Almanac Cricket: An Australian Team of Ians

Come on, let’s face it: we’ve all fantasised about pulling on the baggy green. And, like many a lad, I was always a sucker for players who shared my first name. Hence my first cricket idol was Ian Redpath, that too often underrated but hugely talented batsman of the 60s and 70s. I’ve argued his case elsewhere before – Australia’s Mr Dependable,  overshadowed by the ‘stars’ of his era, a team player, unfashionable, dogged, unflappable, a trench fighter.

 

Anyway, as I was saying. Glen! started us off with his Australian team of Ls yesterday. So I thought, how about an Australian team if Ians? But when I checked the official list of Australian Test players, there were only 8 names! So I’ve had to delve into Australian first class players to fill in the gaps.

 

Here goes:

Ian Redpath

Ian Davis

Ian Chappell (c)

Ian Craig

Ian McLachlan

Ian Brayshaw

Ian Healy

Ian Johnson

Ian Callan

Ian King

Ian Meckiff

Ian Hauser (12th man – fulfilling his lifelong fantasy! Would also fill in as guest commentator – his brother says he has a great face for radio.)

 

The eight Test players pick themselves. Meckiff may well escape the wrath of umpires in the current climate of flexibility. With regard to the ring-ins: McLachlan played several seasons of first class cricket for Cambridge University and South Australia (and could offer a bit of part-time leg spin); Brayshaw was one of the best allrounders of his era, a hardened veteran who had a ’10 for’ in Shield cricket; King was a lively opening bowler for Queensland who reportedly gave it away for love!

 

Ian Harvey might be another consideration, vying with Brayshaw for the all-rounder role. I’ve gone for grit rather than flair.

 

Any other suggestions?

 

Ian Hauser won a blue for cricket as a schoolboy all-rounder. As an editor, he tends to use more red pen than blue when he helps writers get it right. You can check out his editing services here.

 

 

About Ian Hauser

A relaxed, Noosa-based retiree with a (very) modest sporting CV. A loyal Queenslander, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, and has been known to appreciate a glass or three of wine. One of Footy Almanac's online editors who enjoys the occasional editing opportunity to assist aspiring writers.

Comments

  1. Spot on Ian.

    I’ll be my pedantic self, adding a few comments.

    Ian McLachlan was once 12th man for Australia in a test @ the Adelaide oval. This is prior to being a leading figure of the Australian political right.

    Ian Brayshaw, was born a generation early. He’d be a top contributor in any limited overs team.

    I’ll omit Ian King. His shield career was too brief. i mention him in a posting i submitted on May 30 2017 re indigenous cricketers. Bring in Ian Harvey. He didn’t play tests but he had a good run in the Australian ODI team.

    Glen!

  2. Fair call, Glen! As soon as I saw your comment, I remembered that McLachlan was 12th man once – good pick-up. The choice of Harvey is easily justified since he did play several ODIs for Australia while King played at Shield level only and even then for a limited time. Brayshaw ranks with the likes of Stuart Law and Jamie Siddons as having been born at the wrong time. They’d have walked into national sides in another era.

  3. Shane Backx says

    Sticks Brayshaw definitely shouldve been picked for Australia during the WSC years, when we were crying out for grit and experience. Maybe even as captain.

  4. Opposition team:
    Ian Botham
    Ian Bell
    Ian Smith
    off the tp of my head

  5. Adding to Smokie’s Rest of the World Ian XI (not a popular name on the sub-continent):
    Ian Bishop was a fiery quick bowler playing 43 Tests for the Windies in the 80’s/90’s until his back gave up.
    Ian Greig was Tony’s younger shorter brother who played 2 Tests for England.
    Ian Peebles played 13 Tests as an English spinner in the late 20’s/early 30’s against Bradman, Archie Jackson, Charlie McCartney etc (ouch).
    Ian Salisbury played 15 Tests as an English leggie (of dubious quality) in the 90’s.
    Current International umpire Ian Gould played 18 ODI’s for England as a wicketkeeper/batsman in the early 80’s.
    (Thanks ESPNCricinfo Statsguru)

  6. It’s a tough task to come up with an international eleven of Ians! Very short on batsmen, hence a couple of rather modest allrounders get a call-up. Here’s my attempt, also with due acknowledgement to cricinfo.

    Ian Trott – England (Ian Jonathan Leonard Trott, to give his full name)
    Ian Ward – England (a leftie to provide the rhb/lhb opening pair)
    Ian Bell – England (but really a Scot)
    Ian Bradshaw – West Indies (a modestly performed allrounder)
    Ian Botham – England (up the order a bit because there’s no-one else!)
    Ian Smith – NZ (a more than capable batsman as well as a gun ‘keeper)
    Ian Grieg – England (another ‘lucky’ inclusion as an allrounder)
    Ian Salisbury – England (a handy leggie)
    Ian Peebles – England (see Peter_B above – interesting cricinfo bio)
    Ian Bishop – WI (a more than handy quick, if not in the Marshall/Ambrose bracket)
    Iain O’Brien – NZ (short but useful Test career)

    Not the greatest line-up you’ve ever seen but, hey, they did play Test cricket, and that’s a bit more than many of us can say!

  7. Ross Treverton says

    Three of the Australian ‘Ian’s originate from the South Melbourne CC – Redpath, Johnson and Meckiff!

  8. Brayshaw certainly should have played at least in the WSC times. I remember him clearly and often from Shield games, SA would get WA about 6/97 or something, in would walk Brayshaw, WA all out 350 or similar. Time and again…. Or his seemingly innocuous bowling, which our blokes either couldn’t hit or got out to.

    Then when his son James came over to play for us, I thought “you beauty”. For about 2 games.

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