Kelly represented Western Australia in 54 Sheffield Shield matches and 29 One-Day Cup games, while also featuring in 39 Big Bash League matches for the Perth Scorchers across six seasons. Born in Durban, South Africa, he moved to Perth at the age of four and went on to establish himself as one of Western Australia’s most dependable fast bowlers.
Reflecting on his journey, Kelly described the WACA Ground as his “home away from home,” saying it had always been a special place throughout his cricketing career. Western Australia’s High Performance Manager Kade Harvey praised Kelly’s immense contribution, highlighting his professionalism, leadership, and influence both on and off the field during one of the state’s most successful eras.
Kelly’s rise began with Claremont-Nedlands, where he helped the club win the WA Premier Cricket T20 title in 2014-15 before earning a place on Western Australia’s rookie list for the 2016-17 season.
Over the next decade, the towering pacer enjoyed remarkable success, winning three One-Day Cup titles (2019-20, 2021-22 and 2022-23), two Sheffield Shield championships (2021-22 and 2022-23), and the 2022-23 Big Bash League title with the Perth Scorchers.
He played a pivotal role in ending Western Australia’s 23-year Sheffield Shield title drought in 2021-22 and followed it up with another outstanding campaign in 2022-23, claiming 35 wickets at an average of 15.77, including figures of 4/41 in the Shield final against Victoria.
Kelly finished his Sheffield Shield career with 172 wickets and ended his final season with 21 wickets in just four matches, producing memorable spells of 5/43 against New South Wales and 6/49 against Tasmania. His commitment and leadership were also recognised with the prestigious Excalibur Award on three occasions, honouring the player who best represents the team’s values and culture.
In the Big Bash League, Kelly claimed 55 wickets, with 25 of those coming during the Scorchers’ title-winning campaigns in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He produced a crucial performance in the 2022-23 BBL final, dismissing Max Bryant and Michael Neser to help Perth secure the championship. He retires as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in Perth Scorchers history.
Kelly had already opted out of a Western Australia contract for the 2026-27 season, choosing to focus on limited-overs cricket before ultimately deciding to retire. His departure leaves both Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers without one of their most experienced pace bowlers heading into the new domestic season.
