glenn trimble

[MagpieScouser]

worst over ever by an australian on debut?

 

[Wallaby]

You're probably too young to remember Chris Matthews. On his test debut he wasn't bothered by accepted strictures like .... the pitch, for example. He was rubbish in all his tests (3) and was a classic case of a guy who couldn't cope with the pressure of Test cricket. His Shield record was exceptional.

But if you really want the classic - try Johnny Watkins. The classic 'country bumpkin mystery spinner' who looked unplayable in the nets, and was put into the test team after only 5 fairly ordinary shield matches. He nearly brained the square leg umpire with some of his deliveries, (he only got 6 overs) , went on the Windies tour, didn't play another test and retired after that. His surprise selection was similar to Shane Warne's - 'This guy's got something special - we've got to try him'. And fair enough too. But it didn't work. (To be fair, I have to point out he made 36 in the second innings of his only test and shared a late-order partnership of 80 with Bob Massie - and we only won the match by 50. No Watkins - we don't win).

 

[The Passenger]

keith stackpole called johnny watkins "the luckiest guy to ever play for australia"

to be fair to chris matthews he had just come off a couple of ripping seasons in shield cricket from memory.

 

[sherb]

But if you really want the classic - try Johnny Watkins. The classic 'country bumpkin mystery spinner' who looked unplayable in the nets, and was put into the test team after only 5 fairly ordinary shield matches. He nearly brained the square leg umpire with some of his deliveries, (he only got 6 overs) , went on the Windies tour, didn't play another test and retired after that. His surprise selection was similar to Shane Warne's - 'This guy's got something special - we've got to try him'. And fair enough too. But it didn't work. (To be fair, I have to point out he made 36 in the second innings of his only test and shared a late-order partnership of 80 with Bob Massie - and we only won the match by 50. No Watkins - we don't win).

His effort with the bat was more exceptional given that he came to the wicket in Australia's second innings with the score at 7-94, with Australia leading by only 68 runs. The 8th wicket fell at 101, a lead of 75. From there a Pakistan win looked an absolute certainty.

But he and Massie, a pair of unlikely heroes if there were any, put on 83 for the ninth wicket (each player recording his highest first-class score in the process), with both players falling at 184.

Even then Pakistan only needed 159 to win. Sadiq fell to an amazing catch by Edwards in the covers early on (which I never saw, I just remember hearing it described on the radio) and Pakistan ended up collapsing to 106 all out.

Lillee bowled unchanged to take three wickets and Walker took 6-15. Lillee's effort was remarkable in that his back was stuffed. He went to the West Indies shortly after, but broke down completely in the first test and didn't play again until the 74/75 Ashes series (missing all of the 73/74 season).

It was an amazing test.