Don Tallon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Don Tallon

Personal information
Full name	Donald Tallon
Born	(1916-02-17)17 February 1916 Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia
Died	7 September 1984(1984-09-07) (aged 68) Bundaberg, Australia
Nickname	"Deafy"
Height	1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm leg spin
Role	Wicket-keeper
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 169)	29 March 1946 v New Zealand
Last Test	16 June 1953 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1933/34–1953/54	Queensland
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 21 150 Runs scored 394 6,034 Batting average 17.13 29.14 100s/50s 0/2 9/27 Top score 92 193 Balls bowled – 301 Wickets – 0 Bowling average – – 5 wickets in innings – – 10 wickets in match – – Best bowling – – Catches/stumpings 50/8 301/132
Source: CricketArchive, 12 December 2007

Donald Tallon (born 17 February 1916 – died 7 September 1984) was an Australian cricket player. He played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953. Many people at the time thought he was Australia's best wicket-keeper ever. They also believed he was one of the best in Test history.

Tallon was known for his calm style and his amazing ability to guess where the ball would go. He was also very good at stumping batsmen. In 1948, Tallon went to England with Don Bradman's famous team, known as the Invincibles. For his great playing that year, he was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1949. During his Test career, Tallon helped get 58 batsmen out. This included 50 catches and 8 stumpings.

He started playing cricket in Bundaberg. At 17, he played his first big match for Queensland in December 1933. After World War II, he finally got to play Test cricket. He made his debut against New Zealand in 1946 when he was 30 years old. After the Invincibles tour, Tallon had some health problems. He missed a tour to South Africa because of this. He played his last Test match in 1953. After that, he stopped playing big cricket games and went back to Bundaberg. He helped his brother run a local shop. Tallon passed away in Bundaberg at the age of 68.

Early Cricket Years

Tallon was born on 17 February 1916 in Bundaberg, Queensland. This town is about 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Brisbane. He learned to play cricket in his backyard with his three brothers and his father. His father, Les, was a slow bowler in local cricket games. Sometimes, they would even play inside their house after moving all the furniture.

Tallon learned to be a wicket-keeper at North Bundaberg State School. He and his brothers were coached by Tom O'Shea, a former Sheffield Shield wicket-keeper. At just seven years old, he became the school's main wicket-keeper. He played with and against boys who were 11 and 12. He once said about becoming a wicket-keeper, "You are never out of the game, and that suits me fine." He was captain of his school team at 11 and captain of Queensland Schoolboys at 13. By 14, he was playing in Bundaberg's adult team.

In 1932–33, he played for Queensland Country against the England cricket team during the famous Bodyline tour. In that game, Tallon only let five byes go past him. He also stumped Herbert Sutcliffe, a very famous batsman. Tallon's quick skills behind the stumps really impressed cricket officials. He was especially good at keeping to the very fast bowling of Eddie Gilbert.

First Big Matches

Tallon wearing the maroon cap of Queensland

Tallon played his first first-class match for Queensland in December 1933. He was only 17. He played against Victoria. He did well, only letting six byes go past him. He also took a catch. But he was dropped from the team after that match. Officials thought he was too young to travel for away games.

Tallon got his spot back when Queensland played home games. From then on, he was the top wicket-keeper for his state. In his fourth first-class match, he showed how good he was at batting. He scored 58 and 86 runs against South Australia. Their team included Clarrie Grimmett, who was a top leg spinner.

In 1935–36, Tallon was Queensland's best batsman. He scored 569 runs. He also made five stumpings in one game against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He impressed Australia's captain, Don Bradman, by taking two very hard catches. One of these catches got Bradman out! Bradman said Tallon had a "clean-hitting crisp style." He also said Tallon's batting was "attacking, positive, and with a technique to rival most first-class batsmen."

The best part of Tallon's season was when he scored 193 runs. This was his highest score in a first-class match. He also took five catches in that game. Because he played so well with both the bat and his gloves, people started thinking he might play for Australia.

World War II and Return to Cricket

Before World War II, Tallon was expected to play for Australia. But the war stopped all international cricket. This meant he couldn't play for his country when he was at his best. He joined the Australian Army in 1940. He was discharged in 1943 due to health issues.

When cricket started again after the war, Tallon had a better chance to play for Australia. His main rivals for the wicket-keeper spot were no longer playing. This left Tallon as the top choice. In his first match back, he made eight dismissals. This included three stumpings and three catches from the leg spin of Colin McCool, who would become his teammate. This performance showed he was ready for national selection.

Test Debut and Invincibles Tour

Tallon played his first Test match against New Zealand in March 1946. New Zealand was bowled out for very low scores. Tallon made a stumping, a run out, and took a catch. Australia won easily.

The next season, Australia played England in the 1946–47 Ashes series. Tallon was chosen for the first Test. In the second Test, he had a great game. He took four catches and made two stumpings. Two of his catches were amazing. He caught Len Hutton and Denis Compton in ways that surprised everyone. One catch involved him diving backwards to get the ball just before it hit the ground. This helped Australia win the match.

In the third Test, Tallon scored 92 runs. This was his highest score in Test cricket. It was the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper for many years. His keeping was also praised. By the end of the series, Tallon had made 20 dismissals, which was an Australian Test record for a series.

Tallon in the baggy green, taking his stance behind the stumps.

Tallon's great form led to him being chosen for the 1948 Ashes tour to England. This team became famous as the Invincibles because they did not lose a single match. Tallon was the main wicket-keeper. He had some trouble with the cold English weather at first. He also bruised a finger early in the tour.

Despite injuries, Tallon played well in the Tests. In the first Test, he took four catches. In the second Test, he scored 53 runs. He also didn't let any byes go past him in England's first innings. He took a "miraculous" catch from Bill Edrich that Bradman praised. Tallon's performances in England earned him a spot as one of Wisden's five Wisden Cricketers of the Year.

Later Career and Retirement

After returning from England, Tallon scored 146 runs in a special match for Don Bradman. He continued to play well for Queensland. However, he had to miss the 1949–50 tour to South Africa because of health issues.

He was fit again for the Ashes series in 1950–51. He played in all five Tests but didn't score many runs. He also started losing his hearing around this time. He was sometimes called Deafy. Once, his captain told him to "go for the light" (meaning to stop playing because of bad light). But Tallon misheard it as "go for a lash" (meaning to hit the ball hard). He tried to hit the ball and got out quickly!

Tallon faced more challenges with selection in 1951–52 due to his health and some errors in his keeping. He didn't play any first-class matches that season. He was chosen for the 1953 tour of England. He played in the first Test but was then replaced by another player, Gil Langley. Tallon played in other matches on the tour but couldn't get his Test spot back.

Tallon retired from big cricket games in 1953. He stopped playing during a match for Queensland. He suddenly took off his gloves and gave them to a teammate. After retiring, he went back to Bundaberg and helped his younger brother run a local shop. He continued to play local cricket for another ten years.

Playing Style

Tallon is known as one of Australia's best wicket-keepers. He was tall for a wicket-keeper, standing 180 cm (5 feet 11 inches). He was famous for his calm and smooth style. He was excellent at guessing the ball's path, speed, and spin. He was especially good at stumping batsmen and catching balls that went down the leg side.

Tallon often stood very close to the stumps for medium-speed bowlers. He had a perfect stumping technique, where he would lift the bails without moving the stumps. His crouch (how he bent down) was deeper than most other keepers. He could spring up faster than others. His hands were often described as looking like a violinist's, showing how gentle he was with the ball. Godfrey Evans, an English wicket-keeper, called Tallon the "best and most nimble keeper ever."

When he batted, Tallon was known for hitting the ball hard and scoring quickly. Bradman said Tallon's batting was "attacking, positive and with a technique to rival most first-class batsmen." Tallon was also very loud when he would appeal for an out. This sometimes made opposing batsmen feel pressured.

Life Outside Cricket

After his cricket career, Tallon helped his younger brother Mat run a corner store in Bundaberg. He had two daughters with his wife, Lynda Kirchner, whom he married in 1954. The Tallon bridge, built in Bundaberg in 1995, was named after him. He passed away on 7 September 1984, at the age of 68.

Test Match Performance

Images for kids

• 

  Colin McCool, a teammate Tallon often played with.

• 

  Don Tallon's Test career batting performance chart.

See also

• List of Australian Test wicket-keepers
• Isis Highway