Full name Alan Keith Davidson
Born June 14, 1929, Lisarow, Gosford, New South Wales
Current age 91 years 225 days
Major teams Australia, New South Wales
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Left-arm fast-medium
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 44 | 61 | 7 | 1328 | 80 | 24.59 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 0 |
First-class | 193 | 246 | 39 | 6804 | 129 | 32.86 | 9 | 36 | 168 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 44 | 82 | 11587 | 3819 | 186 | 7/93 | 12/124 | 20.53 | 1.97 | 62.2 | 6 | 14 | 2 |
First-class | 193 | 37704 | 14048 | 672 | 7/31 | 20.90 | 2.23 | 56.1 | 33 | 2 |
Test debut | England v Australia at Nottingham, Jun 11-16, 1953 scorecard |
Last Test | Australia v England at Sydney, Feb 15-20, 1963 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1949/50 - 1962/63 |
Like his close friend and comrade Richie Benaud, Alan Davidson suddenly translated potential into performance when Australia toured South Africa in 1957-58. A left-arm paceman with a model approach and an economical action - summed up in the title of his autobiography Fifteen Paces - he took 72 wickets and scored four centuries on the trip. For the next five years, he would be the most menacing new-ball bowler of his day, not to mention a dangerous striker in the lower-middle order, and a versatile fielder at home in all positions. A martyr to injuries real and imagined, some of his best performances were reserved for moments when he seemed down and out: he took a broken finger into the 1960 Tied Test, and a bad back into the Ridge Test at Lord's the following year, yet made telling contributions to both.
Gideon Haigh
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1962