has the potential to be a leading batsman, having scored a hard-hitting century against Western Australia in Perth last week." In January 1985 O'Donnell was named in the 12 man Australian one day squad. ""I am very delighted", he said. "It will be the biggest thrill of my life to walk out on to the MCG on Sunday. It was my goal at the start of the year to try and make national selection, but I thought that might not come for two or three years." O'Donnell's one day debut was a successful one, taking 1–39 and scoring 20 not out against Sri Lanka. He scored 25 in a defeat against the West Indies. In the Prime Ministers XI game he took two wickets but dropped two catches. Kept on in the one day team he took two wickets against Sri Lanka then scored some useful runs in a rare Australian victory over the West Indies. In the World Championship of Cricket, O'Donnell had a fantastic game against Pakistan, making 74 and taking 2–42. This helped earn O'Donnell selection on the short tour to Sharjah in early 1985. He was also selected on the squad to tour England for the Ashes. "A lot of hard work has been one thing", he said. "The dividends are starting to pay off – they're paying off very quickly", adding that "I've still got to get a Test match over there. There are 17 going, so I've got to get into the top 11." O'Donnell had only played seven first-class matches, hitting 528 runs at an average of 66, with two centuries, and had taken 15 wickets at an average of 38.23. He was still listed in the St Kilda squad. 1985 Ashes O'Donnell leapt into test contention with a score of 100 against the MCC. ""That's the greatest innings I've ever played", O'Donnell said, "and walking off the ground to an ovation like that was one of my greatest thrills. I'm absolutely ecstatic." O'Donnell played in the Australian team for the one day internationals, taking two crucial wickets in the second. He was picked in Australian side for the first test, as the fourth bowler. He scored 24 and took 3 wickets in England's second innings. England won the game easily. O'Donnell kept his place in the side for the second test. He proved his usefulness with the bat, helping Australia navigate a