Great Cricket Stories Yarns and Quotes

How did they manage to convince him to play World Series Cricket I wonder?

Chambo Off To Work We Go wrote:How did they manage to convince him to play World Series Cricket I wonder?

By that stage he had long retired from Footy, so the amateur ideals no longer applied.

Also he had been rather poorly treated by the Australian selectors. After he had performed so well against South Africa and again the next season in Australia's 2-0 loss to England he only played in the first two unofficial tests vs Rest of the World in 1971-72. Amazingly he was omitted from the Ashes tour of 1972. The omissions of Redpath, Bill Lawry and Graham McKenzie probably cost us the Ashes that year. He was brought back for the tour of West Indies in 1973 and again performed well.

Redpath was also one of the greatest ever fieldsmen especially in the slips cordon and the gully.

SA V WA
Adelaide Oval
November 1969

WA 157
TJ 5/49

SA 314
John Causby 99
Fot 3/69

WA 385
Invers 89
Kevin McCarthy 3/57

SA
8/179
KG 77
Fot 3/46

SA just hung on for a draw
Had WA won this game , this may have been the turning point

John Invers Inverarity was out C Pearson B Terry Jenner 89
Invers came in at 1/38 [ a long way off an eventual WA total of 385]
He was bowled by Greg Chappell for a duck
It was some delivery , it swung too much for Invers to handle
Invers walked
However
SA skipper Les Favell called Inverarity back
Umpire Colin Egar eventually made the decision a dead ball
The Chappell 'dead' ball swung because during its course it hit a bird !!


It was game that also featured two International spinners
Lance Gibbs[WI] debuted for SA [3/22 + 1/74]
Tony Lock [EG] playing for WA [3/67 + 3/32]

KG Cunningham made 54 +77 the most total runs made for SA in this game
KG had these bowling figures
1ST innings 0/7 [2 overs]
2ND innings 0/7 [2 overs]

And that bird died , and  is said to have been a museum exhibit !
Is it still exhibited ?

India v Australia
Calcutta 1959

IN 194 [Davidson 3/37]
AU 331[Oneill 113]
IN 339 [Benaud 4/104]
AU 2/121 [Favell 62*]

Easy win, but it was all about an Indian batsman
Motganhalli Jaisimha
On debut played against England and made 1+8
Playing in only his 2nd test match against Australia at Calcutta he created history
He batted all 5 days of this test match , and is listed as being the first player to have achieved that batting feat

DAY 1
2 not out stumps
DAY 2
20 not out
DAY 3
0 not out stumps
DAY 4
59 not out stumps
DAY 5
B Mackay 74

Jaisimha batted all day on day 4 for his 59 not out
India started the day 2/69 and finished on 6/243

He only made 94 runs for the test, yet batted all 5 days

England v Australia
Lords 1980
Centenary test
This was the only test played for the series as a one off

AU 5/385 [ Kim Hughes 117]
EG 205 [Lenny Pascoe 5/59]
AU 4/189 DEC [Kim Hughes 84]
EG 3/244 [Dennis Lillie 1/53, Geoffrey Boycott 128 *]

Match drawn
Kim Hughes man of the match
Kim batted all 5 days of this test match

DAY1
47 Not Out
DAY 2
82 not out
DAY 3
C Athey B old 117
DAY4
38 not out
DAY 5
LBW Botham 84

Kim Hughes total Test stats in this match:
201 runs
308 balls
346 minutes
25 fours
5 sixes

Hughes made 35 of only 51 runs made day 2, it must have rained

Kim Hughes may just have done something no one else has ever achieved in Test match history
He hit a 6 on each of the 5 days he batted

" I bowled right arm over left ear hole, legs crossed at the point of delivery."

By
Max Tangles Walker

Maxie made his debut against Pakistan in 1972
Jeffrey Thomson also debuted in the same Test match

Max Walkers 2nd test V Pakistan
When I first really noticed what an awkward but very talented bowler he was

3RD TEST
Australia v Pakistan
SCG 1973

AU 334
Ian Redders Redpath  79

PA 360
Greg Chappell 5/69

AU 184
Massie 42

Australia were 8/101 in their 2nd innings
Australia had a meagre lead of 75
Pakistan has this match by the proverbials
Max Walker was the 8th  dismissed for 16 , and would prob have thought the test was Pakistans
John Watkins and Bob Massie then put on 83 for the 9th wicket
Australia got to 184 with a lead of 158

It should have been a simple task for Pakistan with Dennis Lillie injuring his back
Somehow Dennis FOT Lillie bowled in the PA 2nd dig [DK ended up being injured after this Test for a considerable time with that bad back]

PA 106
Lillie 3/68
Massie 1/19

Maxie Walker in his 2nd test
6/15 [16 overs]

Australia won by 52 runs

That bowling performance is how I remember Maxie Walker
One of test crickets great bowling performances

Max Walker
Test Bowling
138 wickets @27.47

Maxie Walker one of the greatest medium pacers to play for Australia

R.I.P
Born 12/9/1948
Died 28/9/2016
Aged 68

* He was for example, the last man to play Test Cricket for Australia and top level Australian Rules in the same season.
No one will do that again.*

By
Rex Jory
On the late great Max Walker

Rex Jory is one of my favorite Journos
A very thought provoking statement

There might be a time again when someone plays both Test Cricket and Australian Rules Football in the same season
Quite possibly a player who retires from one or the other in the same season
Quite possibly a long time in the future when sportsmen become super athletes and can combine multi sports

Max Walker
34 Test Matches
85 VFL games
14 books that sold a million plus copies

Not a bad allrounder

" Hopefully we can win this game and we can have a drink after."
" Dont blush baby."
By
Chris Gayle

That was the line Chris directed at Mel McLaughlin , in a TV interview in a BBL game last Australian summer

Chris and his partner Tasha, have welcomed a daughter into their lives in April 2016 , a few months after that interview
They named the baby Blush

Sri Lanka v South Africa
Colombo 2006

SA 169
SL 5/756 DEC
SA 434

SL were
2/14
3/638
Sangakarra 287
Jayawardene 374
624 run partnership
That partnership is Test crickets highest

Mahela Jayawardenes innings of 374 is believed to be the highest chance less innings in Test cricket

In that 756 total, incredibly there was only 1 six hit for the entire innings
The bowler who conceded the maximum hit was Jacques Rudolf 0/45[7]

Pakistan v Australia
March 1980
2nd Test
Faisalabad

AU 617
G Chappell 235
PA 2/382
Taslim Arif 210 not out

8/999 match totals
PA still held a 1-0 lead and won the 3 test series by that margin

Dennis Lillie is written to have sent a letter to his wife Helen Lillie
" I finally got a wicket today, my first in Pakistan.
But it was only in the nets, and it was only Hooksey."

The letter was sent after the 2nd test
At that stage Lillie had taken 0/189 [60] in 2 tests
David Hookes had made 0 runs [11] out twice for a pair in the 1st test

Australia bowled all 11 players in this test
0/91 LILLIE
1/49 DYMOCK
0/71 BRIGHT
0/3 BORDER
0/30 BEARD
0/19 HUGHES
0/3 LAIRD
0/5 G CHAPPELL
0/19 WIENER
0/51 ROD MARSH !
0/15 YALLOP

I wonder how many times all 11 players have bowled in an innings for Australia

SA V WA
January 1949
Adelaide Oval

SA 419
WA 202
WA 131

Geoff Noblet
3/40
4/39

Quick bowler Noblet had a brilliant SS summer 1948-1949
38 wickets
15.4 average

FIRST CLASS BOWLING
282 wickets
19.26 average
1.77 economy

Looks like he should have played more than 3 Test matches
However Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller were around in his time
He took 7/183 [26.14] in his few tests

On day 2 he was dismissed for 10 batting at 11
He was facing left hand spinner Thomas O'Dwyer
O'Dwyer bowled a wide delivery
Noblet in attempting to hit the wide, hit his wicket
And was given out Hit Wicket
I had not known about that rule of cricket

There are 5 ways of being dismissed off a wide according to Wikipedia
1 Handled the Ball
2 Hit Wicket
3 Obstructing The Field
4 Run Out
5 Stumped

Correspondence to the press 2015

*In 1933 Alfred Stone started backyard cricket in Adelaide which was popular with unemployed men in the Depression[who played during the day] and returned servicemen [who played at night]
In 1938 6 cyclone-fenced concrete pitches about 3/4 the size of a tennis court were built by the Adelaide City Council in Peacock Road in the South Parklands
They were the home of SA's Electric Light Cricket Association , a unique SA game.*

Ive played Electric Light Cricket at that venue last century
The progression was to play indoor cricket comps as well
I used to play at a complex in Athol Park , and also there was a complex in the Royal or Albert Park area

I also played at an indoor cricket  complex at Ingle Farm
As a teenager I played with a group of mates
There was a core of 5 of us that participated
My claim to fame was I was never dismissed in a minor round season
The other 4 also had claims to fame
The other 4 played either District or Sheffield Shield cricket , I didnt !

There is a couple of reasons you didn't go on with your cricket career, you found the punt & the girls

Scrappy wrote:Correspondence to the press 2015

*In 1933 Alfred Stone started backyard cricket in Adelaide which was popular with unemployed men in the Depression[who played during the day] and returned servicemen [who played at night]
In 1938 6 cyclone-fenced concrete pitches about 3/4 the size of a tennis court were built by the Adelaide City Council in Peacock Road in the South Parklands
They were the home of SA's Electric Light Cricket Association , a unique SA game.*

Ive played Electric Light Cricket at that venue last century
The progression was to play indoor cricket comps as well
I used to play at a complex in Athol Park , and also there was a complex in the Royal or Albert Park area

I also played at an indoor cricket  complex at  Ingle Farm
As a teenager I played with a group of mates
There was a core of 5 of us that participated
My claim to fame was I was never dismissed in a minor round season
The other 4 also had claims to fame
The other 4 played either District or Sheffield Shield cricket , I didnt !

I played 2 or 3 seasons of Electric Light cricket on Peacock Road - for 'Internationals'. Can remember some of the other teams - SANFL Umpires, Flinders Park, Sturt Footballers?.

Gosford Races
Wednesday
9/11/2016
RACE 7 -7 Never Out

NEVER OUT
Never Out won its maiden at Gosford
Some of the owners of this horse are
Greg Blewett
Ryan Harris
Aaron Finch
Darren Lehmann
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Glenn Maxwell

The horse is trained by Kim Waugh
Kim is Mark Waughs wife

" We bought the horse in memory of Phillip Hughes."
By
Mark Waugh

AUSTRALIA V WEST INDIES
Adelaide Oval
January 1993

WI 252...LARA 52.....HUGHES 5/64
AU 213...HUGHES 43...AMBROSE 6/74
WI 146...RICHARDSON 72...MAY 5/9
AU 184...LANGER 54...WALSH 3/44

This was the 4th test , Australia were leading 1-0, and lost this match by 1 solitary run
If memory serves me correct Desmond Haynes at short leg, fielded a ball brilliantly at short leg , that might have resulted in a run or multiple leg side runs , and  possibly Australia winning
There was a deal of controversy when Craig Mcdermott was out soon after
C MURRAY B WALSH 18
It was short ball that had Mcdermott fending , and he was given out caught behind
I saw replays of the dismissal, it 'appeared' the ball had deflected off McDermotts helmet
Several cricketing authorities have since told me he was unlucky to be given out , or was not out
Others have said the dismissal was correct
Maybe some sort of Snicko DNA will raise the truth in the future ...

Tim May and Craig Mcdermott had a partnership that started at 9/144
Australia needed 186
Mcdermott was last man out
Tim May took 5/9 [6.5] in his best bowling return in test cricket
Tim May made his highest test score of 42 not out on day 4
Its a day he should never forget
On that 4th day action Tim May turned 31 years old

AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA
SCG
January 1994

SA 169...KIRSTEN 67...WARNE 7/56
AU 292...SLATER 92...DEVILLIERS 4/80
SA 239...RHODES 76...WARNE 5/72
AU 111...MCDERMOTT 29 NOT OUT ...DEVILLIERS 6/43

AU lost by 5 runs, one season after being beaten by 1 run by the West Indies
Craig Mcdermott once again involved in a narrow loss
Mcdermott once again almost winning the game with a good tailend batting effort
Mcdermott batting at 10 came in at 8/75 , AU needing 117 to win
This time he was stranded on 29 not out , Devilliers dismissed Glen Ooh Aah Mcgrath Caught and Bowled for the 10th wicket
I watched this seemingly unloseable 4th innings chase

CRAIG MCDERMOTT
Save a thought for Craig Billy The Kid Mcdermott
He did his job with the ball in both games[1/85+3/66 v WI...2/42+ 4/62 V SA]
He batted well [18 v SA...29 not out v SA]
Some doubt over his dismissal v WI

Heres some numericness of it all for Mcdermott
v WI came in with 42 needed
v SA came in with 42 needed
Took 2/42 in the SA first dig
His Highest score in Test cricket is 42
His batting partner in the WI match was Tim May who made 42*

Craig McDermott was involved in 2 un42unate narrow losses  ....

That is amazing stuff, I do tip my hat to you

Yep, good stuff, always check in!!

STEVE SMITH
Coin toss

My advice for Steve is not to play 2 up
He lost the toss v South Africa at Adelaide Oval 24/11/2016
He has now lost 7 tosses in a row in Test Cricket

The sequence is
3rd test v New Zealand in Australia
All 3 tests v Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka
All 3 tests v South Africa in Australia

The last time Steve won the toss was 13/11/2015, in the 2nd test against New Zealand

The odds probability of losing 7 tosses in a row is 128/1
If Steve Smith plays and looses on all 3 occasions against Pakistan , in the next Test series, the odds of losing 10 tosses in a row escalates to 1024/1

PAKISTAN V AUSTRALIA
Peshawar 1998

AU 4/599 DEC
PA 9/580
AU 5/289
Match drawn

This was the 2nd test , Australia led the series 1-0
Interesting scenario at stumps on day 2
AU 4/599
Australian captain Mark Taylor was 334 not out at stumps
Mark had by stumps equaled the highest ever Australian Test score made by Don Bradman against England in 1930

Taylor declared the innings
How would history have judged Taylor had he batted on day 3 and broken the runs record ?

I DO DECLARE ?
In trying to put myself in Taylors situation
As a skipper , I would have declared on myself as well
That would be my decision and could live with that
However, if any of my team-mates where on that score I would have batted on , and not deprived them of an opportunity

QUESTION
Should Mark Taylor have declared ?

yep.

Australian Captains (with the exception of Bill Lawry) have always sought to win.
Early Border might also be an exception, but he didn't have the cattle at the start of his captaincy to take risks to press for wins.

Taylor, however, was a good example of the 'go for the win' philosophy.

Team before individual. By declaring, in his mind he would have thought he gave them a chance to win.

I also heard him say once that equaling the record with Bradman would be more memorable than eclipsing it.

VICTORIA V NEW SOUTH WALES
Sheffield Shield match
December 1956
St Kilda Cricket Ground

VI 244...MCDONALD 50 ...BENAUD 4/67
Colin Mcdonald broke his nose in a net session

NS 281...BURKE 132*...MECKIFF 3/65
Jim Burke carried his bat , died far too early , aged 49

VI 197...SHAW 52...TREANOR 5/36
John Shaw ends up with an impressive first class average of 40.44 for the  times

NS needed 161 to win
1/0
2/26
3/33
4/38
5/63
6/70
7/70

Ian Craig, who might just be the youngest ever player to captain Australia came in to bat at 9 with the marvellous Richie Benaud
They put on a partnership of 75
Benaud out for 63
Ian Craig , a top order batsman, once dubbed the next Bradman , was under duress, suffering from tonsillitis
They put on 75 in about half an hour !
8/145
Ian Craig was next out for 24
9/148

13 needed to win
Tailender Alan Wyatt with a handy first class average of 13.76 ends up batting with the first innings centurion Jim Burke
Burke retired hurt at 0/1 in the 2nd dig, resumed his innings with what appears to be as the number 10 or 11 batsman
Burke batted with broken finger

Burke was dismissed for 8
Wyatt remained 2 not out
The pair put on 12 for the last wicket

NS 160...BENAUD 53...KLINE 6/57

Game result : Tie
This was the first tie in the Sheffield Shield
And perhaps the only tied first class cricket game that had players with broken noses and fingers

Meckiff was a bit of an enigma.

Wasn't he 'no-balled' out of the game with a suspect action?
If he played today maybe under the rules we would have heard a lot more about him.

Ian Meckiff was called for chucking by Umpire Colin Egar in 1963
His Test career was finished as a result

I never saw him bowl , but was reported to be a very good left arm quick bowler
45 test wickets @ 31.62
269 first class wickets @23.35


Ian Meckiff was also involved in a Tie in Test cricket
He was the last man out, run out against the West Indies in 1960

MOST ZACS IN TEST CRICKET
Games played in brackets

107 McCullum [101]
100 GilCHRIST [96]
98 Gayle [103]
97 Kallis [166]
91 Shewag [104]


NZ V AUSTRALIA
Febuary 2016
Christchurch

NZ 370...MCCULLUM 145....LYON 3/61
AU 505...BURNS 170.....WAGNER 6/106
NZ 335...WILLIAMSON 97...BIRD 5/59
AU 3/210...BURNS 65...SOUTHEE 1/30

Brendan McCullum
145 [79 balls] 6 zacs
25 [27 balls] 1 zac

This was McCullums last test
He smashed 7 zacs in total
He had hit the equal amount of zacs as Adam Gilchrist coming into the match