Alan Davidson (cricketer, born 1929)

Alan Davidson

Personal information
Full name	Alan Keith Davidson
Born	(1929-06-14) 14 June 1929 (age 87) Lisarow, New South Wales, Australia
Batting style	Left-handed
Bowling style	Left arm fast-medium
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 195)	11 June 1953 v England
Last Test	20 February 1963 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1949–1963	New South Wales
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class Matches 44 193 Runs scored 1,328 6,804 Batting average 24.59 32.86 100s/50s 0/5 9/36 Top score 80 129 Balls bowled 11,587 37,704 Wickets 186 672 Bowling average 20.53 20.90 5 wickets in innings 14 33 10 wickets in match 2 2 Best bowling 7/93 7/31 Catches/stumpings 42/– 168/–
Source: Cricinfo, 26 December 2008

Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE (born 14 June 1929, Lisarow, Gosford, New South Wales) is a former Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm fast-medium opening bowler. Strongly built and standing six feet tall, Davidson was known for his hard hitting power, which yielded many long hit sixes. His left arm bowling was a mainstay of the Australian pace attack of the 1950s and early 1960s, and from the late 1950s widely regarded as one of the finest pace bowlers in the world, with a classical bowling action which imparted late swing. Davidson was considered along with Wasim Akram as one of the two greatest left arm fast bowlers in history, and bowled with great control, conceding less than two runs per over. Only two other post-war bowlers have a superior bowling average. Davidson was known for his anticipation in close catching positions and his accurate and strong throwing arm from the outfield. His ability to take improbable close range catches saw him earn the nickname "The Claw".

Davidson made his first-class debut for New South Wales during the 1949–50 season while the Test players were overseas, and took 26 wickets for the summer, earning him selection in an Australian Second XI tour of New Zealand at the season's end. During a non-first-class match on tour, he took 10/29 in an innings and made 157 not out. Over the next two seasons, Davidson was unable to gain a regular position in the state team due to the presence of the Test players, but in 1952–53 he secured a position in the full-strength team and took 41 wickets at 26.75 and scored 418 runs at 34.83 to earn national selection for the 1953 tour of England. He played in all five Tests in the Ashes series, finishing the series with a modest return of 182 runs at 22.75 and eight wickets at 26.50. He also scored his maiden first-class century during the tour. His fledgling international career stagnated over the next three years. Although Davidson was selected in the squad for the next four series, he suffered several injuries and inconsistent form, playing in only 7 of 19 Tests during this time, and taking only 8 wickets. Up to this point, he had played 12 Tests, none of them Australian victories. His individual performances were also unimpressive despite his first-class success, producing only 317 runs at 18.64 and 16 wickets at 34.06.