Bill Johnston the versatile left
arm medium pace bowler, who was a key member of Australian invincible side of
1948. Bill Johnston was often an underrated member of Australian side in the
decade after the World War II. Bill Johnston played 40 Tests matches from 1947
to 1955. for Australia taking 160 wickets at 23.91 until a knee injury
forced him to retirement from cricket.
He was on the one of best
performer on the tour of 1948 and equaled Ray Lindwall as Australian Top Wicket
takers in the Tests, with 27 victims at an average of 23.33! His efforts earned
him a Wisden Cricketer of the Year title in 1949. The Almanac reported that “no
Australian made a greater personal contribution to the playing success of the
1948 side” than Johnston.
Across the whole tour, he
collected 102 wickets at a marvelous average of 16.80 and he pounded down 84 over’s
in the first Test match at the Trent Bridge for a brilliant match figure of 9
for 183. He wasn’t good in batting department, and just managed his highest
first-class score, was 38 against South Australia. He was died on 26 May
2007.
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