Australian cricket mourns at the age of 92 the death of test athlete Alan Davidson

One of Australia’s biggest multiplayer players, Alan Davidson – who played in the famous draw against the West Indies – has died at the age of 92.

Cricket Australia (CA) said Davidson died peacefully on Saturday morning surrounded by family members.

His death came just a day after one of Australia’s most beloved cricket figures, former test cyclist Ashley Mallett, died.

Davidson played 44 tests in Australia from 1953 to 1963 and was a star at NSW in Sheffield Shield.

Left-handed pacemaker Davidson took 186 test lifts with an excellent average of 20.53, and the best lift was 7-93.

He was also a skilled batsman and recorded five and a half centuries during his test career.

Davidson played a key role for Australia in the draw against the West Indies in Gabba in the exciting 1960/61 series.

He won 5-135 in the first innings of the West Indies and supported this effort in the second excavation of tourists with excellent figures 6-87, although bowling with a broken finger during the match.

Davidson also scored 80 rackets – his highest test point – in Australia’s second inning as he had run out during the pulsating final day of the best matches of all time.

He became the first male player to make 100 runs (he made 44 in Australia’s first innings) and took 10 visits in the same test.

“The death of Alan Davidson is a sad moment for Australian cricket and cricket around the world,” CA President Richard Freudenstein said in a statement.

“Alan was a huge figure in our game, not only as one of the best players to represent Australia and NSW, but also because of the positive impact he showed throughout the game as an administrator, mentor and philanthropist.

“The tremendous skill and boundless spirit with which Alan received cricket and life embodied everything that is great about the game.

Davidson was born in Lisarow on the NSW Central Coast.

She made her first-class debut in NSW in the 1949/50 season before playing her virginity test on the 1953 Ashes tour.

Retired Davidson was an Australian test voter from 1979-1984.

He was elected to both the Sport Australia and ICC Hall of Fames, and was elected a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1964.

Davidson was awarded the Order of Australia in 1987.