SYDNEY, May 28: Australian cricket on Monday mourned the death of another Test cricketer with the passing of all-rounder Ron Archer over the weekend.Archer died of lung cancer at the age of 73, Cricket Australia said on Monday.

His death comes just two days after his former team-mate and ‘Invincibles’ fast bowler Bill Johnston died at the age of 85.

Archer played in 19 Tests as an all-rounder between 1953 and 1956, scoring 713 runs at 24.58, including a top score of 128 against the West Indies, and taking 48 wickets at 27.45, with best bowling figures of 5-53.

The Queensland player was groomed to replace Keith Miller in the Australian team, but he was forced to retire after just 19 Tests by knee injuries at the age of 23.

His older brother, Ken, now 79, played five Tests for Australia as an opening batsman.

“Ron Archer had a brief and very successful Test career which was tragically cut short by an injury of the type that modern sports medicine would today probably have overcome,” Cricket Australia Chairman Creagh O'Connor said in a statement on Monday.

“But while his international playing career was too short, he still devoted an energetic and cheerful lifetime of support to the game that he loved, contributing right up until his final summer.”

He worked as a volunteer administrator, match referee, Code of Conduct Commissioner and through Lord’s Taverners.

“His work was rewarded with life membership of Queensland Cricket, and with the deep affection of all those who knew him,” O'Connor said.—AFP