A better batsman than Bradman?

Jackson unleashes a drive while playing for New South Wales

Don Bradman's name is almost as famous as the game itself. But, for an all-too-brief time at the start of his international career, it appeared likely that Australia would have two brilliant young batsmen from New South Wales in their ranks.

Although he was a year younger, Archie Jackson burst onto the cricket world a year before Bradman. He made his first-class bow aged 17, scoring 86 on his debut and exactly a hundred in his second outing a week later.

It was Bradman, however, who played for Australia first, 11 months after his New South Wales debut. Playing against England in 1928-29, he finished the series with 468 runs at 66.85, missing the second Test when he was dropped for the only time in his career.

Jackson debuted in the fourth Test, following weeks of public pressure for him to play. Opening the innings, Australia slid to 3 for 19 against Harold Larwood and Maurice Tate at full pace. But Jackson stroked his way to 164, the manner of his scoring as awesome as the runs themselves. And yet, by the next time England toured,
the infamous Bodyline series in 1932-33, Jackson had played the last of his seven Tests.

He toured England in 1930 - the Sydney Morning Herald described him as "the greatest of present-day batsmen", even though Bradman was also on the trip. All eyes were on the NSW pair.

But while Bradman, whose career was also blighted by illness, went from strength to strength, Jackson struggled with poor health and with that his form also deserted him. Still, he showed enough touches of class to win over many seasoned observers, some who still regarded him as better than Bradman.

A hundred at Taunton - it was said the West Country sun had thawed him out - meant he was restored for the final Test at The Oval, and there he played his bravest innings. On a treacherous pitch and with Larwood at his most hostile, Jackson "took frequent shuddering blows to the body" but still was in line for the next delivery. It was while watching film of Bradman bat in the same session that Douglas Jardine later exclaimed: "I've got it ... he's yellow." The pair added 243 for the fourth wicket, Jackson's share being a courageous 73. It won the match for Australia and with it the Ashes.

But Jackson was unwell. It was nothing major - or so it seemed - but he kept being sidelined. He struggled in four Tests against West Indies, and was dropped after the Melbourne Test in March 1931. It was to be his last first-class match.

He was picked for the first NSW match of 1931-32 but was caught in a rainstorm, and collapsed in his hotel room coughing up blood shortly before the team left for the ground. He was rushed to hospital, but believing he had flu, discharged himself.

At the insistence of the Australian board he was taken to a sanatorium but proved a poor patient. Restless, he often sneaked off into Sydney to see friends. Nevertheless, he appeared to make a good recovery. In 1932 he moved north to Queensland, believing the warmer climate would help him, and he was appointed as a coach to the Queensland Cricket Association.

He resumed playing grade cricket in Brisbane for Northern Suburbs, scoring runs at a phenomenal rate. In seven innings he averaged 159.66 and attracted crowds in the thousands. But Jackson's health was in decline and he was sometimes hardly able to run between the wickets, so short of breath was he. One opponent, on the receiving end of a hundred, wrote that it was "delightful in his stroke-making ... but pathetic to witness his suffering".

Still, buoyed by newspaper reports, the public clamoured for him to be included in one of the representative sides to meet the MCC. Those close to him knew his body would never hold up to the strain.

He started writing articles for Brisbane's Daily Mail and told friends he harboured a belief that he would be fit enough to return to England on Australia's 1934 tour.

He was still playing for his club at the start of 1933, but by then he was so breathless than he had to use a runner. His last innings was on January 22. With his former NSW team-mate Cassie Andrews running for him, he made 77 in 94 minutes, telling a friend that he was "still in pretty good form".

On February 1, almost four years to the day since his Test debut, he collapsed again and was rushed to hospital. The tuberculosis had spread to both lungs, and his family, still in Sydney, was sent for. Even the Times in London carried a report that Jackson was "seriously ill".

On February 10 the fourth Test started a few miles down the road at the Gabba. A number of players visited him before and during the match but it was clear he was dying. On February 15, with Australia in deep trouble in the match, Jackson sent a telegram to Larwood. "Congratulations magnificent bowling. Good luck all matches."

That day he lapsed in and out of consciousness. Shortly after midnight he asked for the Test score and was told Australia were heading to defeat. A few minutes later he died. He was 23.

With flags flying at half-mast, the teams took to the field at the Gabba later that morning wearing black armbands. England duly wrapped up a six-wicket win and, with it, regained the Ashes.

Jackson's body returned to Sydney by train, the same one that carried the Australia and England sides back to New South Wales for the continuation of the tour. Thousands lined the streets at his funeral, and the pall-bearers were all former Test colleagues: Bradman, Bill Woodfull, Bill Ponsford, Stan McCabe, Vic Richardson and Bert Oldfield. He was buried at the Field of Mars Cemetery in Sydney. The headstone simply said: "He played the game".

Forgotten genius

He was rated better than Bradman, scored 164 on his Ashes debut for Australia — and Archie Jackson was a Scot. Nick Oswald tells the bittersweet tale

He made a sensational Test debut in the Ashes for Australia against England 75 years ago today, and was rated a better batsman than Sir Donald Bradman — yet Archibald Alexander Jackson was Scottish.

Jackson smashed 164 in his first innings in international cricket, and remains the youngest Ashes centurion, but his life was cut short by tuberculosis at the age of 23 and his exploits have faded into obscurity, remembered only by those who read the history books.

Archie Jackson, the third of four children by Sandy and Margaret, was born in Rutherglen on September 5, 1909. His father, trying to support a growing family and having spent part of his formative years in Australia, knew a better life beckoned down under.

Sport was part of Jackson’s upbringing. Sandy’s brother, James, played football professionally for more than 20 years with Rangers, Newcastle, Arsenal, West Ham and Greenock Morton. James’s son, Jimmy Jackson, followed in his footsteps and played for Aberdeen before heading to Liverpool where he became an Anfield legend, playing 224 times and captaining the club.

Archie was also a useful footballer, but as he lived just 100 yards from Birchgrove Park, the home of Balmain Cricket Club in Sydney, it was the summer sport that eventually captured his heart.

In his book Archie Jackson, The Keats of Cricket, David Frith describes the day that the cricket-mad Jackson and his mates experienced Test cricket for the first time when Australia thrashed England in the first Test in Sydney in 1920.

“They wagged off school at lunchtime, hopped on to a hearse on its way to the city, and spent their threepence lunch money to get into the ground, where they watched the international stars play and went hungry.” The experience left a lasting impression on the 11-year-old boy and gave him the desire to succeed at cricket.

Blessed with a natural batting ability, his style and elegance put many in mind of the legendary Victor Trumper who had dominated the Australian scene for a decade and a half.

In 1924, he made his first-grade debut for Balmain only one month after his 15th birthday. The stick-thin lad with the over-sized pads and a full-size bat may have looked a comical sight, but he quickly won the respect of the opposition attack and the crowd, displaying the guts and courage to go with his ability.

In the build-up to his debut for New South Wales in 1926, he came up against another precocious teenager from the rural town of Bowral who was creating his own wave of anticipation — Don Bradman. Although a year younger than the Bowral Boy, Jackson was actually ahead of Bradman in terms of development.

On that NSW debut against Queensland, Jackson suffered a bout of first-time nerves, making a duck in the first innings. However, he redeemed himself, making 86 in the second.

It wasn’t until the crucial 1928-29 season that Bradman, for the first time, eased ahead in the pecking order, securing a place in an ageing Australian side for the first Test against England in Brisbane. The tourists crushed Australia in the first two Tests and retained the Ashes in the third. With the series won, the selectors introduced some young blood and Jackson, on February 1, 1929, at the age of 19 years and 142 days, made his debut in the fourth Test in Adelaide.

England made 334 in their first innings and on the second day Jackson strode to the crease to open the innings with the veteran Bill Woodfull. But calamity struck as Australia were reduced to 19 for 3 before skipper Jack Ryder joined Jackson in the middle. He nursed the nervous youngster brilliantly and as the confidence flowed through his body, the runs started to come. With Ryder he notched his 50 and in tandem with Bradman his debut century, and he remains the youngest player to score an Ashes 100. At one point, when he was struggling for runs on 97, Bradman tried to calm him: “Being so much older (one year) I had the temerity to give him some advice. Take your time and the century will come,” Bradman told him. But Jackson ignored the wise words and square drove Harold Larwood for four to bring up his 100 in style.

It was a blisteringly hot day,but he went on to finish on 164, destroying the English attack with some exquisite shots. At the end, he left the field to a standing ovation.

Despite those heroics, Australia lost the fourth and fifth Tests, but had started the rebuilding process, blooding Jackson and Bradman as they eyed the return series in England in 1930. However, Jackson played a limited amount of cricket in the build-up to the tour as ill health began to dog him. The Australian selectors insisted that he have his tonsils removed and it was only two weeks before departure that he had the operation. This weakened him and left him susceptible to viruses. He was to live with the curse of illness for the rest of his life.

Once in England, much was expected of him and the cricketing public were clamouring to see the young genius at work. But the cold, damp climate began to affect him and he struggled to find form. However, he still managed to make his mark on the pitch and thoroughly enjoy himself off it. He took a trip to Wimbledon and even found time to meet cousin Jimmy and watch him captain Liverpool in a couple of League matches. Jimmy, known as the ‘Parson’, is believed to be the only Liverpool footballer who became a minister in later life.

Archie also caught up with uncle James and his family in Scotland, and although he was not called upon to bat in Australia’s official match with Scotland at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, a couple of days later he was delighted to get a chance at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow, only a few miles from his birthplace. At the time, Bradman was fresh from his world record 334 in the third Test at Leeds and the 8,000-strong crowd was delighted when he smashed 19 fours and a six on his way to 140 in only 145 minutes. However, Jackson was still struggling for form and after starting brightly he concentrated on blocking the Scottish attack.

Spoiled by Bradman’s fireworks, the crowd then goodnaturedly barracked their own cricket hero, who took it in good humour and went on to make a solid 52 not out.

Dropped for the fourth Test, Jackson was recalled for the fifth at the Oval and played a key part in winning back the Ashes for Australia. While England made 405 all out in the first innings, Australia responded positively and were 263 for three when Jackson joined Bradman in the middle. Strangely, given how few Scots have played Test cricket, Jackson faced Aberdeen-born spin bowler Ian Peebles first ball. Twenty months Jackson’s senior, Peebles had also been a teenage prodigy and went on to become a distinguished writer on the game. Jackson also showed great promise in his writing and may have had a successful career in journalism had he lived.

Jackson quickly got off the mark and enjoyed a fine battle of wits with his countryman. But he and Bradman also had to contain the not-so-subtle skills of Nottinghamshire paceman Larwood. Jackson’s skill and courage produced 73 valuable runs and in tandem with Bradman he made a vital stand of 243 to help the Aussies to a total of 695. They won the match by an innings and 39 runs to regain the Ashes.

But his was a brief career. Jackson played little more than 100 first-class matches from 1926 to 1931, and although he played in the four Tests against the West Indies in 1930-31, severe bouts of ill health became a common occurrence. During 1932, he was admitted to a sanatorium for the first time, where he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. In an effort to recover, he headed for Sydney’s Blue Mountains, where he spent the winter of 1932 with his girlfriend, Peggy, but he then insisted on moving to Brisbane the following summer to be with her. The doctors reluctantly agreed to this — Brisbane’s warm, humid climate was bad for TB — and insisted he must not play cricket there. Jackson ignored them and started playing for a Brisbane club side. Now his health really went downhill.

By the end of the year, although he was so ill he could only watch from the sidelines, he still managed to write about the infamous 1932-33 Bodyline series for the Daily Mail. But during the fourth Test on February 10, 1933, he collapsed and was admitted to the Inglefield Private Hospital in Brisbane. On February 15, he sent a telegram to old foe Larwood. It read: “Congratulations — magnificent bowling. Good luck — all matches. Archie Jackson.”

Hours later, Jackson was dead. Thousands turned up for his funeral and the six pallbearers were all Test cricketers, Bradman among them. Archie Jackson was buried at the Field Of Mars Cemetery in Ryde, Sydney, with the simple epitaph: “He played the game”.

The Archie Jackson story

Harold Larwood

When first approached to write a foreword I politely refused. However, it was explained by this persistent fellow that he had spent considerable time researching on a cricketer he believed I must have admired. I asked who this could be? His reply left me humbled, for it was none other than Archie Jackson.

It hit me just about as hard as Archie did that day at Adelaide in 1929 when, in his first Test innings for Australia, with 97 runs against his name and having had his back to the wall, he cover-drove me to bring up his hundred. That ball was delivered as fast as any I had ever bowled previously.

That glorious stroke has lived in my memory to this day for its ease and perfect timing. I am sure that few among the many thousands present sighted the ball as it raced to the boundary.

I personally had a very great admiration for Archie, and I am sure we `Poms' counted him as one of us. He never failed to congratulate the bowler or fieldsman whenever he was dismissed by a good ball, and at the same time he would be the first to let you know when he thought you were not bowling so well. He would say: `You must have had a late one last night, Harold!'

He was always friendly, no matter the tenseness of the situation - you just had to find a place in your heart for a fellow like him. The respect he showed for others grew on you.

I remember once, in England during the 1930 series, in scoring 73 at the Oval in the fifth Test, he was taking quite a physical beating. As he came down the wicket to level a high spot or two he said: `Well, Harold, it's only a game, but what a grand one we're having today! I hope you're enjoying our battle as much as those spectators seem to be. You know, you've hit me almost as many times as I've hit you! I wish you'd drop one a little off line occasionally.'

I never knew him to flinch or complain at any time.

No, Archie Jackson, like his hero Victor Trumper, was born to be great, and great he was, for he received the same respect from us `Poms' as from his own team.

But we had a feeling that something was amiss with this young fellow in 1930. Those of us who were closely associated with him knew that the English climate did not suit him; he was not himself. He still batted with the same charm that only he was capable of, but it was apparent that he was not the same Archie as that of 1928-29.

One of my most cherished possessions to this day is a personal telegram sent to me by Archie while undoubtedly a very sick boy in Brisbane; it congratulated me on my bowling in that controversial Test of 1933. At the time he must have been very close to meeting his Maker, but he was still conscious enough to remember an old friend.

I remember also a number of us Englishmen visiting Archie in the private hospital in Brisbane one afternoon after practice before the fourth Test. It was the last time we were to see him, for during the final stages of that Test match he passed away. We felt the depression that was cast over the ground when early that morning the news came through that Archie was no more.

It was hard to believe. We knew that our loss was Australia's also. Privileged were those who had known him. I for one could never forget Archie Jackson.

Adapted from The Archie Jackson Story by David Frith, published in 1974 in a limited edition of 1000, and out of print since 1975.

Archie Jackson

Australia

Player profile

Full name Archibald Jackson
Born September 5, 1909, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died February 16, 1933, Clayfields, Brisbane, Queensland (aged 23 years 164 days)
Major teams Australia, New South Wales
Also known as Archibald Alexander Jackson
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm offbreak
Education Rozelle School

Batting and fielding averages

	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	6s	Ct	St
Tests	8	11	1	474	164	47.40	1	2	0	7	0
First-class	70	107	11	4383	182	45.65	11	23		26	0

Bowling averages

	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10
Tests	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
First-class	70		86	49	0	-	-	-	3.41	-	0	0	0

Career statistics

Test debut	Australia v England at Adelaide, Feb 1-8, 1929 scorecard
Last Test	Australia v West Indies at Melbourne, Feb 13-14, 1931 scorecard
Test statistics	- Statsguru Test analysis - Player analysis menu/filter Test match list --------------------------------- Batting career summary Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages --------------------------------- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Most catches in an innings Fielding series statistics
First-class span	1926/27 - 1930/31

Notes

He appeared on some contemporary scorecards as "A.A. Jackson". He adopted the middle initial because his team-mates had at least two initials and he felt out of place. He asked his father if he could use his name - Alexander - and he agreed. On all official forms thereafter he used that as a middle name.

Profile

There are those who argue to this day that had he lived, Archie Jackson would have rivaled Don Bradman as the greatest batsman off all time. Jackson's death from tuberculosis at the tragically young age of 23 meant that he gave only glimpses of what might have been. Jackson was a graceful batsman, his innings punctuated by delicate leg-glances, wristy flicks through the covers and exquisite footwork. He made his debut for New South Wales at the age of 17, and within a year was touring New Zealand with Australia, although he had to wait until the fourth Ashes Test of 1928-29 to make his Test debut. In it he hit 164 and a remarkable career beckoned. He struggled for form on the 1930 tour of England, his courageous 73 at The Oval when he added 243 for the fourth wicket with Bradman a rare highlight. But his successes were made against the backdrop of his failing health, and his appearances grew rarer. He died on February 16, 1933, the day that England regained the Ashes in the Bodyline series.
Martin Williamson

Wisden obituary
JACKSON, MR. ARCHIBALD, the New South Wales and Australian Test cricketer, died at Brisbane on February 16, the day that England defeated Australia and regained the Ashes, at the early age of 23. His passing was not only a very sad loss to Australian cricket in particular but to the cricket world in general. A native of Scotland, where he was born on September 5, 1909, he was hailed as a second Victor Trumper--a comparison made alike for his youthful success, elegant style and superb stroke play. Well set up, very active on his feet, and not afraid to jump in to the slow bowlers and hit the ball hard, he accomplished far more in big cricket than Trumper had done at his age. He first attracted attention when at school at Balmain, Sydney, and later at the Roselle School. So quickly did he mature that, at the age of seventeen, he gained an assured place in the New South Wales team. In his first season of Sheffield Shield cricket he scored 464 runs at an average of 58; next year he achieved a feat no other batsman of his age had performed, by making two centuries in a match--131 and 122 against South Australia. For a time Jackson had something of a reputation of being a second innings batsman, for often he failed at his first attempt and then made a good score in the second innings. This weakness, however, he overcame and he soon established himself as an opening batsman for New South Wales. Given his place in the Australian team when the M.C.C. side, under the captaincy of Mr. A. P. F. Chapman, toured Australia in 1928-29, Jackson, on his first appearance in Test cricket against England, made a hundred--the youngest player to do so. This was at Adelaide where in the Fourth Test Match, which England won by 12 runs, he scored 164. For sheer brilliance of execution his strokes during this delightful display could scarcely have been exceeded. He reached three figures with a glorious square drive off Larwood in the first over after lunch and was one of the very few Australian batsmen who during that tour could successfully jump in and drive J. C. White. An innings of 182 in the Australian Test Trial--regarded as the finest he ever played--made certain of his inclusion in the team which visited England in 1930. Unfortunately, English cricket lovers did not in that tour see Jackson at his best, for although he scored over 1,000 runs he failed to reveal his true form until towards the end of the summer. Then, in the final Test Match at the Oval, he put together a score of 73 and helped Bradman in a partnership of 243 for the fourth wicket which still stands as a record in a Test Match between Australia and England. Jackson, of course, never saw Trumper play, but Kippax, in style and stance and in some strokes, was not unlike Trumper; and Jackson, consciously or unconsciously, and while giving full play to his natural tendencies, took Kippax as his model. He had a splendid return from the deep field and, if not so fast a runner as Bradman, covered ground very quickly. His later years were marred by continued ill-health and his untimely end was not unexpected. While lying in hospital on what was to prove his death-bed he was married*.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

* This is incorrect - he got engaged while in hospital.