Colin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool (9 December 1916 – 5 April 1986) was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Test matches between 1946 and 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against spin bowling. He made his Test début against New Zealand in 1946, taking a wicket with his second delivery. He was part of Donald Bradman's Invincibles team that toured England in 1948 but injury saw him miss selection in any of the Test matches.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Colin Leslie McCool | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 December 1916 Paddington, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 April 1986 (aged 69) Concord, New South Wales, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm leg spin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 166) | 29 March 1946 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 3 March 1950 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1939/40–1940/41 | New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1945/46–1952/53 | Queensland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1956–1960 | Somerset | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 22 December 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A good tour of South Africa in 1949–50 was followed by a lack of opportunity in the next two seasons, leading McCool to sign a contract to play professional cricket in the Lancashire League in 1953. Three years later, Somerset County Cricket Club recruited McCool where he was a success, especially as a middle-order batsman; he played five seasons and saw the club achieve its highest place in the County Championship since 1892. He retired from cricket in 1960 and returned to Australia to work as a market gardener. He died in Concord, New South Wales on 5 April 1986.