Don Tallon

Donald Don Tallon was an Australian cricketer who playedTest matches as a wicketkeeper between 1946 and 1953. He was widely regarded by his contemporaries as Australias finest ever wicketkeeper and one of the best in Test history, with an understated style, an ability to anticipate the flight, length and spin of the ball and an efficient stumping technique. Tallon toured England as part of Don Bradmans Invincibles of 1948 and was recognised as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1949 for his performances during that season. During his Test career, Tallon made 58 dismissals comprising 50 catches andstumpings.

Tallon was born and raised in the Queensland coastal sugar and rum town of Bundaberg, 400 kilometres north of Brisbane. He learned to play cricket on a backyard wicket with his three brothers and father Les, an iron moulder at the Bundaberg foundry, who played as a slow bowler in the local cricket competition. Often the matches would stretch past the daylight hours, and the brothers would play inside the house after moving the furniture to create some open space. Tallon was formally trained as a wicketkeeper at North Bundaberg State School where he and his brothers were coached by Tom OShea, a teacher and former Sheffield Shield wicketkeeper. He became the primary schools wicketkeeper at the age of seven, playing with and against boys agedand 12. He learned to keep to the leg spin of his brother Bill, who also went on to represent Queensland. Tallon later said of his decision to become a wicketkeeper, You are never out of the game, and that suits me fine. He was captain of his sch

Source: Wikipedia