Davidson last Test wicket with the last Test Ball

By A.C. De Silva

A.K. Davidson, Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park, Road, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 20th February 1963. Davidson, AM, MBE born 14th June, 1929.

Davidson was at his all round peak during the 1960-61 series against West Indies. After taking eight wickets in the two opening matches of the season against Queensland, Davidson gave on indication of what was in store in the Tests when New South Wales played Frank Worrel's tourists.

He struck 88 as the hosts amassed 429 for 6 wickets declared and then took three top - order wickets, removing Cammie Smith, Rohan Kanhai and Gary Sobers, holder of the Test World record of 365.

He ended with 4 for 26 as the West Indies fell for 111 and lost by an innings.

He then completed his Test preparation with 122 not out against Victoria.

Davidson one of Five Wisden Cricketers

Davidson was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the year in 1962. He was a member of the order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1964 and a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1987.

He was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1988, the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2004, and the ICC Hall of Fame in 2011. He received an Australian Sport Medal in 2001.

It was in the fifth Test of the 1962-63 rubber between Australia'a and England at Sydney, where two Australian stalwarts ended their careers.

Left-handed all-rounder Alan Davidson played 44 Tests, beginning in June 1953 against England.

He was often stricken with injuries and in the fourth Test of his final series he tore his hamstring muscle after bowling only 3.4 overs and conceding 30 runs.

Series tied

The fifth Test was on his home ground at Sydney and the series was 'tied' at one victory each. His final knock with the bat saw him score 15 before he was caught off the bowling of England captain Ted Dexter.

In England's second knock he took 3 for 80 and with his final ball in Test cricket he captured the wicket of Alan Smith, caught at slip by Bob Simpson. Australia were set a target of 241 in 60 overs but when the match ended in a draw they were on 152 for 4. Davidson was a selector for the Australian team from 1979 to 1984.

Crop of players retire

The other player to retire from International Cricket the same day was Neil Harvey, who appeared in 79 Tests and top scored with 205 from a total of 6,149 runs. He took three wickets with a best of 1 for 8. He was vice-captain from 1957 until his retirement.

Harvey was named as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the year in 1954 and in 2009 was one of the 55 inaugural inductees into the ICC cricket Hall of fame.

Ashes Series Australia failed to win

The Ashes series was the only one of seven series that Australia failed to win since Davidson became the team's frontline strike bowler in 1957-58. Of the 33 Tests in this period, Australia won 16, lost four, drew 12 and tied one. Davidson missed one of the drawn games through injury and broke down mid-match in another two.

In the five years that he and Benaud led Australia's bowling attack, the pair totalled 333 wickets; Davidson 170 at 19.25 and Benaud 163 at 25, and were a major part in Australia's return to the forefront of world cricket. This came after the first four years of Davidson's career saw Australia win none and lose seven matches out of twelve. Often bowling in tandem, Davidson's accuracy also forced opposition batsmen to attack Benaud, leading them to perish from the pressure to raise the run rate.

Australia struggled

In the four years after Davidson retired, Australia struggled without his wicket-taking ability. Only one of the six series was won and two were lost; in all Australia managed six wins and eight losses in 30 Tests.

Davidson was at his best when Australia was on her knees. In the four Test losses during the last five years of his career, he took 32 wickets at an average of just 13.9 including a ten wicket haul.

In the Tied Test, he took eleven wickets, the other ten wicket haul in his Test career.