Tony Mann: First Australian nightwatchman to score Test ton passes away at 74

Australian cricketer Tony Mann, who was the first nightwatchman to score a Test century and probably the best all-round cricketer produced in Western Australia (WA), died this morning after a seven-year-long battle with pancreatic cancer.

ALSO READ | Ind Vs Ban: Meet The Indian Cricket Team's New Superfan Who Hails From Indore

The legendary all-rounder passed away at 3.00 AM (IST) on Friday. He had turned 74 last Friday. Mann was a prolific junior and club leg-spinner who was famous for his googlies. He was a hard-hitting batsman and a brilliant fielder whose powerful arm earned him the nickname 'Rocket'.

Over a career which spanned 24 years, Mann represented WA 76 times and he won seven Sheffield Shields to go with eight club titles, but it was his brief period in Test cricket that produced his most significant contribution to the game.

ALSO READ | IPL: Jasprit Bumrah's Quick Reply To Trent Boult's Tweet On Joining Mumbai Indians

First Australian Nightwatchman To Score Test Ton

Mann played four Tests for Australia and bagged as many wickets. His debut came when he was called up against India in 1977-78 during the noisy days of World Series Cricket, but he went on to create history at the WACA when he scored a memorable century as nightwatchman.

The leggie scored 105 which set up Australia’s total of 8-342 in the fourth-highest successful Test run chase to that time which still remains one of the most famous individual performances at WACA. It was his second century as a nightwatchman as he had scored 110 for WA against England in a tour game in 1970-71.

ALSO READ | MS Dhoni Feeding A Baby Girl On Her ‘Annaprashana’ Is A Children’s Day Gift For Fans

In his first-class career playing for Western Australia, Mann bagged 200 wickets, including five five-wicket hauls while he scored 2544 runs, with two hundreds and 11 fifties. Mann also played 13 List-A games in which he bagged five wickets and scored 162 runs.

In the year 2012, Mann was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but his predicted life expectancy of just a few months was extended by seven years through experimental medical treatment.

ALSO READ | Aus Vs Pak: Pakistan Teenage Pacer Naseem Shah Troubles Australian Batsmen In Perth