[SJS]

Originally Posted by The Sean

The accounts of MacDonald's run-up and action never fail to mention the effortless smoothness and beauty he bowled with. Like Michael Holding some five decades later, there are stories of the umpires noting that they could not hear his footsteps in the turf as he ran up behind them. He played just 11 Tests, and had only one really successful series, yet built up a magnificent record in County cricket and left very few of those who faced him in any doubt about his greatness.

He was another who met a tragic early end when he died in freakish circumstances at the age of just 46. Having collided with another car, he got out and moved to check on the other driver - only to be knocked down and killed by a third car as it then drove past.

Bradman thought very highly of him. In Farewell to cricket he writes.

" Gregory was without doubt the superior player because of his superlative fielding and fine batting but purely as a bowler, Macdonald was his superior.

The tall Victorian had a perfect rhythmic action, incredible stamina and real pace plus the ability to do things with the ball.

Taking everything into consideration, he would probably win a cricket Gallup Poll - take the points of the best of all fast bowlers. Very close behind him, in my opinion (on his 1948 form) is Ray Lindwall."