Len Darling

For the English footballer, see Len Darling (footballer).

Leonard Stuart Darling (14 August 1909 – 24 June 1992) was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Test matches from 1933 to 1937.^[1]

Len Darling

Darling in 1934
Personal information
Born	14 August 1909 South Yarra, Victoria, Australia
Died	24 June 1992 (aged 82) Daw Park, South Australia
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	Australia (1933–1937)
Test debut (cap 147)	10 February 1933 v England
Last Test	1 January 1937 v England
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 12 100 Runs scored 474 5,780 Batting average 27.88 42.50 100s/50s 0/3 16/26 Top score 85 188 Balls bowled 162 3,075 Wickets 0 32 Bowling average – 46.93 5 wickets in innings – 0 10 wickets in match – 0 Best bowling – 3/57 Catches/stumpings 8/– 59/–
Source: Cricinfo, 10 September 2019

Darling once told a story of fielding on the boundary at the Sydney Cricket Ground and positioning himself to catch a big hit from Don Bradman. While the ball was still in the air, according to Darling, the crowd yelled at him to drop the catch. This occurred in Bradman's last innings for New South Wales in 1934. Darling did in fact take the catch to end Bradman's innings. Bradman was out for 128, with him hitting three sixes in the over, and getting caught while trying to hit his fourth.^{[citation needed]}

Len Darling married his wife Phyllis ("Bobby") in 1937. They had two daughters. He served in the Australian Army with the 24th Australian Anti-Aircraft Battery in World War II.^[2]