My first cricketing memory is an odd one. The only thing I recall of the famed 1974/75 Ashes tour was John Edrich having his rib broken by Dennis Lillee in Sydney. I distinctly remember being at Sea World of all places when I heard it on the ABC – I probably would have preferred to be at the ground just as Edrich would rather have been watching the dolphin show.
Whilst I obviously must have seen some of the 74/75 Ashes, my first visual memory is in the return series later that year in England. DK again but funnily enough not bowling – he made his highest test score of 73 not out at Lords. I was 8 years old and recall him thoroughly enjoying himself hitting three huge sixes and of course I remember the moustache – I had to have one of those. That was a big winter for me as I was also allowed to stay up after midnight to watch Arthur Ashe defeat Jimmy Connors in the Wimbledon Men’s Singles final.
The West Indies toured Australia in 1975/76 and again I have no doubt that I watched at least some of the tests on TV, the only thing that I vividly recall is Jeff Thomson breaking Clive Lloyd’s jaw
Pakistan toured the following season and I know that I was well into cricket by that stage but again it is a famous injury that sticks in my mind when Thommo collided with Alan Turner trying to take a catch off his own bowling. I had enough cricket nous aged 9 to deduce that if that catch is taken Australia probably wins the 3-test series (it was drawn 1-1) as Zaheer scored a further 50-odd runs and that test was drawn with Australia 6/261 in their second innings chasing 285.
The ABC also televised the Sheffield Shield at that time and I remember where I was while watching a 21 year old Allan Border score 36 on debut for NSW against Queensland at the SCG. Needless to say I had no idea that AB would become the leading run scorer in Test cricket or a Queenslander for that matter but he impressed enough for his debut to stick in my mind.
The Centenary Test was later that season and I reckon I almost watched every ball. Lever’s long, curved approach to the wicket, Willis breaking McCosker’s jaw, Australia bowled out for 138 before leading by 43 on the first innings after Lillee took 6/26. Skull opening in the 2nd innings, Hookes’ 5 consecutive 4s off Tony Greig before Marsh’s great hundred and McCosker bravely batting again with his head swathed in bandages. (Have any of you ever used the word “swathed” in a sentence when NOT describing Rick McCosker?) Randall’s wonderful 174 in the final innings which would have ended a little earlier had Marsh claimed a low catch behind off Chappell’s bowling & DK’s herculean effort in bowling thirty four 8-ball overs to take 5 wickets in a depleted bowling attack. Had any one of these performances been slightly different the end result may have not have been a win to Australia by 45 runs. What a test! How could a young Australian bloke not be a lifelong cricket fan after watching all that?
The first test that I attended was the 1st day of the 1978/79 Ashes at the Gabba. This coincided with the 2nd season of World Series Cricket and thus Australia fielded an inexperienced side (whereas England were almost at full strength) and were bowled out for 116 with debutants John Maclean and Rodney Hogg scoring 33 not out and 36 respectively.
There may not have been much to celebrate with the Ashes that season but I could not get enough of WSC:
Greg Chappell & Lillee were the standouts for Australia and Viv Richards’ batting cemented him as my all-time favourite batsman. Some of the greatest players in the history of the game took part and the match I remember above all others was the 2nd “Supertest” in Perth in 1978 – I have certainly never seen a better top 3 in the same team during my time of watching cricket – Gordon Greenidge, Barry Richards & Viv Richards. They managed to scratch out 140, 207 & 177 respectively as the World XI limped to 625.
Match scorecard
Tragically WSC was the only time I saw Barry Richards play, and sadly only on TV.
The other feature of WSC was the array of legendary fast bowlers on display – not only Lillee, Holding, Roberts & Garner but also Imran, LeRoux & Proctor. Perhaps I am romanticising about WSC as it came at such a formative time in my cricket-loving life but I don’t think I will ever see cricket of that standard again.
But my most cherished memories are going to the old Cricketers’ Club at the Gabba with my father Graham. Dad instilled in me his love of the game and he is still an avid watcher (although he considers an Australian batting collapse a personal affront). The new Cricketers’ Club is a handsome place but the old club was magical to a young boy in the 70’s. Beautifully cool under the awning no matter how steamy it was on the field, I confess that I probably have a greater recollection of drinking my lemon, lime & bitters than I do the cricket I watched but I do remember some of the great Queensland players of the era: Chappell & Thomson of course but also Martin Kent, David Ogilvie, Phil Carlson & Geoff Dymock. One instance I do recall vividly however was a Gillette Cup match against Tasmania in 1976 – Tasmania were knocked over for 89 and Viv Richards who played for Queensland that season opened the batting and was intent on finishing the game quickly. First change medium pacer Kevin Badcock’s first 2 balls were dots as was his third which cannoned into his chest from a fearsome straight drive. He didn’t bowl a fourth as he was carted off the ground in an ambulance. Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards v Kevin Badcock – cricket, like life just isn’t fair sometimes.
The semi-final of the Gillette Cup that season is one of the most memorable in the history of Australian domestic limited overs cricket. Western Australia were bowled out for 77 at the WACA and were given no chance against a Queensland side containing Richards & Chappell but Lillee claimed both in a devastatingly quick spell to take 4-21 and bowl Queensland out for 62.
Match scorecard
Our individual cricket journeys start with our earliest memories and I feel very lucky to have grown up watching such a golden age of cricket.
About Dean Tuckwell
Former premiership first grade player with Western Suburbs in Queensland Premier Cricket Dean opened The Adventure Traveller in 2000.
In this crazy year it is important to support small business. With 30 years’ experience in the travel industry Dean has preferred arrangements with many suppliers, access to online deals not available to the public and a wealth of knowledge to ensure you get the most out of your trip so even if you only require a flight or accommodation, give him a call on 1800 181 020 or visit The Adventure Traveller
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