Eddie Gilbert (cricketer)

Eddie Gilbert

Personal information
Full name	Edward Gilbert
Born	(1905-08-01)1 August 1905 Woodford, Queensland, Australia
Died	9 January 1978(1978-01-09) (aged 72) Wacol, Queensland, Australia
Batting style	Left-handed
Bowling style	Right arm fast
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1930–1936	Queensland
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 23 Runs scored 224 Batting average 7.22 100s/50s 0/0 Top score 34 not out Balls bowled 4,920 Wickets 87 Bowling average 28.97 5 wickets in innings 6 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 6/64 Catches/stumpings 4/–
Source: CricketArchive, 12 January 2010

Eddie Gilbert (1 August 1905, Durundur Station, Queensland – 9 January 1978, Brisbane, Queensland) was a Queensland Aboriginal cricketer. He was an exceptionally fast bowler.

Gilbert was taken from his home near Woodford at the age of three as part of a government policy on Aboriginal people and grew up on farms while living in the Barambah Aboriginal Reserve, now known as Cherbourg, north of Brisbane. He took up cricket at a young age, initially playing as a slow bowler but quickly developing pace cultivated through a flexible wrist that he said was from years of boomerang throwing.

After playing with the State Colts in 1930, Gilbert was selected in the Queensland Sheffield Shield team in 1931. Gilbert was probably only the fifth Aboriginal Australian to play first-class cricket in Australia, after Twopenny in 1870, Johnny Mullagh in 1879, Jack Marsh in 1900, and Albert Henry in 1902. (Note that the 1868 Aboriginal cricket tour of England was not considered first-class.)

In his career, Gilbert played in 19 Sheffield Shield matches, taking 73 wickets at an average of 29.75. A further 14 wickets were taken off touring MCC, West Indies and South African sides. In one match against the touring West Indian team, he took 5/65. Despite his success, it is unlikely that he was ever seriously considered for the Australian Test team due to doubts about his action, his Aboriginality and the fact that he represented Queensland, then a relatively weak team.