Vale | Alan Davidson

The Sydney Cricket Ground joins Australian cricket in mourning the loss of Alan Davidson AM MBE, one of cricket’s finest players and most influential and beloved figures, who died peacefully this morning (October 30, 2021) aged 92, surrounded by his family.
 
As a brilliant all-rounder for Australia and NSW, sports administrator and benefactor, Davidson leaves an enormous legacy across all levels of cricket in Australia and wherever the game is played.

"There will be a deep sense of sadness and loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground as we prepare for the summer knowing that Alan Davidson won’t be with us," SCG and Venues NSW Chairman Tony Shepherd AO said.

"The SCG is one of the many beneficiaries of Alan’s selfless contribution during his life. We saw the best of him as a player here, as an official, administrator and as a Trustee of the ground.

"He is a Life Member, part of our Walk of Honour and in 2018, we installed The Alan Davidson Gates, which are next to the traditional members entry on Driver Avenue.

"We will again honour Alan this summer and even then we won’t go close to repaying his contribution to the SCG.

"Our deepest condolences are with Betty and the Davidson family."

Davidson remained a regular visitor to the SCG, often in the company of great friend Neil Harvey. 

The news of Davidson's death came a day after that of fellow Test cricketer Ashley Mallett. The former off-spinner and prolific author died aged 76. 

Mallett played 38 Test matches and nine One Day Internationals in a career for Australia which spanned 12 years, taking 132 wickets with his rangy off-spin and 30 catches highlighting his outstanding gully fielding.

Davidson is a giant figure in the history of the Sydney Cricket Ground as a player, cricket administrator and later as the fourth member-elected Trustee.

Davidson was born in Lisarow on the NSW Central Coast and  progressed from a homemade wicket on the family property to become a fearsome force as a destructive left-arm fast bowler and hard-hitting lower-middle order batter for NSW and Australia.
 
Davidson made his First-Class debut for NSW during the 1949-50 season and his Test debut on the 1953 Ashes tour. He went on to play 44 Tests, taking 186 wickets at 20.53 with best figures of 7/93 and scored 1328 runs at 24.5, with a top score of 80.
 
After overcoming a series of injuries, Davidson was at his finest in the late 1950s and early 1960s under the captaincy of his schoolboy adversary, NSW teammate and close friend Richie Benaud.
 
During a golden period for the Australian team that included three Ashes series victories as well as successful tours of South Africa and India, Davidson was widely recognised as the game’s predominant all-rounder.
 
Among Davidson’s many fine performances, one fondly remembered is the swashbuckling innings of 80 on the dramatic final day of the 1960 Tied Test against the West Indies in Brisbane.
 
In that match Davidson became the first man to score 100 runs and take 10 wickets in the same Test, despite entering the contest with a broken finger.
 
As much as his wonderful playing career, Davidson will be forever remembered for the vast amount of time he volunteered to cricket, as well as other sports and charitable causes.
 
This included 33 years as President of Cricket NSW, 20 years as a Trustee of the Sydney Cricket Ground and five years as an Australian Test selector between 1979-84.
 
Among the many honours bestowed on Davidson for contributions to sport and charity, he was a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and the ICC Hall of Fame, in addition to being a made a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1964 and awarded the Order of Australia (AM) in 1987.
 
Richard Freudenstein, Cricket Australia Chair, said:
 
“Alan Davidson’s passing is a sad moment for Australian cricket and for cricket across the world,” he said.
 
“Alan was a colossal figure in our game, not only as one of the finest players to have represented Australia and NSW, but for the positive influence he exerted across the game as an administrator, mentor and benefactor.
 
“The tremendous skill and the boundless spirit with which Alan embraced cricket and life embodied everything that is great about the game. He will remain a shining example for every player who follows in his footsteps.
 
“On behalf of Cricket Australia, and all those who benefitted from Alan’s vast contribution across Australian cricket, I offer my deepest condolences to the Davidson family as well Alan’s many close friends, colleagues and former teammates.”

Davidson was Australian Test cricketer No.195 and became Trustee No.104 when first appointed in 1979.