Aussie legend Bill Johnston dies

SYDNEY: Bill Johnston, a member of Don Bradman's 1948 'Invincibles' cricket team, has died at the age of 85, Cricket Australia said on Friday.

Johnston, a left-arm medium-pace bowler from Victoria, played 40 Tests for Australia between 1947 and 1955, taking 160 wickets at 23.91.

Cricket Australia said he died in a Sydney nursing home late on Thursday.

His death leaves five surviving members of the 1948 team that toured England unbeaten, Arthur Morris, Neil Harvey, Sam Loxton, Bill Brown and Ron Hammence.

Cricket Australia chairman Creagh O'Connor said Johnston was an invincible on the field during his distinguished 40-Test career, and a gentleman off the field.

"Those of us fortunate enough to have known Bill will remember him as a good companion, well-humoured, passionate about cricket and always willing to share his knowledge," O'Connor said.

"However, to cricket fans he will always be remembered, rightly, as a member of Sir Donald Bradman's legendary 'Invincibles', and as a left-armer who took a lot of wickets quickly and economically when bowling in the company of fellow greats such as Lindwall and Miller.

"His cheery tail-end batting also had its moments, including a quirky statistic that gave him a batting average of 102 during a tour of England in 1953."

Johnston captured 554 first-class wickets at 23.35, and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1949.