tricky second innings run chase and hitting the winning runs with a six. There was a risk he would be made 12th man for the third test but O'Donnell kept his position. He was made 12th man for the last test. 1985–86 O'Donnell injured his hip at the beginning of the 1985–86 season and missed some early games. He recovered in time to be selected for the first test against New Zealand. He took a career best 2–53 and 5–66 against New South Wales. However fellow all rounder Greg Matthews took 5–22 in the same game and he was preferred to O'Donnell, who was made 12th man. O'Donnell was kept in the squad and played in the second test against New Zealand. He took part in an important second innings partnership which guided Australia to victory. However he was injured during the test while fielding and was omitted from the third test. He was out of cricket for a number of weeks. He returned against Tasmania taking 3–48. 1986–87 O'Donnell began the 1986–87 season well with 52 against Tasmania and 108 against NSW. He followed this with 77 against England in a tour game and 86 against West Australia. He was unable to force his way back into the test team but was selected in Australia's one day squad. Highlights included 4–65 against the West Indies, 52 against the West Indies, 3–39 against England, a man of the match 4–19 against the West Indies, and a match winning 23 off 15 balls against the West Indies. Alan Border said that O'Donnell, Dean Jones and Steve Waugh had been Australia's stand out players of the series. O'Donnell's good form continued with 86 against Queensland and 73 against South Australia. He made 80 and 78 against WA in the Sheffield Shield final, but Victoria did not win the game. O'Donnell was selected to play in Australia's one day tour of Sharjah in 1987 and the World Cup. 1987 World Cup and Cancer Shortly before O'Donnell left for India he discovered, "a lump on my ribs that was sore. I made some doctors do some horrible things to ensure I got to India. I got an X-ray that showed I was missing a rib. The doctor was worried about it, but I was on a plane to India three days later. But two days into India not only did the big lump come