Playthrough: Righting some wrongs (and keeping some rights) in Australian cricket history

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1 December 1979
vs - First Test
The Gabba

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
Graeme Yallop
Allan Border
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Jeff Thomson
Dennis Lillee
Len Pascoe

West Indies
Gordon Greenidge
Desmond Haynes
Viv Richards
Alvin Kallicharran
Lawrence Rowe
Collis King
Deryck Murray
Andy Roberts
Joel Garner
Michael Holding
Colin Croft

Nine changes for an Australian team who have an influx of guys returning from WSC. Every one of McCosker, I Chappell, G Chappell, Marsh, Mallett, Thomson, Lillee and Pascoe is an upgrade, while Graeme Wood returns from injury, leaving just Yallop and Border. This new look team has a stern test in the dominant West Indies; with Clive Lloyd unavailable, they run out the same lineup as they did IRL.

Australia won the toss and batted, as expected. McCosker and Wood, however, did something unexpected and added 185 without loss. That loss was a sad one, McCosker bowled by Croft for 96, and then Wood followed him for 95. The Chappells survived Day 1, but Garner got his second wicket by bowling Ian early on Day 2. Yallop failed, but but Border and Greg Chappell then delivered a second 150 partnership of the game. Chappell did make his ton, then edged Garner to slip. Marsh got a start but was then bowled by Roberts, but Mallett hung around for the rest of Day 2, and helped Border to his ton in doing so. Border lasted two balls into Day 3, though, and the tail had fairly obvious issues when facing Roberts and Garner with a relatively new ball - Roberts, having struggled for the first five sessions, ended up on a hat-trick at one point. Australia had set an imposing 498.

That looked even better when Desmond Haynes nicked Lillee through to Rod Marsh in the fifth over of the West Indian innings. Greenidge and Richards counterattacked, Greenidge especially spectacular in hitting a quick 50 before he edged Mallett to Ian Chappell at slip. While Kallicharran struggled, Richards stepped it up, although he looked uneasy at times against Mallett. That unease did him in; in the spinner's 19th straight over, he drew the West Indian master into propping forward at one, beat the bat, and hit off stump. Lillee disposed of Rowe, caught at leg gully, before tea, leaving West Indies slightly vulnerable to the follow-on. King failed, and when Mallett returned to the attack, he removed the increasingly comfortable Kallicharran with his third ball for 67. Deryck Murray played a saviour knock, belting Border and then Thomson, although he missed a straight one from Thommo with 20 still needed. Roberts' valuable 22 ended seven runs later with the second delivery with the new ball, then Holding gloved one to Pascoe at short leg after adding just 1. Croft was bowled and the West Indies, despite a great knock from Richards and a firefight from Murray, fell six short of safety and had to bat again.

The West Indian openers survived a two-over stint on Day 3, but Greenidge was out with the first of Day 4, caught at short mid wicket off Lillee. Pascoe then committed the cardinal sin of bowling Viv Richards off a no-ball. Last time this happened, Sunny Gavaskar added another hundred runs, and while Haynes fell victim to a spectacular catch by Border at gully at the other end, Viv kept accumulating even if he didn't look the best he had ever played. Kallicharran, on the other hand, never looked close to settled, and fell plumb LBW to Mallett just after lunch. Then, the big one - kept in the attack for one extra over, Lillee delivered, bowling Richards for 57. King failed for a second time, likely sealing his fate (although Greg Chappell did take a one-handed wonder at slip this time), but Rowe and Murray did come through this time. Aided by a drop at slip, they took West Indies into the lead on their own, until with the new ball a fired up Dennis Lillee got Murray to edge behind. Thomson got Rowe to flick one to mid-wicket with no further addition to the score, and while Roberts and Garner survived Day 4, they never looked comfortable against any of the Aussie bowlers. Early on Day 5, Garner was dropped at third slip, but with the run taken on it, Roberts was bowled by a mean yorker the next delivery by Thomson. Thommo also rearranged Holding's stumps, and Pascoe did the same to Croft, leaving the Aussies 78 to win.

Australia lost Graeme Wood caught behind, but only after 57 of those were already scored. McCosker also fell trying to finish it with one shot, but four balls later the Test was over, and Australia had beaten the mighty West Indies on a wicket that suited the Caribbean team.

Spoiler: 1979/80 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Dennis Lillee 5 (+5)
2. Greg Chappell 3 (+3)
3. Allan Border 2 (+2)
4. Ashley Mallett 1 (+1)

 

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14 December 1979
vs - Second Test
WACA

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
Graeme Yallop
Allan Border
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Jeff Thomson
Dennis Lillee
Len Pascoe

West Indies
Gordon Greenidge
Desmond Haynes
Viv Richards
Alvin Kallicharran
Lawrence Rowe
Clive Lloyd
Deryck Murray
Andy Roberts
Joel Garner
Michael Holding
Colin Croft

I'd definitely much rather play the British on the WACA pitch, but it's whatever. As it is, we go in unchanged after a brilliant first Test, while the West Indies don't panic (although they do replace the useless Collis King with returnee Clive Lloyd).

In another critical toss, Australia won and batted on a bowler's nightmare of a pitch. This time though Australia didn't have everything their own way. Garner pinned Wood LBW for five, then just as Ian Chappell had got set, first-change bowler Holding bowled him with sheer pace. Greg Chappell and McCosker almost added 100, but Chappell was dismissed in identical fashion to his brother for 40. McCosker got a bit unlucky; the first ball he faced after tea held in the wicket, producing a simple caught and bowled for Roberts. When Yallop was yorked, Australia were in trouble. Border got set and then flicked one to square leg an over before the new ball. West Indies would likely have put their houses on wiping out the Aussie tail with the new ball, but Haynes did not give his team a good chance when he spilled Mallett in its first over. The resistance Mallett and Jeff Thomson provided from there allowed Marsh to hit a quick 60. With an over to lunch, Thomson whacked Roberts for two boundaries, then almost hit a six (albeit one that ended up in the hands of Holding at cow corner). Australia were all out for 283 in four sessions in a fighting innings, especially from 6/195.

The West Indian openers actually survived Thomson and Lillee this time, and while Haynes stayed in survival mode, Greenidge attacked the change bowlers. They added 77 and played through the middle session, then Haynes edged the second ball of the evening session to slip. Mallett got that wicket, but picked up an even bigger one in his next over when he bowled Richards through the gate. Mallett had three in three overs after tea when Kallicharran edged to slip, and suddenly, all the pressure was on Greenidge. He and Rowe responded by adding 172 and seeing the Windies back into a dominant position in the match, before on the last delivery bowled with the first ball, he popped one from Mallett to short leg. Thomson got Rowe for 97 with a sharp return catch with the new cherry, and while Clive Lloyd got his team into the lead with an aggressive start, Murray was bowled by Mallett just after lunch to give the spinner his five-for. Roberts and Garner were dismissed for ducks, but Holding provided resistance alongside his captain. The pair added a WI-record 161 for the ninth wicket before Lloyd popped Greg Chappell's legspin up into the air for Border to catch at short leg. Dennis Lillee got Holding three balls later to prevent a rare wicketless outing, but the West Indies lead by the end was 177.

Graeme Wood took Roberts to the cleaners early, hitting his second over for 19. Roberts retaliated by having McCosker caught at second slip. When Garner dismissed Wood off the final over of Day 3, Australia were in a tough spot. Greg Chappell failed and Graham Yallop continued his struggles with extreme pace, which left Australia 4/57, and they should have been 5/60 in the same over but a runout was missed. Ian Chappell had been resolute, and after their miscommunication, Allan Border proved to be a willing partner. The pair added 162 to get Australia out of any danger of an innings defeat. Chappell eventually sliced one back to Roberts, which started a slight collapse. Marsh failed and Border fell LBW to Holding four short of a deserved ton. Clive Lloyd picked up a rare wicket when he bowled Mallett, but Dennis Lillee fought back to give himself something to bowl at. He got helped by Lloyd dropping a catch at first slip, but racked up 41 off 37 (including a huge six off Garner and 16 off a Roberts over) before being dismissed. That meant the Windies needed 130 to win.

Greenidge attacked again and got a run a ball 47 before Pascoe bowled him. That seemed to be the game, and despite a spirited spell from Lillee being followed with two wickets in an over (Haynes and Richards) for Thomson, it did prove to be a formality, with a Thomson no-ball proving an anticlimactic end to a good game.

Spoiler: 1979/80 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Dennis Lillee 5
2. Allan Border 4 (+2)
2. Ashley Mallett 4 (+3)
3. Greg Chappell 3
4. Rick McCosker 1 (+1)

Fun fact: if the quicks don't do something in the Boxing Day Test, we will have gone 1979 without a single 5-for from a quick. Suggests Bruce Yardley being dropped was a bit rough, although Mallett's performance justifies it

 

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29 December 1979
vs - Third Test
MCG

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
David Hookes
Allan Border
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Jeff Thomson
Dennis Lillee
Geoff Dymock

West Indies
Gordon Greenidge
Desmond Haynes
Viv Richards
Alvin Kallicharran
Lawrence Rowe
Clive Lloyd
Deryck Murray
Andy Roberts
Joel Garner
Michael Holding
Colin Croft

Australia have made two changes for a do-or-die clash against the Windies. Graham Yallop is dropped, although selectors have suggested he will return against the less potent pace attack of England next month, while Len Pascoe is also out; David Hookes and Geoff Dymock in for him. While Michael Holding has struggled, the West Indies keep the faith in him and select an unchanged team.

The Aussies lost the toss, but captain Chappell said he would have been tempted to bowl first anyway. This wasn't actually a good idea in the end as the West Indian openers were not dislodged during the first session. They added 116 before the expensive Thomson induced a miscue from Haynes to short mid wicket. Greenidge and Richards kept it rolling before, in the second over after tea, Greenidge flat batted a Lillee full toss back at the bowler. Kallicharran failed, then with a ball to go before the new ball was taken, Richards swept hard at the part time spin of Border and missed. Australia attacked before stumps, but the Windies fought back, hitting 75 off 10 overs with the new ball. The same pair added 50 in the first hour of Day 2 before Lloyd edged Mallett to short leg. Mallett got a second wicket almost immediately when Murray was trapped LBW. Roberts added some useful runs, but he and Garner departed in consecutive balls off Thomson - then a four glanced down the leg side by Holding on the hattrick ball! Thomson dealt with Holding quickly after that though. Croft hung around just long enough for Rowe to get his ton, then was dismissed, ending the innings for 443.

McCosker and Wood were solid to start, but just before tea, McCosker nicked Holding through to the keeper. That probably wasn't a good thing for the Windies as the next partnership added 278. Wood eventually nicked Roberts for 133, but another 173 was made in the next partnership as the Chappell brothers attacked. Greg fell five short of his ton, which started something of a collapse, as Hookes and Border failed, and then Ian Chappell fell for a brilliant 223. The tail packed it in against Roberts, but despite losing 8/45, Australia led by 100 runs.

Lillee and Thomson, with the pitch coming to them, had to be aggressive. Lillee certainly was; he had Haynes caught behind with his second ball of the innings. A quick 50 for Greenidge followed as the Aussies continued to chase wickets, but Dymock bowled him on the last ball before tea. Lillee then hit Richards in the elbow; while Richards initially wanted to continue, he felt extreme discomfort picking up his bat, and left the game with a fractured elbow. Rowe lasted three balls, and while Lloyd survived the Lillee barrage, he nicked a big turner from Mallett at the otherend. Thomson was as dangerous as his partner, firing out Murray to a short-leg catch, while Dymock yorked Andy Roberts. Border came into the attack for an over and dismissed Garner, Dymock yorked Holding, and while Croft and Kallicharran took the innings into Day 5, it didn't last much longer.

Faced with a tricky 73-run chase, McCosker and Wood attacked. Had Rick not tried to end it in one shot, as he did in Game 1, Australia would have won by ten wickets. More importantly, Australia become the first team to beat the West Indies in a series for four years, signalling a successful return for the World Series Cricket players.

Spoiler: 1979/80 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Dennis Lillee 7 (+2)
2. Ian Chappell 5 (+5)
3. Allan Border 4
3. Ashley Mallett 4
4. Greg Chappell 3
4. Graeme Wood 3 (+3)
5. Rick McCosker 1
5. Geoff Dymock 1 (+1)

 

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in , 1979-80
Tests: 4 Jan 1980 (SCG), 24 Jan 1980 (Adelaide Oval), 1 Feb 1980 (MCG)

Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Ian Chappell
David Hookes
Rick McCosker
Jeff Moss
Graeme Wood
Graham Yallop

Rod Marsh

Phil Carlson
Max Walker
Bruce Yardley

Geoff Dymock
Rodney Hogg
Alan Hurst
Dennis Lillee
Jeff Thomson

Ashley Mallett

One change has been made for the England Tests; the selectors deemed that young Len Pascoe would be better off playing in the Shield than riding the bench for Australia. In for him is bowling allrounder Max Walker.

ENG squad: D Bairstow, G Boycott, I Botham, M Brearley, G Dilley, J Emburey, G Gooch, D Gower, M Hendrick, W Larkins, J Lever, G Miller, D Randall, G Stevenson, R Taylor, D Underwood, B Willis, P Willey

 

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4 Jan 1980
vs -First Test
SCG

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Graham Yallop
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Jeff Thomson
Dennis Lillee
Geoff Dymock

England
Derek Randall
Geoff Boycott
Peter Willey
David Gower
Geoff Miller
Mike Brearley
Ian Botham
Bob Taylor
Graham Dilley
Derek Underwood
Bob Willis

Australia return Graham Yallop to the middle order for Hookes, but that's all despite rumours of Walker coming in for Dymock to lengthen the lineup. England run the same slightly weird lineup they ran in the real first Test.

Australia won the toss and batted. McCosker settled in, but Wood didn't - he played one cracking on-drive off Willis and then was stumped off the spinner. No wickets fell for the rest of the day as McCosker and Ian Chappell piled almost 200 runs worth of misery on the Poms. McCosker was dismissed off the third ball of Day 2, but not after an excellent century was brought up late on Day 1, and while Ian got his ton too, he was the second stumping victim of the innings. Greg Chappell got a start that he didn't carry on, and Yallop failed. Marsh and Border added 80 for the sixth wicket in an enterprising stand, then Border hit out with the tail. He brought up the third ton of the series, and then got bowled by the next ball he faced, ending the innings on 451.

Lillee got a customary early wicket, nicking off Randall with the third delivery of the innings. Boycott scored at an unusually quick pace, but Willey predictably struggled at 3, and was LBW to Dymock for eleven. Gower was bowled by Mallett early in the third day, and Miller immediately followed to Lillee. Brearly dug in with Boycott until the captain edged one to slip off Mallett. The arrival of Botham drew a spell from Dennis Lillee, and while the quick was unsuccessful, Boycott attempted to bring up his ton from 96 in one hit and was trapped LBW by Mallett. Taylor popped one tamely back to Mallett, and while Dilley was dropped in the deep by Lillee, Botham was pinned by Mallett to bring up the spinner's five for in the next over. The pace duo knocked over the tail by bowling two of them, and England were forced to follow on, having posted just 195.

Randall survived 40 balls rather than 3 this time, but still looked unable to handle Lillee or Thomson. Boycott did survive them, and scored 17 off 8 balls by Border - but then was LBW from the ninth. Mallett removed Willey, but Gower and Miller survived through to stumps. Thomson produced a brilliant yorker on the fourth morning to dismiss Gower, Miller glanced Mallett to short leg after over an hour's vigil, and Botham snicked Lillee behind after getting a nasty hit in the box from Dymock. Bob Taylor went immediately, and despite a repreive by Greg Chappell at slip being issued, England's tail subsided. England lost by an innings, and Australia had one hand on regaining the Ashes already.

Spoiler: 1979/80 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Ian Chappell 10 (+5)
2. Dennis Lillee 8 (+1)
3. Allan Border 6 (+2)
4. Ashley Mallett 4
4. Rick McCosker 4 (+3)
5. Greg Chappell 3
5. Graeme Wood 3
6. Geoff Dymock 1

 

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24 Jan 1980
vs - Second Test
Adelaide Oval

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Graham Yallop
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Jeff Thomson
Dennis Lillee
Geoff Dymock

England
Wayne Larkins
Geoff Boycott
Derek Randall
David Gower
Geoff Miller
Mike Brearley
Ian Botham
Bob Taylor
Graham Dilley
Derek Underwood
Bob Willis

Australia, after a resounding innings win in Sydney, go unchanged - although Graham Yallop might be playing for his career, having not succeeded since Test 2 in India. England make one change, though; Wayne Larkins is in for Peter Willey, with Derek Randall sliding down to hopefully avoid Lillee.

Randall and Larkins would be made to wait as Chappell won his fourth toss of five this summer. Botham had both openers in trouble multiple times, and Boycott dropped McCosker at slip, but both openers survived through lunch, and in fact had it not been for a brilliant Dilley yorker off the final ball of the day, they would have survived its entirety. That dealt with McCosker, and two overs into Day 2, Wood was gone too to a similar ball from Willey. Greg Chappell and Allan Border failed, and while Ian Chappell got to 36, he was bowled by Underwood immediately after lunch. Marsh provided another useful partnership before becoming Underwood's third stumping victim of the series, and Yallop fell just short of fifty. Despite a collapse of 4/17 at the end of the innings, Australia set 397 for England - again more than they scored in two innings in the first match.

Larkins and Boycott made it through to the end of Day 2, but Larkins was bowled by Dymock early on Day 3, which immediately saw the return of Lillee to Randall. But in a weird turn of events, Boycott took on the champion quick, and hit him out of the attack. Boycott put Australia under pressure, as Border dropped an important chance at silly point off Mallett. Eventually, Boycott nicked a full one from Dymock, ending a lovely 77 from the usually reserved Yorkshireman. Randall, who had struggled all innings, nevertheless survived 110 balls before slicing a sweep to short mid wicket. Gower attacked, and while Miller couldn't convert on a start and became Dymock's third victim, the pair had taken England past the follow-on by his dismissal. Mallett provided a key wicket as he dismissed Gower for 87 just before the new ball was taken. That provided two new batsmen for Lillee and Thomson to attack, and the West Australian immediately bowled Brearley. Taylor followed after hitting one boundary, Dilley picked up a first ball duck, and Thomson was left on a hat-trick going into the second innings when he bowled Willis the next ball. Lillee and Thomson took 5/21 with the second new ball, leaving Australia with a 133 run lead.

In an unusual role reversal, McCosker started slowly and never got going, while Wood got off to a flier. McCosker was the first wicket to fall on day 4, nicking Willis behind, and he was soon followed by Ian Chappell, who skied Dilley. Chappell fell just short of a fifty that would have predominantly been boundaries, and Wood got strangled down the leg side in the next over by Underwood for 72. The tail thrashed around a bit in search of quick runs, but Border hit 38 to get Australia to a 335-run lead.

Thomson didn't get the hat-trick, which caused the crowd to experience a lull. It proved momentary, as the next over, Larkins was dismissed for a duck by Lillee, sending them into raptures. Boycott played a few nice shots, but Randall failed to score for 35 balls and was then LBW to Mallett. Boycott and Gower added 100 in a counter-attacking stand, but Australia brought back its two spearheads and Thomson did the trick, getting Boycott LBW for 63. Miller failed, but Gower kept on racking up runs off Dymock - until he launched into a Mallett off-break and sliced it straight up in the air. Chappell held on, and England had to get 157 with Botham, Brearley and the tail. Lillee came back for another four-over spell in which he bowled Botham and trapped Taylor in front. Thomson bowled Dilley and Underwood, leaving Australia a wicket away, but Willey and Brearley held on. It proved academic though, as it was Dymock who ended the game and returned the Ashes to Australia by knocking over Willis' off stump.

Spoiler: 1979/80 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Dennis Lillee 11 (+3)
2. Ian Chappell 10
3. Graeme Wood 8 (+5)
4. Allan Border 6
4. Rick McCosker 6 (+2)
5. Ashley Mallett 4
6. Greg Chappell 3
7. Geoff Dymock 1
7. Jeff Thomson 1 (+1)

 

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1 Feb 1980
vs - Third Test
Adelaide Oval

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Ian Chappell
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Phil Carlson
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Jeff Thomson
Dennis Lillee
Geoff Dymock

England
Graham Gooch
Geoff Boycott
Peter Willey
David Gower
Derek Randall
Mike Brearley
Ian Botham
Bob Taylor
John Emburey
Graham Dilley
Bob Willis

Australia make one change in the chase for a sweep - Graham Yallop is dropped for Phil Carlson. It's rumoured that if Carlson shows he can be productive with bat and ball, he will play in the upcoming Pakistan tour. England, on the other hand, panic - Gooch, Willey and Emburey all are selected ahead of Larkins, Miller and Underwood. The biggest news though was actually Australian before the Test. 37-year-old Ian Chappell, the former Australian captain, announced that the game would be his last in international cricket.

Chappell won the toss - again - and batted - again. McCosker and Wood survived the first three hours of the Test and added 111 before Emburey spun out Wood, LBW. Ian Chappell entered to a standing ovation, and while he settled in, McCosker continued to up the tempo until he nicked Dilley to Taylor just before tea. The Chappell brothers survived exactly a session to the ball, until Ian sliced Dilley to Beefy Botham in the slips for 55 off the last over of the day. Another standing ovation later, Border played out the last three balls of the day. Greg was out early on Day 2, triggering a collapse as Carlson failed and Marsh nicked one off his second ball. Despite AB cleaving a quick 42, the innings ended for a subpar 264.

England responded with a competent opening stand, in an unusual scene. Gooch was eventually first out, flicking Lillee to McCosker at square leg for an impressive 63. Boycott was bowled by Dymock for 62, and suddenly England were back to square one (although halfway to their target). David Gower hit his second ball for an impressive hooked six, then lost Peter Willey LBW for four. Randall survived the day out, but as expected, lasted 12 scoreless balls into Day 3 when Lillee returned. DK immediately removed the usually stubborn Brearley, but Botham for once looked steady. Gower continued to attack, particularly eating into Dymock's figures - but then went too hard at Mallett again and was LBW. Bob Taylor middled his first ball of the series... straight into the hands of Dymock at deep mid wicket. Emburey and Botham added some quick runs to take England to the lead, but Lillee got the last two wickets to give him the first 5-for for an Aussie quick since the last Ashes in 1978 (thanks also to a drop by Marsh off Dymock).

McCosker was dropped by Dilley in his follow through early into the second innings. Wood replicated his 2nd innings performance in Adelaide to the exact run and ball, but McCosker was again dropped on 27 in the next over... and on 28 in the over after that. Dilley eventually decided to straight up bowl him. Ian Chappell was dismissed shortly after the start of Day 4, leaving the cricket field for the final time to another ovation and a guard of honour. Border and Greg Chappell then got stuck into the task of saving the Test; the pair added 82 in two hours before Greg was LBW to Botham. Carlson failed again - Trevor Chappell would be very happy with this - and Border was yorked out for 55 just after tea. But Lillee and Marsh survived the remainder of the day, with Lillee and Thomson adding a few critical runs the next morning, the innings finished at 288, with 259 the target for victory.

Early blows would be key for Australia, and a huge one was landed by Thomson in his fifth over when Gooch nicked one behind. Willey's unfortunate tour ended when he went wandering down to Mallett and missed, but Gower and Boycott suddenly attacked and flayed the Australian bowling to all parts. They added 128 for the third wicket until Boycott nicked Mallett to slips. But Gower continued to fly, and nothing could stop him - while Randall did eventually fall to Lillee after by far his best innings of the series, it was too late, as Mike Brearly hit the winning runs off his first ball to ensure England weren't swept.

Spoiler: 1979/80 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Dennis Lillee 13 (+2)
2. Ian Chappell 10
3. Graeme Wood 8
4. Rick McCosker 7 (+1)
5. Allan Border 6
6. Ashley Mallett 4
7. Greg Chappell 3
7. Ian Chappell 3 (+3)
8. Geoff Dymock 1
8. Jeff Thomson 1

He was bound to win one, and he wins the first he's eligible for - Dennis Lillee is your 1979-80 Bradman Trophy Winner!

 

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Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Inductee - Ian Chappell

Career Stats: 78 GP, 5774 runs at 44.42 (HS 223), 20 wickets at 65.8 (best 2/31), 116 catches

The oldest member of the Chappell family, much of Ian's career was already written by the time this series started - he had just one more home summer left after World Series Cricket. But there were still highlights left. Chappell delivered a career-high score in his fourth-last Test, a mammoth 223 setting the Australian partnership record for this save with Graeme Wood and being the sole double-century of a 78-Test career. That, plus a farewell Ashes ton in Sydney and 55 in his final game in Melbourne, lofted Ian's average to 44.42 - although possibly thankfully, his bowling average did not change in his brief return.

As a player, to quote Cricinfo, he was "a dauntless batsman partial to the hook and pull, he inherited the post of captain from Bill Lawry with the team at a low ebb, but others fed off his unhesitating self-belief and conviction that team goals were paramount, and he never lost a series." Furthermore, he played a key role in World Series Cricket - something of the inspiration for this series in the first place. A worthy first inductee.

 

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There's new stuff to read above. Due to some hijinks, it might not have shown up as new for some people.

 

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in , 1980
Tests: 27 Feb 1980 (Karachi), 6 Mar 1980 (Faisalabad), 18 Mar 1980 (Lahore)

Greg Chappell
Allan Border
David Hookes
Rick McCosker
Jeff Moss
Doug Walters
Graeme Wood
Graham Yallop

Rod Marsh

Trevor Chappell
Bruce Yardley

Geoff Dymock
Rodney Hogg
Geoff Lawson
Dennis Lillee
Jeff Thomson

Graeme Beard
Ashley Mallett

Australia make four changes to their squad for the Pakistan tour. One's forced - the retirement of Ian Chappell and the return from injury* of Doug Walters - but the others are selection decisions. Alan Hurst, fresh off zero Shield appearances all year, is omitted, as is the hapless Carlson and the likely-done Walker. In for them are three possible debutants - 22-year-old paceman Geoff Lawson, the Shield's best spinner in Graeme Beard, and the third Chappell brother, Trevor.

Pakistan squad: Z Abbas, T Ahmed, T Arif, S Bakht, W Bari, E Ehteshamuddin, A Khan, I Khan, M Khan, S Mohammed, J Miandad (C), S Nawaz, M Nazar, A Qadir, I Qasim, W Raja, A Rana, H Rashid

* I forgot to call him up in the summer

 

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27 February 1980
vs - First Test
National Stadium

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Allan Border
Greg Chappell
Doug Walters
David Hookes
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Bruce Yardley
Dennis Lillee
Jeff Thomson

Pakistan
Haroon Rasheed
Taslim Arif
Zaheer Abbas
Javed Miandad
Wasim Raja
Majid Khan
Mudassar Nazar
Imran Khan
Sarfraz Nawaz
Iqbal Qasim
Tauseef Ahmed

Australia make three changes to the Sydney team. Carlson is out of the squad entirely, Dymock predictably is back to the bench, and Ian Chappell has retired; in exchange in come Walters, Hookes and Yardley. Pakistan also select the same time they did IRL, but it is a confusing one - what is Nazar doing at 7? (Also Imran will miss the second Test for non-cricket reasons)

Australia finally lost the toss, and Miandad chose to bat. Arif lasted about as long as the toss ceremony, falling to a return catch from Dennis Lillee off the fourth ball of the game. Zaheer Abbas tried to counter-attack but got a big nick on one from Mallett and was out after a start. Rasheed looked uncomfortable all innings, but he put on a valuable three-figure partnership with Miandad before the captain, trying to hit his ton in one go, chopped one into Marsh's gloves. Raja and Rasheed added another 100 before Wasim was bowled by Thomson with the new ball, and Rasheed fell to Mallett's first over with the new ball for 115 fighting runs. Nazar also fell cheaply on the end of Day 1. Lillee knocked over Majid on Day 2, and Bruce Yardley ended up on a hat-trick; Tauseef and Imran added 30 for the last wicket, though, to take Pakistan to 383.

Australia started awfully as McCosker was strangled down the leg side by Nawaz for a duck. Border and Wood stabilised, but AB then nicked Qasim to slip. Wood departed after 101 balls too, leaving Australia 3/58. Chappell and Walters added 131 to stabilise the Australian innings before Walters, having made 74 on his return to the Australian side, edged Qasim to the keeper. Chappell made a gritty hundred, then spooned Mudassar Nazar straight back at him. Marsh departed the next ball, but Yardley and Hookes got Australia going again with some big hitting, including 12 off a Qasim over. Tauseef finally got a wicket, pinning Hookes LBW just before lunch, but the tail wagged and the last two wickets added 50 to take Australia to 338.

Australia needed quick wickets and once again Lillee delivered, getting Rasheed to nick behind. Mallett then went to work, getting Abbas and Arif with his first 20 balls. Yardley got Raja after one nice shot, and Pakistan were in real trouble at 4/53. Miandad and Majid survived the rest of the day, but Majid immediately got out nicking on Day 4. Then Miandad followed, out for 50 to Lillee. The tail with Mudassar showed some fight, but at the end of the day, 270 was required for Australia to win the match.

Wood and McCosker got Australia off to a fast start until Qasim bowled the former between his legs. McCosker reached his 50, then was bowled off a no-ball, and he and Border got through to the end of Day 4 needing 126 more. Sarfraz finally bowled McCosker for 78, but there was to be no further joy for Pakistan in a dominant chase - they couldn't even keep Border from his ton.

Spoiler: 1980 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Greg Chappell 5 (+5)
2. Bruce Yardley 3 (+3)
3. Allan Border 2 (+2)
4. Dennis Lillee 1 (+1)

 

[ddrap14]

6 March 1980
vs - Second Test
Iqbal Stadium

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Allan Border
Greg Chappell
Doug Walters
David Hookes
Rod Marsh
Ashley Mallett
Bruce Yardley
Dennis Lillee
Jeff Thomson

Pakistan
Haroon Rasheed
Taslim Arif
Zaheer Abbas
Javed Miandad
Wasim Raja
Majid Khan
Sikander Bakht
Sarfraz Nawaz
Iqbal Qasim
Tauseef Ahmed

Australia go unchanged, although rumours suggest that uncapped spinner Graeme Beard will get a run at Karachi. Pakistan, minus Imran Khan, bring in Sikander Bakht to replace him.

Australia won the toss, and surprisingly bowled. Lillee and Thomson poured on the pressure early on, and while they didn't get rewarded, Mallett got Taslim Arif off his first ball - he picked Thomson at mid on. Abbas was LBW to Yardley, then Rasheed fell to Mallett just after lunch. Raja and Miandad added 90 in quick time before Thomson bowled the former, but that led to another quick 70 between the captain and Majid. Both were out quickly after tea - Majid LBW Thomson, and Miandad bowled by Yardley for a brilliant 115 - and despite Mudassar hitting a few counterblows, the tail caved in to set a total of 318.

McCosker got his second first-innings duck of the series. Australia should have been 2/3, but Bakht had Wood LBW on a no-ball, and he and Border got through unscathed to Day 2. Wood fought through almost all of the first session too until he was lbw to Tauseef, and while Border played on until the middle of the second, he only made 59 before the same bowler bowled him. Chappell and Hookes (the latter for a first ball duck) were out after tea, but again Australia fought back, this time through Walters and Marsh. On Day 3, though, Walters and Yardley went cheaply, but the tail wagged and added 50 for the last three wickets, raising Australia to 259 all out and 59 runs behind.

Early wickets would be key once again for Australia. Lillee once again got one, Taslim Arif LBW off the third ball of the innings. Zaheer jumped onto Yardley when he came on, but the spinner then had Haroon LBW. Abbas eventually feathered one from Mallett to Marsh, and when Raja departed off Mallett's next over, Pakistan were 4/65. Javed and Majid got going from there, with a catch dropped at 2nd slip by Walters giving Majid a life. Majid ended up LBW off the final ball of the day for 96, but by that point Pakistan had a 300-run lead. Miandad did reach his ton, but then was LBW to Mallett for 117; that wasn't it for Australia though, as quick cameos from Sarfraz and Tauseef saw Pakistan to a 439-run lead with one innings left.

McCosker bagged his pair, and then Bakht sconed Wood and forced him to retire hurt. When Border was caught at gully, Australia were basically 3/2. It didn't get much better - Australia were effectively 4/7, 5/18, 7/50 and 9/72. Lillee and Thomson avoided further embarrassment by adding 43, including an astronomical six from Lillee off Tauseef, before the innings came to a tame conclusion.

Spoiler: 1980 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Greg Chappell 5
2. Bruce Yardley 5 (+2)
2. Ashley Mallett 3 (+3)
3. Allan Border 2
4. Dennis Lillee 1
4. Jeff Thomson 1 (+1)

 

[ddrap14]

18 March 1980
vs - Third Test
Gaddafi Stadium

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graham Yallop
Allan Border
Greg Chappell
Doug Walters
David Hookes
Rod Marsh
Graeme Beard
Bruce Yardley
Dennis Lillee
Geoff Lawson

Pakistan
Haroon Rasheed
Mudassar Nazar
Zaheer Abbas
Javed Miandad
Wasim Raja
Majid Khan
Taslim Arif
Sikander Bakht
Sarfraz Nawaz
Iqbal Qasim
Tauseef Ahmed

Pakistan are unchanged, but fix their batting lineup, opening with Nazar and dropping Arif down to #7. Australia, on the other hand, make drastic changes. While Mallett had the better Test in Faisalabad, he finds himself out of the XI for debutant Graeme Beard. Jeff Thomson is rested for Geoff Lawson, and Graham Yallop comes in for the injured Graeme Wood.

This time, Greg Chappell won the toss and batted. Australia's openers clearly prioritized survival, scoring 45 off the first session. They added the same off the first half of the second session before McCosker edged Qasim to slip. Yallop drove Raja back to him just before tea, but 72 did not do his chances of sticking in the side any harm. Chappell and Border got stuck in - they didn't offer a chance in the evening session, or a real one (a nick by Chappell dropped short of Majid at slip) until, thirty minutes into Day 2, Border was strangled down the leg side by Bakht. Walters added 29 before he was bowled past the outside edge, and Hookes failed again. So did Marsh, but Yardley stuck around for almost the whole afternoon session. Chappell was then bowled for 141, and a few late hits from Beard got Australia to 399.

Lillee got Mudassar cheaply, somewhat nullifying the order change. Australia held the pressure on, Lawson conceding six off six overs, but Rasheed and Zaheer held on for the rest of the second day. Early on the third, Rasheed became Beard's first Test wicket. Miandad was unimpressed, immediately hitting a pair of boundaries... and then edging Beard to slip going for a third. Zaheer and Raja looked to rebuild, but the Beard struck again, removing Zaheer and Majid in the same over. Raja then spooned it right back at Beard the next over to give him his five-for. Beard eventually had to spell, but he also removed Sarfarz before doing so. Lawson dropped his own first Test wicket off his own bowling - it turned out to be a no-ball anyway - but then bowled Bakht legally to get it. Tauseef though played spoiler, ruining Beard's figures with some aggressive hitting and taking Pakistan past the follow-on limit.

Yallop and McCosker added 50 before Yallop was LBW to Tauseef for 29. McCosker followed for 28 in an identical manner from Raja, but Chappell and Border played a great stand to likely kill the Pakistan chances. Chappell was bowled for 38, but Border flew on to 93 before Nawaz bowled him with the second new ball. Marsh, Hookes and Yardley got some quick runs, then Australia declared with a lead of 451 and just under four sessions left when Marsh was dismissed.

Nazar and Rasheed played spoiler by adding 112 runs without loss on the evening of Day 4. Yardley eventually got the breakthrough an hour into Day 5, Rashid being bowled after missing a big inspinner. Beard did the same to Mudassar, then lunch was taken and Abbas was immediately burned by his captain afterwards. Lawson then arrived with pace and heart, bowling Raja and pinning Majid LBW in an inspired spell. Beard then landed Miandad again - this time it was for 39, but it was even more important than the first. Nawaz hit an audacious six off Yardley, but then the offspinner pinned Taslim Arif LBW. He then got Bakht, but Nawaz and Qasim survived to tea. The new ball was taken, and while the quicks did nothing with it, Beard got Sarfraz LBW for 45, leaving just the aggressive Tauseef and the weak Qasim to bat for 80 minutes to save the Test. Qasim got 10 off the next Yardley over, but Tauseef nicked one to slip and that was that. Australia, while nervous, had won the game and the series.

Spoiler: 1980 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Greg Chappell 8 (+3)
2. Bruce Yardley 5
2. Graeme Beard 5 (+5)
3. Allan Border 4 (+2)
4. Ashley Mallett 3
5. Dennis Lillee 1
5. Jeff Thomson 1
5. Graham Yallop 1 (+1)

 

[ddrap14]

28 August 1980
vs - Only Test
Lord's
Centenary Test

Australia
Rick McCosker
Graeme Wood
Graham Yallop
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Doug Walters
Rod Marsh
Bruce Yardley
Jeff Thomson
Dennis Lillee
Geoff Lawson

England
Graham Gooch
Geoff Boycott
Bill Athey
David Gower
Mike Gatting
Ian Botham
ar: Peter Willey
David Bairstow
John Emburey
Chris Old
Mike Hendrick

Australia have two changes from the last Pakistan game - Jeff Thomson and Graeme Wood return for Hookes and Beard - but that dwarfs the changes to England in the last six months. Since the final Ashes Test, England have added Athey, Gatting, Bairstow, Old and Hendrick to their team and repositioned Willey to a much better position in the order. Let's see if it helps them.

Australia lost the toss and were sent in by Botham. Wood and McCosker added an uncharacteristically brisk 41 in 14 overs before the former nicked Graham Gooch of all people to slip. Yallop failed, but Chappell got going with McCosker. However, he was then pinned LBW by Hendrick straight after the break. Border and McCosker added exactly 100 over a session and a half, then Border was bowled for 53. Walters failed, and McCosker finally fell for 84 with the new ball, but the tail wagged - six of Lawson's first 11 balls went to the boundary, and he, Lillee and Thomson all played good knocks to support Marsh and add 103 for the last three wickets, setting England 343.

Gooch and Boycott started well, but Mallett got the breakthrough in a weird way, as Gooch edged one past the keeper but McCosker at leg slip took a blinder at full stretch. Athey got started but was clean bowled by Lillee. Gower had an explosive start, but fell for a run-a-ball 38, and Boycott followed for 60 in Lawson's next over. Gatting and Botham stabilised things, and survived through to the end of Day 2; Botham fell on the third morning for 49, though. Thomson, having got the wicket, then aimed at Gatting, and he fended it to McCosker at short leg for his fourth catch of the innings. Bairstow fell immediately, but Willey and Emburey stabilised. Lawson broke that by having McCosker take his fifth, this time at second slip, then Wood at third put down Old off the next delivery. Lillee bowled Old the next over, and while the last pair survived 11 balls to lunch, they didn't hang on much longer.

Australia lost Wood immediately, edging Hendrick to Gatting at second slip. Yallop was also out cheaply again, likely consigning him to backup status only for the home summer, then Chappell nicked Hendrick to the keeper half an hour past tea to give Hendrick his third wicket. Rain then ended the third day, but the fourth dawned clear, and after a slightly hesitant start, McCosker and Border made hay while the sun shone. Border fell before his 50, but Walters took McCosker to the edge of his ton. He didn't get there as he was bowled by Botham, which Marsh replicated two balls later. Yardley hung around with him though, as did Lawson (who was aided by a drop at slip) and Lillee. Jeff Thomson arrived with McCosker on 196, and proceeded to face the next 30 balls, nearly getting out twice. McCosker, though did eventually take back the strike and he did not fail to convert his first career double century. He was last out for 227, leaving Australia four and a half hours to bowl England out.

This was dented when the opening partnership lasted 20 overs. Lawson eventually bowled Gooch, then Lillee repeated the dose to Boycott after a very un-Boycott 50 (57). Australia needed eight final session wickets, though, and a marginal LBW appeal going the way of Gower didn't help in the first over after the break. The next breakthrough came with 40 minutes left in the Test, as Yardley bowled Athey. Lillee dispatched Gatting, but a calm head prevailed as Botham told Gower to settle down and then blocked out the last ten overs.

Spoiler: 1980 Bradman Trophy Standings

1. Greg Chappell 8
2. Allan Border 6 (+2)
3. Bruce Yardley 5
3. Graeme Beard 5
3. Rick McCosker 5 (+5)
4. Ashley Mallett 3
4. Geoff Lawson 3 (+3)
5. Dennis Lillee 2 (+1)
6. Jeff Thomson 1
6. Graham Yallop 1

There was little doubt after India - It'd have required a Yardley MOTM at the Centenary to prise the 1980 Bradman Medal from Greg Chappell.

 

[ddrap14]

in , 1980-81
Tests: 28 Nov 1980 (Brisbane), 12 Dec 1980 (Perth), 26 Dec 1980 (Melbourne)

Greg Chappell
Allan Border
John Dyson
Martin Kent
Rick McCosker
Doug Walters
Graeme Wood
Graham Yallop

Rod Marsh

Trevor Chappell
Bruce Yardley

Terry Alderman
Geoff Dymock
Geoff Lawson
Dennis Lillee
Len Pascoe
Jeff Thomson

Graeme Beard

Four changes to the Australian team. Out go the discarded Jeff Moss, Rodney Hogg, and David Hookes as well as Ashley Mallett, who loses the race with Graeme Beard and retires from international cricket slightly early (he was done after this summer anyway). In come four Shield stars - impressive quicks Terry Alderman and Len Pascoe join a strong bowling core, while two to audition for the spot soon to be vacated by Doug Walters (as well as the one currently vacated by Graeme Yallop) will be the recalled John Dyson and the debutant Martin Kent. Both Kepler Wessles and Brian Davison were considered for selection but unavailable as they don't have citizenship yet, while selectors are also said to be keeing an eye on Davison's teammate, a young man named David Boon.

NZ squad: B Bracewell, J Bracewell, M Burgess, L Cairns, J Coney, B Edgar, G Edwards, R Hadlee, G Howarth, W Lees, P McEwan, J Parker, JF Reid, I Smith, M Snedden, G Troup, J Wright