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Stephen Vagg

Roar Guru

Joined February 2014

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A Queenslander never forgets a selection slight.

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Mallett bowled terrifically that summer in the Shield.

One crazy summer: Why selections of Australian cricket team in 1979-80 still impossible to work out

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I was surprised too. From reading contemporary accounts though the vibe was (a) Laird was a lock (b) we need someone to partner Laird (c) Wood and Hilditch did badly in India, Dyson was picked too soon, Yallop can’t face fast bowling, Davis and McCosker did badly in WSC, so… (d) let’s try Wiener. I think the selectors were a little impatient with their openers.

One crazy summer: Why selections of Australian cricket team in 1979-80 still impossible to work out

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That’s a terrific stat about Dymock -as good as Larwood! Larwood probably the better batter 🙂 Dymock is my favourite story of 1979-80 because if any cricketer would’ve felt time had passed him by it would’ve been him – Thommo moved past him, then Gimour and Hurst, then Pascoe, and during WSC then Wayne Clark and Ian Callen and Sam Gannon and Hogg… but when he got an extended run he really made the most of it.

One crazy summer: Why selections of Australian cricket team in 1979-80 still impossible to work out

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SA also briefly had Kim Hughes.

My favourite unsuccessful Queensland XI of the 1980s

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3w

Jim Christy was a good one I’d never heard about. Lumb was just T20 yes? I knew I was stretching it with Walmsley but couldn’t find a bowler. Which in hindsight may have been a problem with their recruiting – too many batters!.

My favourite unsuccessful Queensland XI of the 1980s

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SA had some incredible imports. Barry Richards, Garfield Sobers, Bradman. (Plus Andy Flower who, interestingly, didn’t do that much from memory).

My favourite unsuccessful Queensland XI of the 1980s

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Don’t know what’s happened with SA in recent years. Am sure they can turn it around soon. Feel maybe they’re just a bowler or two short.

My favourite unsuccessful Queensland XI of the 1980s

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I remember that game followed it on line. Wasn’t as traumatic as 84-86 more annoying. I’ve been lucky to see a few victorious Shield finals since the mid 90s.

My favourite unsuccessful Queensland XI of the 1980s

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Nicest feedback ever. Not sure what the market would be for the book. Maybe people who want a gift for Gen X Queensland cricket fans they want to torture 🙂 I’d buy it!

My favourite unsuccessful Queensland XI of the 1980s

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3w

International off the top of my head (1) Kepler Wessels (2) Majid Khan (3) Graham Hick (4) Viv Richards (5) Alvin Kallicharran (6) Ian Botham (7) Tom Graveney (8) Wes Hall (9) Malcolm Francke (10) Rusi Surti (11) Walter Walmsley

My favourite unsuccessful Queensland XI of the 1980s

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3w

I’m a member of newspapers.com that enables me easily to search old SMH/Age articles – Trove is good for Canberra Times. Plus good old google!

The brief international career of Robbie Kerr

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4w

Like Allan Border and Jeff Thomson!

The brief ODI career of Glenn Trimble

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Oct

You would’ve seen a lot of Qld collapses in your day esp around Feb-March! Sam did go to the West Indies – hard to get past Simmo and Lawry. Shame he didn’t reinvent himself as a middle order batter. Also he had a lousy 1967-68 as Simmo retired.

The brief ODI career of Glenn Trimble

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Oct

I did one on Steve Smith earlier for this site. Have fond memories of McCurdy!

'He'll do the hack work': The honest toil of underrated John Maguire

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Oct

Yes he did say it – it helped prompt the Australian selection of four fast bowlers for the first test in that series – in hindsight they would’ve been better off picking Hogan.

The brief international cricketing career of Roger Woolley

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Oct

I did that here https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/10/05/remembering-the-other-steve-smith/

The brief international cricketing career of Roger Woolley

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Oct

AB didn’t want to captain at all. He had to be pushed into captaining Queensland and only got the Australian gig because no one else really was guaranteed of a spot in the side (except maybe Geoff Lawson who ironically turned into a great captain). I think if Marsh had been appointed captain in 83/84 (or in 83, 82 or 81) he would’ve hung around a little longer, even if just for the chance to captain an Ashes tour.

The brief international cricketing career of Roger Woolley

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Oct

I hadn’t thought about Simon Davis – though who knows – but have been considering something on John Maguire. Very good bowler.

The brief international cricketing career of Roger Woolley

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Oct

Patterson’s life has been hard since he left cricket. I’m sure he wasn’t the easiest teammate but I get the sense lots of stuff was going on.

The brief international cricketing career of Roger Woolley

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Oct

Yes I read that too about Patterson. It’s in Jack Simmons’ autobiography – he said Patterson was very unhappy in Tasmania, didn’t have any friends or a social circle, and he didn’t get along with Woolley. He bowled a bunch of bouncers at him in the nets at Newcastle University the day before a Shield game – and Patterson was made twelfth man for that game. It happened in January 1985.

The brief international cricketing career of Roger Woolley

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Oct

Not underrated in Queensland! He got injured in 1982-83 and 83-84 which made selectors gunshy. But with better care he would’ve had an amazing international career.

Forgotten series: Australia’s 1984 ODI triumph in India

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Oct

Windies still v hard to beat but NZ and India against a full strength Oz team (not the case in 85-86) would’ve been a lot closer (although NZ still excellent).
Regardless of who captained though – the South African defections would’ve happened. That was impossible to avoid so sixteen players would’ve gone out of the team from 1985 onwards.

Forgotten series: Australia’s 1984 ODI triumph in India

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Oct

Oh I think Laird and Yardley were great. I would put them on the rung below Marsh, Lillee and Hughes though. Lots and lots of press about them. A few pieces about Laird and Yardley. I’ve been unable to find anything about Hogan – am sure there’s something from the time, but if anyone knows of an interview or something please let me know.

Tom Hogan was an enigma

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Oct

I think he deserved his selection in Pakistan. I would’ve picked Jim Higgs or Bob Holland as back up though.

Tom Hogan was an enigma

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Oct

Fair cop, serves me right, as a Queenslander I should be more sensitive.

Tom Hogan was an enigma

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