chose a side led by local magnate Sir George Colthurst and, besides the captain and DS McK including 5 other members of the Cork County side. Among the clutch of new caps was Fred Covington, the Harrow School captain whose Irish qualification appears to have been based on the fact that he was staying in Co Cork at the time, probably as a guest of the Colthurst family. This would be a qualification to rival that of Oxford blue, unique cricket writer and one time coach at Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare, Raymond Robertson - Glasgow, who played for Somerset on the grounds that he had walked down the pier at Weston-super - Mare!.

To return to the match: Ireland were heavily outplayed by their visitors, who began with a score 239. Ireland in reply were dismissed for 118, with DS McK at 5 being caught and bowled by South African paceman DPB Morkel for 5. Ireland were forced to follow on but rain, which swept over the ground when they had been reduced to 6-2, saved them from further embarrassment.