Donnan Harry Image 1 New South Wales 1896

Description

Bexley, Sydney, New South Wales born Harry Donnan was a right handed middle order batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler who was also connected to one of Australian cricket’s greatest families: he married Syd Gregory’s sister. Donnan was a slightly built man who relied on timing rather than power in his batting. Initially he was regarded as a bowler, making his State debut in the 1887-88 season but an innings of 87 not out for New South Wales against an Australian XI established his credentials. He scored the first century in the Sheffield Shield when he made 120 for New South Wales against South Australia in the first Shield match in 1892-93.

He did not make his Test debut until playing against England at Melbourne in January 1892 and was unsuccessful in that game and again in the match at Adelaide, where he was a late replacement. However, he had a magnificent season in 1895-96 and was an automatic choice for the 1896 tour of England, where he played in all three Tests, though again not with much success – the highest score in any of his five Tests was 15 at Old Trafford, averaging only 8.33. However, he made 167, his best ever score, against Derbyshire, where his family originated. He continued to play cricket at State level until the end of the 1900-01 season.

Donnan worked for the Colonial Sugar Refining Company for 42 years until he retired in 1923. His pension cost the firm dear, since he lived for another 33 years. Donnan was one of Australia’s longest-lived Test cricketers and was three months short of his 92nd birthday when he died near Sydney on 13th August 1956.

In 94 first class matches, Donnan scored 4,262 runs at an average of 29.19 with 6 centuries and 22 half centuries, and with his bowling he claimed 29 wickets at 41 runs a piece, with a best performance of 3-14. He also took 37 catches in first class cricket although only one of these came for Australia.