Richard Hadlee
Sir Richard Hadlee makes our shortlist on two occasions, as is the case with Sir Garfield Sobers. Both are undoubtedly among the best allrounders of all time but while Sir Garry also makes the list as a middle-order batsman, Sir Richard can be considered one of the finest fast bowlers of all time.
He was, first, the finest cricketer New Zealand ever produced. His first claim to fame as a bowler, was becoming the first man to ever claim 400 scalps. He would end his career with 431 wickets at the remarkable average of 22.29. His strike rate of 50.8 is also impressive.
He began his career as what is called a tear-away fastbowler, bludgeoning his opponents with raw pace rather than skill. Maintaining that throughout his career would have meant a much shorter lifespan, and of course, at the Test level, batsmen would eventually adjust to his great pace.
But when a great is faced with a deficiency, he or she fixes it, and Hadlee did that. Exchanging some of his pace for guile and increased control. Mind you, he was still quick and generated bounce and movement from even the most unresponsive of surfaces.
He saved his absolute best for the Australians, taking 15-123 in a Brisbane Test back in the 1985-86 season, a feat which is still talked about today.
Hadlee retired at the top, taking 5-53 in his very last Test in 1990. The last opponents to lose out to his skill were England at Trent Bridge and his very last delivery was a wicket.
Speaking about his career with Richie Benaud, Hadlee pointed out that he had learned a lot along the way, saying his first ball in Test cricket had rocketed to the fence, while his last was a wicket, proving how far he had come.
Full name: Richard John Hadlee
Born: July 3, 1951, St Albans, Christchurch, Canterbury
Major teams: New Zealand, Canterbury, Marylebone Cricket Club, New Zealand Invitation XI, Nottinghamshire, Tasmania
Batting style: Left-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Height: 6 ft 1 in
Test Career: New Zealand (1973-1990)
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
86 150 21918 9611 431 9/52 15/123 22.29 2.63 50.8 25 36 9
Career Highlights
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Lara was shocked by jeering Jamaica crowd – rates shot-filled Sabina 213 as most memorable innings
Legendary West Indies batsman, Brian Lara, has pointed to a performance that emanated from one of the uglier, darker moments of a largely sparkling career as one of his most memorable.
In one of a few instances the batting star was not greeted by applause and gestures of widespread adoration on his sojourn to the crease, Lara was booed by the Sabina Park crowd when strode out for the second Test of the 1999 Australia tour of the West Indies.
During a tumultuous period for the Windies, the issue for some home fans stemmed from what they believed to be disrespect shown to bowling legend Courtney Walsh in what they deemed to be a hostile takeover of the captaincy by the Trinidadian. Walsh, who was appointed captain in 1994, served as captain for 22 Test matches before being replaced by Lara in 1998. On the back of a heavy loss to Australia in the first Test and having also previously been whitewashed by South Africa, The Prince found himself occupying the unusual status of public enemy.
His response, a classy, shot-filed 213, which would go on to underpin a massive 10 wicket win at Sabina Park to level the series, it must be said, went a long way in lightening the mood.
“Everyone says the 153 was second maybe to Sir Don Bradman’s (Against England at Melbourne in 1936-1937), maybe post-war, one of the better innings, but a week before that I was in Jamaica where we played against Australia in that second Test match,” Lara told 7Cricket.
“We came off scoring 51 in the fourth innings in Trinidad and I stood there in Jamaica, I was given the captaincy for two Test matches, on probation, never before had that happened in the history of West Indies cricket…that 213 in Jamaica was for me (special) in terms of not just batsmanship but my inner strength to come out of that situation I was in,” he went on.
“I was facing expulsion as the captain, of course, I was going to be playing, the captaincy was not that important to me that I wouldn’t play, but the threat of the expulsion and the fact that everyone was sort of jeering against me, in the Caribbean, was just unbelievable.”
'You have to have belief' - WI skipper Mohammed says team inspired by India shock win over Australia
West Indies captain for the upcoming One Day International (ODI) series against Bangladesh, Jason Mohammed, says the team will draw inspiration from India’s surprise triumph over Australia, at the much-vaunted Gabba fortress, on Monday.
The relatively inexperienced India team ended a 32-year unbeaten run for the Aussies on the back of a stellar innings from Rishabh Pant. The team’s performance broke Australian hearts, and records as well, with the mammoth target of 328 runs representing the highest ever successful runs chase at the venue. It was achieved with 3 wickets remaining.
Heading into the series as huge underdogs, the team owed a large part of the victory to resilience, Shubman Gill's crucial 91 and the dogged determination of Cheteshwar Pujara who faced 211 deliveries and 10 body blows to defend the Border-Gavaskar trophy on a dramatic final day.
For, Mohammed, who will lead a hastily assembled and likewise inexperienced squad against Bangladesh, starting on Wednesday, there is plenty about the India performance to draw encouragement from.
“It’s obviously something we will look to. It depends on the day and how you play,” Mohammed told members of the media via a press conference call on Tuesday.
“A lot of the guys will be making their debut, but once you have that belief and belief within the team that you can do well and that you can win games then these things are achievable and it showed in the India versus Australia series,” he added.
“We have the same mindset. We are just looking to play some good cricket starting tomorrow and hopefully, the results will be on our side as well.”
Pant thrilled to guide India to stunning win over Australia
Rishabh Pant described his match-winning innings in India's stunning victory over Australia as "one of the biggest moments of my life".
Pant was unbeaten on 89 as India remarkably chased down 328 to beat Australia by three wickets at the Gabba, sealing a 2-1 series triumph as they retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
It ended Australia's 31-match unbeaten run at the venue as the tourists pulled off one of the all-time great Test victories, leaving Pant thrilled.
"This is one of the biggest moments of my life now, and I'm happy that all the support staff and all my team-mates supported me even when I wasn't playing," he said during an on-field presentation.
"It's been a dream series. The team management always backs me and tells me, you are a match-winner and you have to go win the match for the team.
"I keep thinking every day that I want to win matches for India, and I did it today. It was a fifth-day pitch and the ball was turning a bit. I thought I have to be disciplined with my shot selection."
Ajinkya Rahane was almost lost for words to sum up his feelings, having come in as stand-in captain after Virat Kohli returned home to attend the birth of his child.
"It really means a lot to us. I don't know how to describe this victory. I'm just proud of all the boys, each and every individual," said Rahane, who contributed a brisk 24 from 22 balls in the final innings.
"We just wanted to give our best, not to think about the result. When I went in, conversation between me and [Cheteshwar] Pujara was Puji to bat normal and me to go for my shots, because we knew Rishabh and Mayank [Agarwal] were there.
"Credit to Pujara, the way he handled the pressure was magnificent, and Rishabh was brilliant in the end."
Having bowled India out for 36 to win the opening Test, Australia were left to rue a series that slipped from their grasp.
Captain Tim Paine conceded India deserved their success and urged his own team to look forward to the challenges ahead.
He said: "Absolutely disappointed.
"We came here to win the Test and win the series, it's been a bit of a trend that we were found wanting in the key moments and completely outplayed by a tough Indian side that fully deserves the win.
"I think there's lots of things we'll look back at, but what's done is done. We need to look forward now, there's a big series in South Africa coming up, we've been outplayed by the better side in this series."
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