Simon O'Donnell was born on this day in 1963.
Joe Maiorana | January 26, 2024
Born in Deniliquin NSW Simon O Donnell was a multi-talented athlete who ended a promising Australian rules football career to focus on his cricket. He played a major role in Australia s resurgence as a dominating side and was a member of their World Cup winning side in 1987.
12 interesting facts about the Australian all-rounder, who like Yuvraj Singh, battled cancer and made a strong comeback to the national side.
1. Born on Australia Day
January 26 is the Australia Day, which is the official national day of the country. The day is of utmost significance to Australians as it marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet of British ships in New South Wales in 1788. O Donnell was born on this day, which was the 175th anniversary. Not a bad day to be born on, it s a national holiday.
2. Australian rules football
In between 1982 and 1983, O Donnell played for St Kilda Football Club in Australian Football League (which was called VFL then). He played 24 games and kicked 18 goals, however later retired from football to focus on his cricket career.
3. Dream First-Class debut
O Donnell made an ideal First-Class debut as an all-rounder for Victoria against South Australia. He picked up four wickets and later smacked 130. He continued to impress in domestic circuit, but however couldn’t t really translate his First-Class numbers in Tests. He played only six of them where he managed only 206 runs and picked up six wickets at a dismal average of 84.
4. Moment of glory
Australia won the World Cup in 1987 and O Donnell played a key role. Though he didn t set thing alight with his explosive batting, his contribution with intelligent pace bowling proved the key. He picked up only nine wickets but was Australia s most economical bowler. He also picked up four for 39 against Zimbabwe in Chennai.
5. Playing the World Cup with cancer on mind!
In 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj wasn t keeping well but fought it out and helped India to its second World Cup triumph and months later was diagnosed with cancer. Prior to the World Cup in 1987, O Donnell who had a sore lump on his ribs, made the doctors ensure that he played the tournament and travelled to India.
In an interview with New.com.au, O Donnell said, But two days into India not only did the big lump come back but he had a couple of partners and that s when I thought I was in a bit of strife. It was the first thing (cancer) I thought of because of the lumps.
6. Fined for not celebrating World Cup semi-final win
O Donnell played the entire World Cup with the fear of cancer in mind. After Australia won the close semi-final at Lahore against Pakistan, O Donnell didn t celebrate much. At a team meeting, he was fined by his team-mates for not being part of celebrations. Two nights prior to the final, he revealed the reason to his coach, the great Bob Simpson.
7. When fears come true
Soon after the World Cup, O Donnell, then 24, was diagnosed with cancer. He had non-Hodgkin s lymphoma. He got treated for the same, where he showed grit and fought it out.
8. Comeback
O Donnell staged a remarkable recovery and made his way back to the national side in just more than years’ time. Making his return against Pakistan, he picked up a wicket and scored a quick 46.
9. Fastest ODI fifty
In 1990 at Sharjah, in the semi-final match of the Austral-Asia cup against Sri Lanka, O Donnell scored the fastest One-Day International (ODI) half century. His fifty came off only 18 balls as he bettered Kapil Dev s record of 1983, where the Indian all-rounder had scored it off 22 balls. O Donnell s record stood firm for the next six years till Sri Lanka s Sanath Jayasuriya scored one of 17 balls. The current record holder in South Africa s AB de Villiers, who scored it in 16 balls.
O Donnell s 74 off 29 balls in that match saw Australia post 332 for three off 50 overs, which was then the highest total in ODI history.
10. The Cricket Show
The Cricket Show is an Australian cricket television show on the Nine Network and O Donnell hosted the show from 1997 to 2012, before he left to join The AFL Footy Show. Post his playing days, he has been seen as an active commentator.
11. Love for horses
O Donnell now runs OTI (O Donnell Thoroughbreds International) Bloodstock with Terry Henderson, a successful horse partnership company. A horse breeder, he has been used as an expert on horseracing on Nine s racing coverage.
12. Connection with Bradman s Invincibles
O Donnell s father Kevin also played Australian rules football for St Kilda in the 1940s. He had represented the side in 49 games and has played alongside members of Bradman s Invincibles Sam Loxton and Keith Miller.
(Credits ICC Archives)
