Colin McDonald obituary: Australian Test cricket opener dies aged 92
Australian cricket is mourning the death of Test opener Colin McDonald, after the Victorian – often described as ‘courageous’ with the bat – died aged 92.
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Richie Benaud was once so concerned about the battering copped by his fearless opener Colin McDonald he baked him a special chest protector in his home oven.
McDonald has died in Melbourne aged 92, leaving behind a lengthy list of stories about his bravery as a player displayed across 47 Tests played over a decade from 1952.
They yielded the excellent returns of 3107 runs at an average of just over 39.
Outstanding batsman McDonald was so noted for his stoutheartedness he once said “I get sick of being called courageous ... I wouldn’t mind my skills be recognised as well.’’
But back to the Benaud story, as recalled today by McDonald’s Test teammate and close friend Ian Meckiff who lived 500m away from him in Melbourne.
“He was hit so many times by (West Indian) Wes Hall in the Tied Test (at the Gabba in 1960-61) that Richie became so concerned so he went home and made him a chest protector out of fibreglass,’’ Meckiff said.
“He put it into his oven so he could bend it into the right shape before putting sponge rubber on the inside of it.
“The main thing about CC (McDonald) was he was a very strong willed sort of guy in every way. He loved an argument. Barry Jarman used to stir him up.
“On the field he was always immaculately dressed and behaved in a way that a Test cricketer should.
“He was very well educated for a start with which made him different to a lot of us. I will miss him very much. He lived close to me and I used to go around there and have a glass of white with him although I have not been able to do it for the last couple of months because he was not well enough.’’
McDonald spent time as a schoolteacher and insurance broker and was also executive director of Tennis Australia where he had a major role in building the National Tennis Centre now known as Rod Laver Arena.
Originally published as Colin McDonald obituary: Australian Test cricket opener dies aged 92
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