John Davison is a middle-order batsman and right-arm spinner who has been at the heart of the Canadian national side for almost a decade. Born in British Colombia, he moved to Australia as a child, playing grade cricket in Melbourne and attending the Australian Cricket Academy in 1993. he was a member of the Victoria state squad for several years but was unable to secure a regular first-team slot and after being released by them he joined South Australia in 2002-03. In 1999 he was approached to spend his off-season in Canada as a player-coach, and he was soon drafted into the national side. He played in the Canadian side that finished third in the 2001and 2005 ICC Trophies, but he hit the headlines in the 2003 World Cup when he stunned the West Indies with the fastest World Cup century in history, clubbing half a dozen sixes in a brilliant 111. He followed this up with the third-fastest World Cup fifty against New Zealand, making most runs and taking most wickets for Canada in the tournament. He was appointed Canada's captain in 2004 and the following year, in their first first-class match for more than half a century, he created history by taking 17 for 137, the best since Jim Laker in 1956, and hitting 84 as Canada beat USA by 104 runs in the Intercontinental Cup. He played his last game for South Australia in 2004-05 and since then has devoted his time to Canada. A bristling 52 from 31 balls against New Zealand in the 2007 World Cup underlined his class.
Martin Williamson