Trivia time!

[worbod]

I'll have half.

 

[worbod]

What did Bob Willis achieve in consecutive Tests during the 1979-80 season?

 

[Gough]

Pulled out my Wisden for a look at this.
It won't be the right answer but is an interesting stat about Willis in that series, in his first three innings of the series he was dismissed by Geoff Dymock, and in his final three was caught by Greg Chappell each time.

 

[worbod]

Well, the answer does have something to do with Willis being dismissed.

 

[Garf]

Caught by GS Chappell in the 2nd innings of each Test, per my trusty Datsun Book of Australian Test Cricket (1981) which is almost 100% accurate

 

[worbod]

The question relates to the first and second Tests only.

 

[Gough]

He's one of a select group of players that can say they've been caught by a Jewish Australian Test cricketer.

 

[worbod]

Have a look at England's second innings in both Tests.

 

[worbod]

Don't focus on how Willis was dismissed, look at who he was batting with at the time.

 

[Gough]

Deprived Gower, and Boycott of a hundred?

 

[worbod]

Deprived Gower, and Boycott of a hundred?

Correct. He also left Geoff Miller on 98 not out in a Test in 1977-78.

 

[Gough]

Who are the five surviving Australian Test cricketers born in the 1920s?

 

[worbod]

Neil Harvey is one. I reckon there may be one or two players who didn't have lengthy careers.

 

[worbod]

For some reason Jack Rutherford's name just came to me while I was trying to think of eligible players. Sure enough he was born in September 1929 and is still living.

 

[Gough]

For some reason Jack Rutherford's name just came to me while I was trying to think of eligible players. Sure enough he was born in September 1929 and is still living.

Very fine call sir.
1. Misery guts.
2. Jack Rutherford
3.
4.
5.

 

[TassieEagle]

Alan Davidson would be another? Or was he a 30's lad?

 

[Gough]

1. Harvey
2. Rutherford
3. Davo
4.
5.

 

[The_Reaper]

1. Harvey
2. Rutherford
3. Davo
4.
5.

Ken Archer

 

[Wallaby]

Len Maddocks?

 

[Gough]

Len Maddocks?

Good guess. Until September last year he was our oldest Test cricketer.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Damned tough one, I'm struggling to even think of players from that era.
England had some greats in that post-war period; Hutton, May, Tyson, etc; who may have been 20s born (not still alive though) but Australians that would have debuted either side of WWII I'm struggling with - much less still alive.
We're talking one-two (cricketing) generations pre- Lawry and Stackpole at the top of the order.

 

[Gough]

1. Harvey
2. Rutherford
3. Davo
4. Archer
5.

 

[Wallaby]

Bill Watson?

 

[Gough]

Born 1931.

 

[Wallaby]

Got it. Has to Be.

Everone knows he was a star in the mid-late 50s, but he actually made his debut very early in the 50s, and then was dropped for a few years.

And I know he's still alive.

So........lock in (hopefully........Colin Mcdonald.