On the 8 September 1980, the Australian Test cricketer Bruce Dooland died in Bedford Park, South Australia.  Dooland played in 3 Tests for Australia during the late 1940s.

Born in Cowandilla, South Australia in 1923, during WW2 Dooland was in an Australian Commando unit serving in the South Pacific.

After the war, he played Sheffield Shield cricket for South Australia and took the first post-war hat-trick in Australia. A right-hand batsman and leg-break bowler, he was called up for the third Test in Melbourne against England in 1947, and took 4 wickets for 69 runs  and 1 for 84. More importantly he held up one end while Colin McCool made his maiden Test century. He was kept for the fourth Test in Melbourne and defended stoutly while Keith Miller made his maiden Test century.

His Test career ended in 1948 against India, but in 1950–1951 He toured India with the Commonwealth team.

Dooland came to England and played initially in the Lancashire League, before qualifying by residence to play for Nottinghamshire. Dooland was the first overseas import brought in specifically to strengthen the Nottinghamshire team when it was at a low ebb. Playing from 1953 to 1957, he scored 4,782 runs and took 770 wickets, completing the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a season. He took 16 for 83 in the match against Essex at Trent Bridge in 1954, and his total of 181 wickets for Nottinghamshire that season remains the club’s record. Following his departure, Nottinghamshire had their worst-ever period in terms of results.

Dooland played twice for the Players in the Gentlemen v Players match, and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1955.

He also played baseball for the West Torrens Baseball Club and was regarded as one of the best pitchers in his state, and represented Australia at baseball as well as cricket.

08 September, 2019