Of all of Australia’s 70 One Test wonders, Queenslander Len Johnson was by far the unluckiest. On the very day the 1948 Australian team was chosen, Len took six wickets for 26 runs – yet still missed selection.

Len hailed from unfashionable Rockhampton but could hit and bowled a heavy ball, like a Scotty Boland. He would have been a whiz in T20 cricket today. Philosophical about his omission, he smiled and said at least his family would be happy as he’d be home for winter.
He was to tour with Australia, once, to NZ in 1950 where he made a century in a hurry before disappearing back to bush cricket around Rockie. Like so many he had just 15 minutes of fame. For more about Len and the other Aussie one-Test wonders, see https://tinyurl.com/2p8stc2k #fifteenminutesoffame