James Franklin Biography

Full Name  :  James Edward Charles Franklin 

Date of Birth :  7th January 1980

Place of Birth  : Wellington, New Zealand 

Nick Name  :  Franko 

Height  :  1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 

Batting Style :  Left-Handed 

Bowling Style :  Left-Arm Fast-Medium 

Test Debut (cap 234)  : 8th March 2001 v Pakistan 

ODI Debut (cap 144)  : 2nd January 2001 v Zimbabwe 

James Edward Charles Franklin ( is a New Zealand cricketer.James Franklin was formally a left-arm fast bowler who can swing the ball and also a capable left-handed lower order batsman, but has greatly improved his batting and is now seen as a first class midlle order batsmen.  James Franklin is one of only two New Zealanders to ever take a hat-trick in Test cricket (the other being Peter Petherick).  James Franklin achieved this feat on 20 October 2004 against Bangladesh.

Franklin played his first game of International Cricket in an ODI in early 2001 aged just 20 due to an injury crisis with New Zealand bowlers.  James Franklin played his Test debut in Auckland against Pakistan later in the year and scored a pair. With the ball he took the wickets of Mushtaq Ahmed and Mohammad Yousuf.

James Franklin was the Man of the Match in a game in the NatWest Series against England with 5 for 42 at Durham.  James Franklin then took part in a Test series against Bangladesh in 2004–05 and helped New Zealand to victory with 5/28 in the 1st Test.  James Franklin then took a career best 6 for 119 in the 3rd Test of Australia's tour of New Zealand in March 2005. Bowling figures of 5/53 came against the West Indies at Wellington later in the year. In 2006 he played for Glamorgan in County Cricket.

On 29 April 2006, Franklin hit his maiden Test century of 122 not out in the 2nd Test against South Africa at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. Franklin has scored two first-class double centuries, both for Wellington against Auckland: 208 in 2005/06, and 219 in 2008/09.

Franklin took a wicket with his first legitimate ball (also the first legitimate ball of the match) in their 2007 World Cup opener against England.  James Franklin became the only player to achieve this feat on his World Cup debut.

James Franklin is married to Kerry, with whom he has a son named Charlie, born in November 2008.

In the 2010 tour to India, he excelled with the bat, scoring 98*, 72*, and 17*, proving his worthiness with the bat. In the Twenty 20 series against Pakistan, he was pushed up the batting order, due to his skills in the format, and it ultimately proved successful for New Zealand, winning the series.  James Franklin also takes the new ball in this format.

Indian Premier League (IPL)

In the fourth season of the IPL, Franklin was contracted by Mumbai Indians for US$100,000. James Franklin was awarded Man of the Match in match 70 of the IPL between the Mumbai Indians and the Kolkata Knight Riders for his contributions of both bat and ball (45* of 23 balls and 2/35 in 4 overs). Needing 21 off the last over to be bowled by Lakshmipathy Balaji, Franklin scored 17 runs off the first five balls (4 boundaries in first 4 balls) and with Ambati Rayudu hitting a six off the last ball, sealed a stunning victory for the Mumbai Indians to finish 3rd in the IPL standings.