Gilbert Eddie Image 1 Queensland 1932

Description

Woodford, Queensland born Eddie Gilbert was an exceptionally fast bowler and the best remembered aboriginal cricketer to play first class cricket in Australia who accomplished some sensational fast bowling feats during the 1930’s.  Gilbert was probably only the fifth Aboriginal Australian to play first class cricket in Australia, after Twopenny in 1870, Johnny Mullagh in 1879, Jack Marsh in 1900, and Albert Henry in 1902.

After successfully graduating through the Queensland Colts XI in 1930, Gilbert quickly reached the headlines in the November 1931 Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales in Brisbane by his first over dismissals of Wendell Bill and Don Bradman, both without scoring. Both were caught by wicket-keeper Len Waterman within seven deliveries, but not before one ball rising from a green top had flicked off The Don’s cap and another knocked the bat from his hands! Gilbert then bowled the bouncer, a really quick one. Bradman tried to counterattack, but it was too quick. The top-edge went up in the air, and Waterman took it easily. Bradman later recalled that the six deliveries he faced on this occasion were the fastest experienced during his career.

Though he had a controversial action he was called only once for throwing and that for jerking his wrist. Importantly the straightness of his arm was never contradicted by umpires. The occasion of him being called was the match between Victoria and Queensland at the MCG in 1931. The umpire Andrew Barlow no-balled him 13 times for his action. Alan McGilvray said he had “absolutely no doubt” that Gilbert was “the fastest bowler I ever saw” and that “no matter how I analyse cricket down the years, I cannot imagine anybody bowling a ball faster than Eddie Gilbert”. Of the legality of Gilbert’s action, McGilvray commented, “It was hard to tell whether he actually chucked or not, because he let the ball go with such a fling of his right arm you got precious little sight of it.”

In his career, Gilbert played in 19 Sheffield Shield matches, taking 73 wickets at an average of 29.75. A further 14 wickets were taken off touring M.C.C., West Indies and South African sides. In one match against the touring West Indian team, he took 5-65. Despite his success, it is unlikely that he was ever seriously considered for the Australian Test team due to doubts about his action, his Aboriginality and the fact that he represented Queensland, then a relatively weak team.

An iconic figure in Australian sport, despite taking six wickets in his final match against Victoria at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in 1936, Gilbert retired from the game at the end of the season. In 23 first class matches Gilbert had a highest score of 34 not out and a batting average of 7.22. With his bowling he took 87 wickets at an average of 28.97 with a best return of 6-64, taking five wicket hauls on half a dozen occasions.

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