Australian mystery spinner John Gleeson passes away at age 78

Australian cricketer John Gleeson, who mystified batsmen with his unique bent finger spin, has passed away aged 78, Cricket Australia said on Saturday

Australian spinner John Gleeson in 1970. Pic/Getty Images

Sydney: Australian cricketer John Gleeson, who mystified batsmen with his unique bent finger spin, has passed away aged 78, Cricket Australia said on Saturday.

Gleeson played 29 Tests between 1967 and 1972, and debuted for his country in the 1967-68 Test series against India in the first Test at the Adelaide Oval.

He captured 93 wickets in his Test career at an average of 36.20. Gleeson used a unique "bent-finger" action using two fingers — a bent middle finger and the thumb pressing against the ball on both sides in an attempt to extract a new variety of bowling tricks.

"John captured the imagination of cricket fans everywhere as he bamboozled batsmen with his odd bowling grip, borrowed from another mystery 1950s Australian spinner, Jack Iverson," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.

93
No. of wickets taken by John Gleeson in 29 Tests at an average of 36.20

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