Full name Harald Frei Name Harry Frei 1982–1986 Queensland | ||
Role Australian Rules Footballer Children Mitchell Frei, Brendan Frei, Jackson Frei | ||
Bowling style Left-arm fast-medium Batting style Right-handed batsman | ||
Harald 'Harry' Frei (born 1 May 1951 in West Germany) is a former Australian first-class cricketer who represented Queensland.
Frei was originally an Australian rules footballer and appeared six times for Footscray during the 1973 VFL season. He later played with the North Launceston Football Club, before moving to Brisbane where he played cricket for Toombul District Cricket Club.
It wasn't until the age of 31 that he made his first-class cricket debut, picked to play against a Bob Willis led England XI. In a match that Queensland won, he dismissed Test player Graeme Fowler for single figures in both innings and as well as David Gower twice. Even though he was picked primarily as a fast-medium bowler, he managed to top score for Queensland with the bat in their first innings. His 57 runs, which came off just 36 deliveries and included five sixes, ended when he was bowled by Norman Cowans.
As a result of his strong showing against England, Frei made his Sheffield Shield debut the following week and went on to take 20 wickets at 38.75 for the 1982/83 season. He performed better in Queensland's 1983/84 shield campaign with 23 wickets at 24.08, helping them to their inaugural Final which they lost to Western Australia. Frei took 30 wickets and played in another final in 1985/86 before his form began deteriorating. He managed just eight wickets at 67.37 the following season and never represented Queensland again.