Ernie Toshack was one of the game's most captivating characters

Ernie Toshack was one of the game's most captivating characters. Tall, with striking, rugged features, he was known to his team-mates as The Black Prince (Sid Barnes enviously dubbed him The Film Star), having earlier, in his boxing days, b...een called `Johnson' for his swarthiness (the American black heavyweight Jack Johnson ruled the boxing world just before Toshack was born). He has hold the record of best 5 wickets haul in Test cricket, when he took 5 wickets for only 2 runs against India at Brisbane 28 November 1947. Toshack, who made his Test debut for Australia against New Zealand at Wellington, in 1946, played 12 Tests for Australia between 1945-46 and 1948, taking 47 wickets at an average of 21.04. A valued member of the Don Bradman's 1948 Invincibles, Toshack also enjoyed a successful career with NSW, making 48 first-class appearances between 1945-46 and 1949-50 when a troublesome knee forced his retirement.

Full name Ernest Raymond Herbert Toshack

Born December 8, 1914, Cobar, New South Wales

Died May 11, 2003, Bobbin Head, Sydney, New South Wales (aged 88 years 154 days)