View Full Version : Who was Australia's last poor fielder?
wagstaff
30 Oct 2002, 22:49
During last week's telecast of the Qld v Tas one-dayer, it was noted that one of the things that may be holding back Martin Love from making it to the national side was that he was considered a very poor fielder.
It brings up an interesting question: When was the last time Australia had a genuinely poor fielder in their side? It is a testament to the culture started by Bobby Simpson that the emphasis placed on fielding in training has helped ensure that the Australian side has been clearly the best fielding side in the world for several seasons.
I would be hard pressed to recall the last time there was a clearly ordinary fielder who played regularly for Australia. The closest I could come up with would be Michael Slater, who I thought was pretty average in the field and did tend to drop the odd sitter here and there - but overall he was passable.
It's easy to remember the dud fielders from other countries: Devon Malcolm and Phil Tufnell are standouts from England, Courtney Walsh was a major liability for the West Indies in later seasons, especially with his slowness and his inability to throw a ball from the outfield. Curtly Ambrose wasn't much better.
The worst overall fielding side are Pakistan - they have barely had any reliable fielders in recent years. In the recent series, the commentators pointed out that the young Pakistani fielders seemed to have trouble even handling the basics of good fielding which is pretty sad.
It will be interesting to see how Darren Lehmann performs in the field in the first Test; I wonder those who don't think he deserved his place in the side might get stuck into him about his relative slugishness in the field.
Slater was a good fieldsmen, and i think Love is overall not a bad fieldsmen, but he probably would be the weakest in the australian team.
ummm but jeez i can't think of a bad fieldsmen in the 10 years i can remember of watching the Australian team.
Tim May?? can't remember him in the field. he conjures up thoughts of a straggler in the field.
I remember Miller dripped that sitter at the SCG one dya.
Brett Li
30 Oct 2002, 23:07
Originally posted by hourn
Slater was a good fieldsmen, and i think Love is overall not a bad fieldsmen, but he probably would be the weakest in the australian team.
ummm but jeez i can't think of a bad fieldsmen in the 10 years i can remember of watching the Australian team.
Tim May?? can't remember him in the field. he conjures up thoughts of a straggler in the field.
I remember Miller dripped that sitter at the SCG one dya.
Tom Moody?
wagstaff
30 Oct 2002, 23:24
Originally posted by Brett Li
Tom Moody?
Never played much for Australia but thought he was an excellent fielder. I remember he could deliver an excellent and direct throw from the deep.
Brett Li
30 Oct 2002, 23:40
Originally posted by wagstaff
Never played much for Australia but thought he was an excellent fielder. I remember he could deliver an excellent and direct throw from the deep.
I remember watching one match (in australia) where he made so many f*ck-ups, that the crowd cheered ironically when he caught up with a ball and threw it in from 25 yards.......
Martin Love is a decent first slipper.
Of the current Australian side, McGrath is probably the worst, we've seen him drop some catches. I remember seeing him take his first catch in his 16th test!
Of the infielders I'd say Damien Martyn is the poorest, he's put down a few. Steve Waugh aint that great these days, although used to be quite good.
wagstaff
30 Oct 2002, 23:55
Originally posted by Brett Li
I remember watching one match (in australia) where he made so many f*ck-ups, that the crowd cheered ironically when he caught up with a ball and threw it in from 25 yards.......
I think I remember that match. It was a one-day final against South Africa when he had an absolute horror day in the field, he actually didn't have much of a series of any sort.
But that was generally the exception to the rule, a fine fielder otherwise.
larrikin
31 Oct 2002, 00:35
Originally posted by DaveW
Martin Love is a decent first slipper.
Of the infielders I'd say Damien Martyn is the poorest, he's put down a few.
It's fine that you don't like Martyn, you've proved that in previous posts - but don't just make stuff up.
He'd be in our best couple of fielders in the test side (behind Ponting) and has dropped fewer catches than any of the other slips fieldmen. You may have noticed he had replaced Ponting in the slips (and will now be permanent at 2nd slip with Waugh gone).
They don't put guys in there because they can't catch.
BTW - Marto won't be dropped from the side and he will bat at 4 so get over it.
larrikin
31 Oct 2002, 00:37
Originally posted by Brett Li
I remember watching one match (in australia) where he made so many f*ck-ups, that the crowd cheered ironically when he caught up with a ball and threw it in from 25 yards.......
Had the best arm in Australia for about 10 years.
Was a decent slips fielder as well.
Brett Li
31 Oct 2002, 00:57
Originally posted by larrikin
Had the best arm in Australia for about 10 years.
Was a decent slips fielder as well.
hang on Guys, you must have had a few dud players in the last decade?. They can't ALL have been Champions....
Brett Li
31 Oct 2002, 01:24
Originally posted by DIPPER
Greg Matthews.
Chris Matthews
Carl Rackemann was pretty funny. Watched him in a Test about 10 years ago at the MCG, trying to perform a slide to save a boundary, ended up hitting his head on the fence advertising. Strong arm though.
Bruce Reid was pretty ordinary too. Mark Taylor was #1 in the slips, but not too flash on his rare occasions in the outifeld.
Lehmann would be the worst fielder in the current team but he isn't that bad, just that others are better.
dr nick
31 Oct 2002, 07:50
Michael Bevan without question IMO. he always rides the boundary and fumbles even then every time it seems. he also has a kenny custard arm
Originally posted by nicko18
Michael Bevan without question IMO. he always rides the boundary and fumbles even then every time it seems. he also has a kenny custard arm
He is only out there because of his speed.
bluechampion
31 Oct 2002, 10:03
Originally posted by nicko18
Michael Bevan without question IMO. he always rides the boundary and fumbles even then every time it seems. he also has a kenny custard arm
Bevan has had terrible shoulder injuries so he can't throw at all. No power in his shoulder, you see. The problem is, he's an average fielder who would be suited to the outfield because of his speed, but because of his shoulders can't return from the deep. That's why he races around the least offensive areas of the covers and when he goes deep, someone follows him for the relay.
Bruce Reid is the worst Australian fielder I can remember. Hang on, I've just remembered Greg Ritchie. They're the worst two I can remember.
Guys like Lehmann, MacGill, Love are OK just not as good as the mostly excellent fielders who've played for Australia in recent years.
Someone mentioned Greg Matthews, his fielding was quite good from my memory.
Curious player Greg Matthews. An all-rounder who was chosen mostly for his bowling. (We were so desperate for spinners). His bowling was the worst aspect of his game by far. Quite a good test batting record, shocking bowling record.
EagleBlue
31 Oct 2002, 12:45
Tim May easily Australia's worst fieldsman Ive seen play for Australia over the last decade. I think Steve Waugh said about May, "his left hand seems to be allergic to stopping cricket balls". Colin Miller a close 2nd. Of the current team i guess Lehmann if only for his lack of mobility in the field. By no means a poor fielder (reasonably safe hands) but probably the only current player you could take a quick single to or run one "on the arm"
davers11
31 Oct 2002, 12:52
David Boon!
Border tried his hardest to hide him and eventually came up with short leg. I must admit he is one of the best ive seen at short leg but anywhere else in the field and he is an absolute donkey. Lehmann will prove himself to be the worst of the current lot of aussie fieldsmen i would say.
One test wonder Peter McIntyre is the worst fielder (& player) to have played recently. Of the players who have played more than a handful of games in the past 5 or so years, MacGill is the worst. Lehmann is the worst of the current squad, but he has improved with age.
bluechampion
31 Oct 2002, 14:25
Steve Waugh was great, but now he's like the immovable object at Gully. If it comes within a few feet of him, he'll devour it, but otherwise he's like a tree; rooted to the spot.
Also, no one in world cricket defers the fielding as much as Steve nowadays. It's very entertaining to see his arm shoot up almost as soon as the shot's been played.
Bevan throws like I throw with my opposite arm.
The Doctor
31 Oct 2002, 14:37
Originally posted by davers11
David Boon!
Border tried his hardest to hide him and eventually came up with short leg. I must admit he is one of the best ive seen at short leg but anywhere else in the field and he is an absolute donkey. Lehmann will prove himself to be the worst of the current lot of aussie fieldsmen i would say.
Agree with this. as much as I loved Boonie he was shockin awful in the field except short leg.
Greg Ritchie was just pitiful anywhere in the field.
Bob Holland tried but was hopeless
Rackers was fun to watch
Greg (?) Dyer wasn't much of a keeper from the old dark days of the mid 80's
Jim Higgs, easliy. In fact he was the Aussie Team from the late 70's version of Tufnell. Unfortunately, he was probably before most peoples time on this board.
The Doctor
31 Oct 2002, 14:51
Originally posted by TDLLO
Jim Higgs, easliy. In fact he was the Aussie Team from the late 70's version of Tufnell. Unfortunately, he was probably before most peoples time on this board.
Of course. Higgs was a star. I loved watching him bat :)
Originally posted by The Doctor
Of course. Higgs was a star. I loved watching him bat :) He batted as well as he fielded. :p Anyway, I once saw him cover drive the great Bob Willis for 4 at Adelaide. The ball pitched a foot outside leg stump. Fortunately Jimmy knew exactly where Willis was going to bowl the ball and he had backed away to square leg and creamed it. What a legend...:p
Captain Sensible
31 Oct 2002, 17:15
Greg Ritchie was shocking as was Boon anywhere else other than short leg and the odd turn at keeping.
The Hippie
31 Oct 2002, 21:58
Originally posted by The Doctor
Agree with this. as much as I loved Boonie he was shockin awful in the field except short leg.
Don't agree entirely here, might not have had an athletic build or strong throwing arm, but he had a good pair of hands. Remember his catch at a very short mid-on against the windies in '95?
Originally posted by TDLLO
He batted as well as he fielded. :p Anyway, I once saw him cover drive the great Bob Willis for 4 at Adelaide. The ball pitched a foot outside leg stump. Fortunately Jimmy knew exactly where Willis was going to bowl the ball and he had backed away to square leg and creamed it. What a legend...:p
I'm sure it was Jim Higgs whose ambition was to hit a four in front of the wicket!
Matthew Elliott wasn't [and still isn't] a great fielder when playing for Aus.
sandeano
3 Nov 2002, 21:29
I remember being at a ODI in the early 80s when Greg Ritchie was running back attempting to place himself for a skied slog. At the last second he covered his eyes with his hands and the ball bounced a couple of feet away.
The crowd went beserk.
Anyhow, later that night I was watching the highlights and when they replayed that moment Richie Benaud gave his usual pause or a few seconds then calmly stated that "NASA has spent billions in travelling to the Moon and charting our planets, yet only now has the Sun been discovered, thanks to one G. Ritchie".
Paul Reiffel was a trier but below par and it was always amusing watching Allan Border try and hide Bob Holland somewhere.
mattyc2422
3 Nov 2002, 21:50
MacGill and Lehmann.
Agree on Bevan. Throws like he's afraid he'll hit Gilly on the head.
Originally posted by JUBJUB
Matthew Elliott wasn't [and still isn't] a great fielder when playing for Aus.
After todays effort,Elliott wins easily.In fact he'd qualify as an English fieldsman.:rolleyes:
fabulousphil
17 Nov 2002, 21:31
Jim Higgs was hideous to watch in the field, he was the only man in test cricket to have a batting average below zero.
Australia must have been desperate for a leggie and come to think of it a selector.
London Dave
17 Nov 2002, 21:45
Originally posted by fabulousphil
Jim Higgs was hideous to watch in the field, he was the only man in test cricket to have a batting average below zero.
Australia must have been desperate for a leggie and come to think of it a selector.
Higgs had a reasonable record as a bowler, but had no clue regarding batting or fielding..I remember once he was fielding in the covers for Australia..the commentator (Paul Sheehan I think) remarking Jim was the latest in a long line of great Aussie cover fieldsmen! When he was on the selection panel, I seem to recall Aus doing OK, so he cannot have been as clueless as you perhaps suggest!
His test record was better than some other leggies (that Holland bloke, for starters) I can think of. His problem with bowling was that he had about 500 deliveries to choose from! Did turn the ball a lot, and earned his place in the side I reckon.
Whoever was bagging Bevan would do well to recall that he had a very bad shoulder injury, and has zilcho power in his throw, which doesnt make life easy.
fabulousphil
17 Nov 2002, 21:54
Originally posted by London Dave
His test record was better than some other leggies (that Holland bloke, for starters) I can think of. His problem with bowling was that he had about 500 deliveries to choose from! Did turn the ball a lot, and earned his place in the side I reckon.
I think from memory that Holland debuted just before his first aged pension cheque arrived, seriously though i think he was in his early 40s. I also think he wasnt even playing shield cricket at the time but grade up in Newcastle, could be wrong though.
5CougarsThanks
17 Nov 2002, 21:57
Terry Alderman
wagstaff
17 Nov 2002, 22:07
Originally posted by JUBJUB
After todays effort,Elliott wins easily.In fact he'd qualify as an English fieldsman.:rolleyes:
He was so bad that whenever there was a misfield, the commentators assumed that Elliott was resonspible, even when it wasn't him!
fabulousphil
17 Nov 2002, 22:17
Originally posted by wagstaff
He was so bad that whenever there was a misfield, the commentators assumed that Elliott was resonspible, even when it wasn't him!
Elliot the poor mans Phil Tuffnell.
Originally posted by fabulousphil
I think from memory that Holland debuted just before his first aged pension cheque arrived, seriously though i think he was in his early 40s. I also think he wasnt even playing shield cricket at the time but grade up in Newcastle, could be wrong though.
He was 37 when he debuted, 38 when he played his last test.
Foxtrot
18 Nov 2002, 08:39
Very entertaining thread.
On top of the luminaries already mentioned may I add to the list
Rodney Hogg (dud)
and
Wayne Phillips (really should have been just a specialist batsmen but forced to keep wickets so we could squeeze another batsmen into the lineup)
Interesting Sandeano mentioned Paul Reiffel. If it weren't for the running between the wicket skills of Allan Donald, the famous semi in the last world cup may well be remembered for Pistol fumbling a lofted (well as lofted as his shots get) Lance Klusener drive which then went over the fence for 6. Had SA won the game, I'd say it would have haunted him forever.
classicyds
18 Nov 2002, 17:08
Martin Love isn't a dud he's just not the flashest in QLD. I have always thought that Martyn was a good fielder, maybe it's all in which state you live in.
I can't remember a regular test player who hasn't been a pretty handy fielder in the last few years.
Certainly our close in fielding is extraordinary...I am flawed at the speed and accuracy of some of our fielders during run outs...I think that makes a big difference in the Test arena because it casts a shadow over trying to rotate the strike when your in a hole. It isn't so easy to just place the ball and pick up singles and work your way out of trouble and into some form.
IMO a few cruddy outfielders are a must for a one day side (in the opposition teams that is) because it always makes that vital run chase at the end so much fun when catches go down and there are fumbles and overthrows....
"Oh no, Richie he's put it down, he's dropped a sitter!"
"Dreadful stuff that".
WoeyFanclub
18 Nov 2002, 17:15
darren lehmann, slow chaser, not great at catching...Love kills him
Adelaide Hawk
18 Nov 2002, 17:36
I think Bruce Reid was the last poor fielder in the Australian team, but he was so brilliant with the ball it didn't matter :)
Bomber Spirit
19 Nov 2002, 19:53
Scott Muller. Can't bowl, can't throw.:p
Tim May wasn't too flash either.
Kenny_01
19 Nov 2002, 20:54
Originally posted by DaveW
Of the infielders I'd say Damien Martyn is the poorest, he's put down a few.
You are as clueless as they come. Martyn is close to, if not our best catcher. He nearly catches everything, although he did drop one last test.
Originally posted by Kenny_01
You are as clueless as they come. Martyn is close to, if not our best catcher. He nearly catches everything, although he did drop one last test.
And its not the only one he's dropped. Ponting, Warne, Hayden, Langer and Lehmann are better.