‘The perfect sportsperson’: Tributes flow for Davidson at SCG farewell

Australian cricketing icon Alan Davidson has been labelled “the perfect sportsperson” by former prime minister John Howard at a public memorial service on Monday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

About 200 people – from all walks of life – gathered in the SCG Members for a service hosted by Alan Jones on the turf of the hallowed ground where Davidson played six of his 44 Tests for Australia.

A memorial service for Alan Davidson was held at the SCG on Monday. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Davidson, the brilliant left-arm bowling all-rounder whose Test career spanned from 1953 to 1963, died on October 30. He was 92.

The proud New South Welshman, famous for his performance in the tied Test of 1960 against the West Indies, was also farewelled at a funeral in Strathfield on November 8.

Monday served as an opportunity for members of the public to listen to stories about the man who took 186 Test wickets at 20.53 – the lowest average of any Australian bowler with more than 150 wickets.

Former Australian prime minister John Howard (left) and Alan Jones (right). Credit:Kate Geraghty

Davidson’s widow Betty, her son Neil, and other family members enjoyed the service that began at 11am.

Venues NSW and SCG chairman Tony Shepherd provided a warm welcome, before Jones, Howard and former Australian Test captain Mark Taylor spoke glowingly of Davidson in a service also watched by more than 100 people on a live stream.

Former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, plus state ministers Stuart Ayres and Natalie Ward, were on deck to pay their respects.

Two former NRL bosses in Todd Greenberg and David Gallop – now involved in cricket – were present, as were ABC commentator Jim Maxwell and former international umpire Simon Taufel.

Cricket commentator Jim Maxwell (2nd from left), former Australian prime minister John Howard (3rd from left) and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (behind Howard) during the memorial service of Alan Davidson.Credit:Kate Geraghty

Howard, the cricket-loving former PM, spoke of his joy at listening to Davidson tell stories at his home one evening.

“I had the extraordinary pleasure of hosting a small dinner party at Kirribilli that included not only Alan but also the great [West Indian all-rounder] Sir Garfield Sobers,” Howard said. “To listen to these two giants of the game relive some of the exciting moments of that [1960] Test on the veranda of Kirribilli House gave me a new dimension of the privileges that I had … that came with being in office.

“Alan not only had a remarkable career as a Test cricketer, he also gave back, and he is an example of the perfect Australian sportsperson, if there can be such a man or a woman. Someone who gets to the very top but then devotes the rest of his life to giving back.”

Taylor said his late father loved watching Davidson play and was thrilled at the chance to be able to meet him.

The family of Alan Davidson. Credit:Kate Geraghty

In the tied Test of 1960, Davidson became the first cricketer to make 100 runs and take 10 wickets in the same match.

Chasing 233 for victory, Australia were in trouble at 6-92 before Davidson combined in a 134-run stand with Richie Benaud. Davidson was then run out for 80 as Australia lost 4-6 to tie the match in dramatic fashion.

Taylor recalled how Benaud used to tell him that, “the last hour didn’t go quite to plan”.

“When I asked Davo not long after that … he was a little more abrupt,” Taylor said. “He said ‘well if it wasn’t for that bloody Benaud running me out on 80, we would have won the bloody Test match’.”

One of the greats … Alan Davidson.Credit:Getty

Or the time Davidson had dinner with a young Glenn McGrath.

“Davo apparently said to Glenn, ‘What do you think of when you’re trying to bowl your first over of Test match cricket?” Taylor said. “Glenn said: ‘I’m hoping to get six balls on or about off stump and get through my first over’.

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor. Credit:Kate Geraghty

“Apparently Davo shook his head and said, ‘No, no, no. First over I’d bowl an inswinger, second ball I’d push it across [the batter], third ball maybe a slower ball, fourth ball bouncer, fifth ball an off or leg cutter, then maybe an inswinger to finish off’.

“Glenn was in shock. From what I’d heard, it’s true. Dave could do that with the new ball and the old.”

Davidson was chairman of the NSW Cricket Association for 33 years and served as a member of the SCG Trust for two decades.

Afterwards, Davidson’s family invited guests to “raise a glass in honour of a great cricketer and an even better person”.

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