Albert “Tibby” Cotter was an Australian fast bowler known for the blazing speed of his deliveries.

Despite a diminutive 5’8” frame, Albert’s slinging action made his bowling as deadly as it was rapid. Albert was a known breaker of stumps and was arguably the finest fast bowler of the early 20^th century.

His speed was sensational although critics of Albert noted his control was sometimes lacking. In one test against England, Albert struck W.G. Grace on the body with a speedy delivery, much to the English legend’s consternation.

As a Test cricketer, Albert took 89 wickets across 21 Tests with a bowling average of 28.64. Albert’s total First Class tally came to 442 wickets at 24.27.

An incident in 1912 curtailed Albert’s international Test career.

Cotter was a member of the “Rebellious Six” – six Australian players who declared themselves unavailable for selection in the May 1912 Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament in England.

Following this rebellion, Albert never represented Australia in Test Matches ever again.

Albert joined the Australian Imperial Force in April 1915. The recruitment of a popular sportsman was a powerful propaganda coup for Australian recruiters.

He was no great horseman, but Albert joined the 1^st Australian Light Horse regiment. During his time in service, Albert took part in the Gallipoli Campaign before transferring to the 12^th Light Horse and served in Palestine.

On 31 December 1917, the 12^th Light Horse joined the 4^th Light Horse Brigade at the Battle of Beersheba: a brilliantly daring cavalry charge that captured the town from Ottoman defenders, sweeping them aside in a storm of hoof and bullets.

Albert was actually serving as a stretcher bearer but participated in the cavalry charge. He was “shot from the saddle” and died shortly after. Today, Albert is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery.