Australian Cricket
This page is an apology of a tribute to Australian cricket, there is hardly a picture of Sir Don Bradman and the countless other Aussie legends who have graced the game. What I have done is merely string together some info on the recent legends and dwell on select phases since the Eighties,so read on...
Dennis Lillee the fast bowling legend who tormented the finest batsman in the world with his speed and swing. Lillee broke Lance Gibbs' world record of most Test wickets in 1981 and finished with 355 wickets from only 70 Tests. With Jeff Thomson, Lillee formed a lethal bowling combination. 167 of his wickets came against the Englishmen, who he tormented throughout his career. Lillee burst into fame when he demolished the Rest of the World squad comprising Sobers,Kanhai, Gavaskar, Pollock and other legends for only 59, taking 8 for 29 in a "Test" in 1971. Since his retirement Lillee has helped several young fast bowlers who train at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai to earn international recognition.
Jeffrey Robert Thomson was a fearsome fast bowler who sent down thunderbolts at a frightening pace. Thommo was a genuine quickie, perhaps the quickest of them all with a slingshot action and was a superb athlete. Lillee and Thommo were a lethal duo in the Seventies, especially against the Englishman. Thomson bowled a torrid spell in Barbados in 1978 when he took 6-77 off 13 overs. It was a rare sight indeed when then West Indian batsmen hopped and ducked to someone on home soil.
Ian Michael Chappell is one of the finest captains the world has ever seen and was a dashing batsman with immense grit. Ian scored 5345 runs at an average of 42.42 and held 110 catches in the 75 tests he played. He was a terrific captain and won the the trust and loyalty of his mates right through his career. As abrasive an Aussie as any, Chappelli is believed to have come second best in a brawl on only one occasion, to the irrepressible Ian Botham in a pub in the late sevnties! Ian has been a distinguished commentator for Channel Nine and later with the Wide World of Sports. His biggest boo-boo was when he uttered an expletive while on the air earlier in his career as a commentator, Ian has ensured there has been no such slips ever since!
Gregory Stephen Chappell is one of the most elegant batsmen to grace the cricket field. A stylish and majestic stroke player, Greg exuded grace while at the crease and was Australia's top rungetter for some years. Greg scored a century on Test debut against England and was the backbone of the strong Australian batting line-up in the Seventies. He rattled up 732 runs in the epic 1975-76 series versus the Windies which Australia won 5-1. Greg only low moment of his career was whe he instructed brother Trevor to bowl the last ball underarm in a crucial one day game, an act that alienated him from his commentator brother Ian ! It was the sole blemish in a spotless career,one adroned by 7110 runs @ 53.86. Greg was also a terrific slip fielder with 122 catches of 87 Tests.
Allan Border was the catalyst behind the Australian Renaissance in the eighties. A gritty batsman, a grim fighter and a never-say-die soldier Border made his debut in the late seventies. His early claim to fame was to score 150s in both innings in a Test in Lahore. Border turned out to be Australia's most prolific bat and as time went on the gutsiest as well. Time and again he stood upto the West Indian pace battery in unflinching vein, most notable of which was his unbeaten knocks of 98 and 100 that saved the Port of Spain test of 1984. Aussie cricket went through a slump in the mid-eighties and the mantle of captaincy fell on Allan. Saddled by the responsibility of captaincy as well as being the country's top batsmen, Border ably rose to the occasion patching together a rather disillusioned outfit into a team of world beaters. Australia's finest hour came on November 8 1987 when they defeated England to win the Reliance World Cup. Since that epoch making triumph Australia has never looked back. Australia regained the Ashes in the Old Blighty in 1989 and have retained it since then.Border holds the world record for the most number of Test runs, going past Sunny Gavaskar's 10,122 in Christchurch in early 1993.
Boder and mates with the Reliance Cup 1987 on that hazy November evening in Calcutta
Craig McDermott, the pacy Queenslander grabbed headlines in 1984-85 when he took 3-118 and 3-65 on his debut in the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies. This was also the test in which Vivian Richards made a classy 208. Billy the Kid was plagued by injuries right through his career. He ultimately finished with 291 Test scalps.
Bob Simpson, the architect of Australia's revival in the Eighties. Simmo played a vital role in shaping Australia's fortunes in the 1987 World Cup. He helped them translate their successes to the Test stage as well.
Simmo as a player had a fantastic record, a wonderful slip catcher, he snaffled 110 catches off just 62 tests and scored 4869 runs at a healthy 40plus average. Simmo came to Australia's rescue during the Packer crisis and came back from several years of retirement to lead the team to a 3-2 victory over India. He was in his forties then.
A magnificent slip fielder Simpson takes a blinder. He was the key member of the Australian slip cordon during his time taking several outstanding catches. Simmo was the fastest to reach 100 test catches, he reached the landmark in his 54th test. The record for the second fastest is held by Ian and Greg Chappell, both of whom took their 100th catch in their 69th test.
Dean Jones, the thrilling Victorian was a fantastic player who captivated fans the world over with his daring strokeplay, electric running between the wickets and splendid fielding and above all his brash outlook. Deano had a sedate start to his career but came of age with a brilliant 210 at the Tied Test in Madras, a valiant effort that saw him throw up right in the middle of the pitch. He followed that up with a stunning 184 in the Sydney Test of 1986-87 that helped Australia beat England. Jones was the author of several one day triumphs for Australia, chief of which was the Reliance Cup in 1987. Deano's career best is 216 at Adelaide, scored aginst the Windies in 1888-89.
Steve Waugh the current Aussie skipper is the very embodiment of guts. Making his debut in 1985-85 Waugh turned things around for Australia in the 1987 World Cup with inspiring contributions. He came into his own in the 1989 Ashes tour and has not looked back since then. A very good cutter of the ball, Waugh is a proven master in the art of playing big knocks in trying situations. Almost all of his Test hundreds are huge ones, a tribute to his unflagging concentration. Waugh's epic 200 at the Sabina Park in 1994-95 helped Australia win the series in the Caribbean, the Windies' first defeat in 22 years on home soil. He has a wonderful Test average of above 50 and has a few good years of cricket left in home.
Shane Keith Warne has been the most lethal bowler of the Nineties. He has had an amazing haul and has troubled Asian batsman as well with his phenomenal skills. His delivery that castled Mike Gatting in 1993 has been dubbed "the ball of the century". Warney has an outstanding record against the Englishmen against whom he has taken a test hat-trick. He has recently come back to international cricket after a niggling shoulder injury and his future performances will be keenly watched by cricket fans. His duel with Sachin Tendulkar last year was convincingly by the Indian superbat but can Shane hit back when they meet late in 1999 in Australia?
Shane Warne the Sheikh of Tweak rejoices after bowling Jacques Kallis in the second innings to take his 300th test wicket at the SCG on Jan 5 1998.Warne took 5-75 and 6-34 to send South Africa tumbling to defeat.
Cheering Australian fans at the lovely Adelaide Oval, one of the prettiest grounds in the world along with Newlands in Capetown. The Oval has also been a happy hunting ground for Australia.
The Melbourne Cricket ground, the scene of many a stirring battle. The MCG has not really been a lucky venue for Australia, the honor going to the SCG. However it has been host to several thrilling Test matches over the years. The MCG also played host to the World Cup final of March 25 1992, won by Pakistan
