Australian cricket legend Alan Davidson dies aged 92 – as he’s remembered as a ‘colossal figure’ of the game
- Cricket great Alan ‘The Claw’ Davidson has died peacefully aged 92
- The all-rounder has been remembered as a ‘colossal figure’ of the game
- Davidson was an all-rounder renowned for his ability to swing the ball both ways
The Australian cricket community is in mourning after the death of Alan Davidson.
Davidson, an all-rounder renowned for his potent ability to swing the ball both ways, died peacefully at age 92 on Saturday morning.
Davidson, who played 44 Tests in 1953-63, was widely regarded as the world’s best left-arm fast bowler until the emergence of Pakistan icon Wasim Akram.
Davidson snared 186 Test wickets at 20.53, and scored 1328 Test runs at 24.59.
Nicknamed ‘Claw’ by fellow all-rounder Keith Miller after an impressive slips catch, Davidson routinely impressed teammates and fans with his batting, bowling and fielding.
Cricket great Alan Davidson (pictured above enjoying lunch during a Test between Australia and the West Indies in 1961) has died peacefully aged 92
Davidson grew up on the NSW Central Coast, learning his craft on a homemade wicket on the family property, before shifting to Sydney
The tied Test at the Gabba in 1960 between Australia and the West Indies, which Davidson played with a broken finger, proved the remarkable highlight of an unforgettable career.
Davidson finished with match figures of 11-222 and a combined tally of 124 runs, with a final-innings knock of 80 setting the stage for the most dramatic of finishes as the hosts rallied from 5-57 to finish all out for 232.
It marked the first time a player completed the double of 10 wickets and 100 runs in a Test.
Davidson grew up on the NSW Central Coast, learning his craft on a homemade wicket on the family property, before shifting to Sydney and making his first-class debut in 1949-50.
West Indies captain Garry Sobers’ autobiography described the allrounder as ‘perhaps the best (new-ball bowler) in the world for a period of about five years’ and ‘a magnificent hitter’.
Davidson, who played 44 Tests in 1953-63, was widely regarded as the world’s best left-arm fast bowler until the emergence of Pakistan icon Wasim Akram
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk