january sydney new south wales sydney australian cricketer played tests captained australian team tests winning losing finishing draws test career delayed world war scored runs average including centuries collins successful rugby league winning season grand final club representing queensland collins keen time soldier great war war played australian cricket team toured australia later appointed captain team stylish forceful batsman preferring rely score runs slow left arm spin bowled step run seldom seen tour return australia test début england sydney cricket ground scoring second innings fifth australian score century test début appointed captain australian team south_africa previous captain fell ill test career finished disappointment cloud suspicion australia lost fifth test ashes england players cricket administrators suspected case match fixing material evidence supporting emerged retirement cricket collins gambling knowledge start career horse racing working commission agent early career collins born inner suburb sydney son thomas emma née attended street superior public school showed cricket rugby union played early cricket bowling left arm batting selected new_south_wales cricket team class cricket debut south_australia disappointing scoring taking played match season victoria seasons opportunities class level limited managed play touring south african english sides collins played grade rugby league time new south wales rugby football league played eighth grand final win season alongside great messenger played brisbane club gaining selection queensland collins season playing matches scoring runs average finished season tasmania australian winter collins australian team toured north_america playing combined canada united_states team world war services collins australians enlisted member reinforcement australian light horse served later western ammunition artillery german lines end war collins lance corporal following war included australian cricket team touring england officer captain team matches despite collins rank commander asked remainder tour colleagues officers collins proved capable popular team losing matches tour scored runs including centuries average took wickets apiece way home team played matches south_africa class remaining undefeated section tour conditions local newspapers acclaimed collins finest player touring team collins scored runs south_africa average took wickets match old ground collins scored total innings won wickets arrival australia team played class matches defeating reigning champions new_south_wales perennial shield powerhouse victoria likely victory queensland frustrated torrential rain results australia demonstrated strength team months team dissolution collins test début team mates gregory wicket keeper batsmen test career début test cricket returned hiatus english touring australia collins players début test series test played collins home ground collins reason feel home scoring collins fifth australian century test début collins scored century test adelaide oval batting minutes helping australia run victory series collins runs average australians toured england representative tour disastrous triangular tournament collins included squad win series tests test trent bridge collins broke thumb ruling returned team fourth test australia wrapped series england fought australia forced defend batting half hours described patience collins scored runs australia innings force draw collins scored runs matches tour average captain return trip australia australian team stopped south_africa short tour illness captain unable matches result collins appointed captain place tests drawn australia won test series cape_town second test series collins scored remarkable double century pitch old ground range shots rarely gregory scored pair partnership minutes destroying south african bowling matches played collins scored runs including centuries average international visitors australia english team test sydney collins opened batting scored batting young victorian début test collins confident shelter brilliant swing bowling went century début later said grateful taking bowling settled doubt scored century approach second test melbourne chasing english pair batted day partnership play commenced day collins said leg spinner going straight chance ball day bowled toss collins moved field leaving gap field ball toss looking hit gap missed ends bowled thriller england needing runs win test wickets hand collins threw ball known accuracy paid dismissing gregory removing end win test runs secure ashes australia won series tests collins approached known racing identity offered throw match collins rejected approach suggested team mate throw visitor stairs controversy retirement tour england collins partly result wet english summer tests test series ended draws collins disappointing tour suffering constant pain missed fourth tests admitted hospital recovered resume place captain fifth test fifth test played oval saw england win toss bat compiled taking wickets australia responded dismissed late second day stumps england second innings violent thunderstorm inundated ground overnight rendering pitch sticky collins attracted great deal negative attention inexperienced main strike bowler expense likes english took advantage compiling run opening partnership england bowled second innings runs ahead australia dismissed losing match runs test collins disappointment losing ashes collins stripped new_south_wales local club players including captain influential publicly criticised collins viewing match stands suspected collins threw match despite reputation material evidence collins fixed result cricket match career cricket season collins played rugby league sydney club eighth collins played alongside rugby league immortal club won season played brisbane club represented queensland occasions outside cricket collins enthusiastic renowned team mates finding reason bet stated collins dog track joint school flanders trenches quiet game poker played new south wales team mate remarked collins bet original saying flies crawling window waiting railway line bet trains pass opposite platform carriages carriage windows open train produce brass stamped paid collected according way fell stopped spinning collins known night poker sessions going open batting refused play fellow seeing challenge taking money gambling attracted criticism collins seen including cricket administrators turned interest gambling career taking licence period served steward pony races sydney role appealed acting commission agent collins lay committed certain horses placing large carefully cool calculation won lost fortunes track stage required assistance support invalid mother enlisted australian_army second world war stationed victoria barracks rank sergeant collins aged married year old daughter race steward marriage produced son ending divorce years later petition served collins defended wife divorce collins continued frequent gambling clubs participating night poker sessions despite giving smoking late life lungs failed died cancer aged playing style personality collins short slight batsman extravagant preferring avoid risk leave balls good length possible batted little inspection scoring pushes patience renowned contemporary cricket writer remarking collins trench warfare style difficult times earned admiration road sent doors bars bold shot shoulder hook shot finishing standing right foot left foot inches air driving power learnt scoring power pitching ball batted protection gloves especially easy pitches collins bowled slow left arm steps seemingly little effort south_africa bowling batsman heard collins getting weary don carry wicket efforts team seldom bowled long spells popular men collins respected faith team mates ability relate different personalities test leg spinner noted learnt psychology cricket collins hundreds met said collins studied player temperament acted accordingly collins expecting look delivery adjust position response slight hand movements bent finger shower end day play preferring sit corner silence team mates assumed contemplating day action day possibilities successful test captain leading australia wins losses matches finished draws nicknames attached collins including lucky result reputation fortune especially came coin players called probably left unclear head hard crack nicknamed claiming collins eyes night enabling better night day collins bohemian character enjoyed night poker sessions evenings opera poker face nicknames light tenor voice sing parties army collins chain remained save occasional glass celebratory champagne
Herbie Collins