Born in Eshowe, Zululand, Deane was a right-handed middle-order batsman whose domestic cricket in South Africa was for Natal from 1919-20 to 1922-23 and then for Transvaal from 1923-24 to 1929-30.
He had limited impact for Natal as a batsman and in 10 matches over four seasons his highest score for the side was 96, made against Transvaal in 1921-22 [REF].