SYDNEY: Former Australia Test all-rounder Eric Freeman has passed away at the age of 76.
Freeman became Australia’s 244th men’s Test cricketer when he made his debut against India at the Gabba in 1968, removing both openers in the tourist’s first innings with his right-arm fast-mediums.
His finest series in the baggy green came against the West Indies in 1968-69, where he scored 183 runs at 30.50 – including two powerful half-centuries – and took 13 wickets at 30.07. He went on to play 11 Tests for Australia in which he scored 345 runs and scalped 34 wickets.
Freeman was also a prolific performer with ball and bat during his 83-game first class career with South Australia.
Freeman received the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2002 for “services to sport, particularly cricket as a player, administrator and commentator”.