Alan Davidson (cricketer, born 1929)

Alan Davidson

AM MBE
	Davidson in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Alan Keith Davidson
Born	14 June 1929; Lisarow, New South Wales, Australia
Died	30 October 2021 (aged 92); Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nickname	The Claw
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Left-arm fast-medium
Role	All-rounder
International information
National side	Australia (1953–1963);
Test debut (cap 195)	11 June 1953 v England
Last Test	20 February 1963 v England
Domestic team information
1949/50–1962/63	New South Wales
Career statistics
	Source: Cricinfo, 26 December 2008

Alan Keith Davidson AM MBE (14 June 1929 – 30 October 2021)^[2] was an Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was a left-handed all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order batsman, and an outstanding 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 bowling was a mainstay of the Australian pace attack of the 1950s and early 1960s, and from the late 1950s he was widely regarded as one of the finest pace bowlers in the world. Davidson's classical bowling action imparted late swing, allowing him to move the ball to deceive batsmen and he bowled with great control, conceding fewer than two runs per over across his career.^[3]^[4] In 2006, writer Geoff Armstrong considered that Davidson was, along with Wasim Akram, one of the two greatest left-arm fast bowlers in history.^[5]

Davidson was also known for his anticipation in close catching positions and his accurate and strong throwing arm from the outfield;^[6] his ability to take improbable close range catches saw him earn the nickname "The Claw".^[1] He was the first player to obtain the distinction of achieving the double of getting ten wickets and scoring 100 runs in the same Test match.^[7]

^ ^a ^b Cashman; Franks; Maxwell; Sainsbury; Stoddart; Weaver; Webster (1997). The A-Z of Australian cricketers. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-19-550604-9.
^ Mason, Peter (31 October 2021). "Alan Davidson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
^ Cite error: The named reference anniv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference wisden was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Armstrong, Geoff (2006). The 100 greatest cricketers. Sydney: New Holland. ISBN 1-74110-439-4.
^ Haigh, Gideon. "Players and Officials:Alan Davidson". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2007.
^ "'The only way you learn to bowl is to bowl'". Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

[az-1] Cashman; Franks; Maxwell; Sainsbury; Stoddart; Weaver; Webster (1997). The A-Z of Australian cricketers. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. pp. 72–73. ISBN 0-19-550604-9.

[guardianobituary-2] Mason, Peter (31 October 2021). "Alan Davidson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2021.

[anniv-3] Cite error: The named reference anniv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[wisden-4] Cite error: The named reference wisden was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] Armstrong, Geoff (2006). The 100 greatest cricketers. Sydney: New Holland. ISBN 1-74110-439-4.

[cricinfo-6] Haigh, Gideon. "Players and Officials:Alan Davidson". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2007.

[7] "'The only way you learn to bowl is to bowl'". Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

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