Simon Francis played for England at both Under 17 and Under 19 level and toured with England’A’ to India in 2003-04; he appeared in one Youth One-Day International, in January 1997 on the England Under-19s' tour of Pakistan. He also represented England at hockey at Under-18 level.
Born in Bromley, Kent on 15 August 1978 and educated at Durham University, Francis appeared for Hampshire in 1997 and for Somerset in 2002. He was taken on the Nottinghamshire staff in June 2007 as a replacement for Ryan Sidebottom and appeared in the Championship matches v Derbyshire (Trent Bridge) and Gloucestershire (Trent Bridge) – both games were more or less washed out.
Francis did not bat in either, but v Derbyshire bowled 12 overs for 74 runs and one wicket. He also played in two Twenty20 games taking one wicket for 30. In addition he took part in seven Second Eleven Championship games returning 19 wickets, averaging 26.21. He left cricket at the end of that season.
Francis's brother, John, is also a former First-Class cricketer, having played similarly for Hampshire and Somerset.
April 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 589