Simon Francis (cricketer)

Francis was born at Bromley in Kent in August 1978. He was educated firstly at Yardley Court preparatory school in Tonbridge, and after his parents relocated to Southampton he attended King Edward VI School. From there, he matriculated to Durham University. In youth level cricket, Francis played at Under-17 and Under-19 level for England, making a Youth One Day International for England Under-19 against Pakistan Under-19 in January 1997. From a young age, he had been a member of Hampshire's youth system. ==Cricket==

Early career at Hampshire In the 1997 season, Francis made his senior debut for Hampshire in a List A one-day match against Sussex in the Axa Life League, and following this he made his first-class debut against Worcestershire at Southampton in the County Championship. While studying at Durham University, he played two first-class matches for the British Universities cricket team against the touring Sri Lankans and South Africans in 1998, and one first-class match against the touring New Zealanders in 1999. He made two further Championship appearances in 1999, He also made seven one-day appearances in the 2000 season, He did not play for the first eleven during the 2001 season, and having been beset with injuries over the previous two seasons, was subsequently released at the end of the 2001 season alongside Zac Morris, Andrew Sexton, and John Stephenson. Move to Somerset Shortly after his release by Hampshire, Francis signed for Somerset. He made his debut for Somerset in the 2002 County Championship against Yorkshire, with Francis making ten Championship appearances during the season. He made ten further first-class appearances in 2003, nine of which came in the County Championship. he played five matches in the competition, taking 4 wickets. In January 2004, Francis was named in the England A team for their tour of India and Malaysia. He made two first-class against and three one-day appearances on the tour. In fifteen one-day appearances in 2004, which as of remains the best individual one-day figures by a Somerset bowler. In the 2004 Twenty20 Cup, his five appearances yielded him just a single wicket. making three appearances. Playing style and statistics Francis was a right-arm fast-medium bowler, capable of bowling at a brisk pace. He made 60 first-class appearances in his career, taking 136 wickets at an average of 41.13. In 70 one-day appearances, he took 77 wickets at an average of 34.33, whilst in 22 T20 appearances he took 11 wickets at an average of 57.09. A tailend batsman, Francis had a highest first-class score of 44 runs. ==Personal life==

His younger brother, John, also played first-class cricket for Hampshire and Somerset. Following the end of his playing career, Francis became the director of cricket at Warwick School. It was teaching at Warwick where he met his wife, Becky. The couple married in December 2009 at St Alphege Church, Solihull. ==References==