Simon O'DONNELL

The big hitting Victorian Simon O'Donnell provoked many a cheer with his huge straight sixes in Australia's cause - but none of the applause matched that which greeted him at Perth in January 1989 when he came back after defeating cancer. He was laid low after the World Cup final in 1987, and few who heard the prognosis ever thought to see him on the cricket field again. He never played another Test, but for several years was the first name on the teamsheet when Australia's one-day team took the field. He was certainly one of the most destructive hitters in the history of one day internationals and also bowled fast-medium well enough to take the new ball. O'Donnell could probably have been a regular Test player, but he had the misfortune to be involved in the disastrous Ashes series of 1985, then missed the Australian rebuilding period because of his illness.

On his debut at Headingley in 1985 he took 3-37, then scored 48 at Lord's, 46 at Trent Bridge and 45 at Old Trafford. His bowling, though, was largely inneffectual and after failing with the bat as well at Edgbaston he was dropped for the last Test. He played against New Zealand in Sydney in 1985-86, scoring 20 not out, but was dropped again. In the 1987 World Cup he took 4-39 against Zimbabwe in Madras and 1-35 in the final against England. Some of his later big-hitting exploits included his 66 in 43 balls against New Zealand in Melbourne in 1991 and 71 not out against England later that same year. In later years he hosted a horse-racing programme on Australian television. (Bob Harragan) .