Bert Oldfield

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = Australian
country = Australia
country abbrev = Aus
name = Bert Oldfield
picture = CrackerOldfield.jpg
batting style = Right-handed batsman (RHB)
bowling style = N/A
tests = 54
test runs = 1427
test bat avg = 22.65
test 100s/50s = 0/4
test top score = 65*
test balls = 0
test wickets = 0
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 78/52
FCs = 245
FC runs = 6135
FC bat avg = 23.77
FC 100s/50s = 6/21
FC top score = 137
FC balls = 0
FC wickets = 0
FC bowl avg = -
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = -
FC catches/stumpings = 399/263
debut date = 17 December
debut year = 1920
last date = 3 March
last year = 1937
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/7003.html

William Albert Stanley "Bert" Oldfield (9 September 1894, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - 10 August 1976, Sydney, New South Wales) was an Australian cricket player. He played for New South Wales and the Australian cricket team as wicket-keeper.

Oldfield made his first-class cricket debut in the 1919-20 season, and played his first Test match against England in his hometown of Sydney the next season. He was dropped for several matches over the next few years, but established himself as Australia's automatic selection for wicket-keeper in the 1924-25 Ashes series against England.He missed only one other Test in his career, that being the fourth Test of the 1932-33 Bodyline series. In the notorious third Test at Adelaide, the English Bodyline tactic of bowling fast balls directed at the Australian batsmen's bodies reached its most dramatic moment when fast bowler Harold Larwood hit Oldfield in the head, fracturing his skull (although this was from a top edge off a traditional non-Bodyline ball and Oldfield admitted it was his fault). Oldfield was carried from the ground unconscious. He recovered in time for the fifth Test of the series.

Always an easy-going personality, Oldfield immediately forgave Larwood for the incident, and the two eventually became firm friends when Larwood later emigrated to Australia.

Oldfield played Test cricket for four more years, ending his career in 1937. He was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1927.

Oldfield played 54 Tests for Australia, scoring 1,427 runs at an average of 22.65, and taking 78 catches and 52 stumpings. His tally of 52 stumpings remains a Test career world record. In first-class cricket he played 245 matches, scoring 6,135 runs at an average of 23.77, and taking 399 catches and 263 stumpings.Persondata
NAME=Oldfield, William Albert Stanley
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bert
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH=9 September 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH=Sydney, New South Wales
DATE OF DEATH=10 August 1976
PLACE OF DEATH=Sydney, New South Wales