Ted McDonald

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Australian
country = Australia
country abbrev = AUS
name = Ted McDonald
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm fast
tests = 11
test runs = 116
test bat avg = 16.57
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 36
test balls = 2885
test wickets = 43
test bowl avg = 33.27
test 5s = 2
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = 5/32
test catches/stumpings = 3/0
FCs = 281
FC runs = 2661
FC bat avg = 10.43
FC 100s/50s = 1/2
FC top score = 100*
FC balls = 58477
FC wickets = 1395
FC bowl avg = 20.76
FC 5s = 119
FC 10s = 31
FC best bowling = 8/41
FC catches/stumpings = 97/0
debut date = 14 January
debut year = 1921
last date = 26 November
last year = 1921
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/6555.html

Edgar Arthur "Ted" McDonald (born 6 January 1891, at Launceston, Tasmania, died 22 July 1937, in a road accident at Blackrod, Bolton, Lancashire) was a cricketer who played for Tasmania, Victoria, Lancashire and Australia, as well as being an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon Football Club, and Fitzroy Football Club.

A very fast bowler with the ability to cause problems even on docile pitches, Ted McDonald was the unexpected bowling sensation of the 1921 Australian tour to England. He and Jack Gregory caused something approaching panic among the England batsmen: John Evans' knees were allegedly knocking together when he went out to bat, and Andy Ducat was bowled when part of his bat, broken by McDonald's pace, hit the wicket. Where Gregory was able to swing the ball both ways, McDonald imparted vicious movement off the wicket. Like later fast bowling pairs, they were devastating in combination, taking 46 wickets in the series.

McDonald played a few matches for Victoria before the First World War, but came to prominence immediately after it with eight wickets in an innings in a state match. He was picked for three Test matches in the 1920-21 series against England, which Australia won 5-0, but had little success, his six wickets costing 65 runs each. In England the following summer, though, he was an instant success, taking eight wickets in the first Test at Trent Bridge and contributing significantly to the victories at Lord's and Headingley that won the series.

He was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1922 for his exploits of the previous summer.

After the England tour, McDonald played in three Tests against South Africa in the 1921-22 series in South Africa. Those, however, were his last Tests – all of his Test cricket was contained within the calendar year of 1921 – as he then took up an engagement as a professional with the Lancashire League club Nelson.

By 1924, he had qualified to play for Lancashire, initially, because of his League commitments, in midweek games only. Again, he was a sensation. In his first full season, 1925, he took 205 wickets, and in the five seasons from 1926 to 1930, Lancashire won the County Championship four times, the most successful period in the county's history. In all, he took 1053 wickets for Lancashire. His value to the county was recognised in the award of a benefit in 1929, an unusually fast reward, for he had been playing county cricket for only five seasons.

McDonald's first-class career ended fairly suddenly. His form dipped in 1930, though he still took more than 100 wickets, but in 1931, he lost form almost entirely, taking just 26 wickets all season and being left out of the county team for half the matches. At the end of the season, he went back to the Lancashire League with Bacup.

Australian Rules football

He also played Australian rules football for Launceston,Fact|date=March 2008 and for Essendon Football Club (two matches in 1912) and Fitzroy Football Club (46 matches from 1913 to 1919).

ee also

*List of Australian rules football and cricket players

References

* Maplestone, M., "Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872-1996", Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-959-17402-8
* Peter Pierce, "McDonald, Edgar Arthur (Ted) (1891-1937)", pp.pp 249-250 in "Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol.10", Melbourne University Press, (Melbourne), 1986.

External links

* [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6555.html Cricinfo Player Profile: Ted McDonald]
* [http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/T/Ted_McDonald.html AFL Statistics: Ted McDonald]
* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100241b.htm Peter Pierce, "McDonald, Edgar Arthur (Ted) (1891-1937)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online Edition]
* [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/296109.html Brydon Coverdale, "Australia's Winter Allrounders: XI Test Cricketers who played Australian Rules football at the highest level", "Cricinfo", 28 May 2007]
* [http://www.development.tas.gov.au/sportrec/projects/HallofFame%20Book2006.pdf Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame Member's Biography: Edgar Arthur ('Ted') McDonald, Cricket]