THE GOOGLY: Where are the great Aussie allrounders?

HUW TURBERVILL: Australia may well have dominated the Ashes between 1989 and 2005, but one thing they never had in that time was a great allrounder

Australia may well have dominated the Ashes between 1989 and 2005, but one thing they never had in that time was a great allrounder.

These totemic cricketers have been the difference between the sides in some of the most thrilling series since the Second World War.

Allrounders have two chances of course. This reassurance, or security blanket, gives them a licence to thrill. It was Sir Ian Botham’s Ashes in 1981, Andrew Flintoff’s in 2005 and now it could be Ben Stokes’ this year (although of course Steve Smith could claim ownership of this summer too).

Could it be that Australia’s more stifling climate forces cricketers to be specialists – you cannot expect them to perform in the heat of battle the entire match after all?

But certainly no one has owned an Ashes like those three aforementioned Englishmen.

Botham’s batting at Headingley (149no) and Old Trafford (118), and the bowling at Edgbaston (5 for 1); Flintoff’s bowling, especially to Australia’s great left-handers (and his pulsating half-century in Birmingham); now Stokes’ incredible batting at Lord’s (115no) and especially Headingley (135no), where his move through the gears offered a master class of Test batting, and his gutsy bowling in the second innings...

^{A maiden hundred proved elusive for Shane Warne}

You could also add Trevor Bailey (the Barnacle, the thorn in Australia side, whether digging in at Lord’s or the Gabba, or deliberately bowling down the legside); and Tony Greig (the man who signalled his own fours off Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson) to that list.

Keith Miller played his last Test in 1956, and Richie Benaud in 1964.

Since then the Australians have tried to big up their own allrounders…

Steve Waugh had all-round promise but his bowling faded as his batting became brilliant; Simon O’Donnell’s career wasderailed by cancer; Greg Matthews’ off-spin was tidy but unthreatening; Shane Warne’s batting was handy, but a maiden hundred proved elusive.

The tourists’ desire for one continues – they considered recalling Mitchell Marsh yet again in Manchester…

But their fans must wonder – where is the next great Australian allrounder coming from?

Australia/England Test allrounders since the war - (2,000+ runs/100+ wickets) 

Sir Ian Botham (Eng 1977-92) 5,200 / 383

Andrew Flintoff (Eng 1998-2009) 3,845 / 226

Tony Greig (Eng, 1972-1977) 3,599 / 141

Ben Stokes (Eng, 2013-19) 3,479 / 135*

Shane Warne (Aus, 1992-2007) 3,154 / 708

Stuart Broad (Eng, 2007-2019) 3,132 / 460*

Keith Miller (Aus, 1946-56) 2,958 / 170

Trevor Bailey (Eng, 1949-59) 2,290 / 132

Richie Benaud (Aus, 1952-64) 2,201 / 248

Mitchell Johnson (Aus, 2007-15) 2,065 / 313
Moeen Ali (Eng, 2014-19) 2,782 / 181

(*not including 2019 Old Trafford Test)

Too early to run out Gower

David Gower has not (yet) been offered a gig on the BBC next summer, it has been reported, despite a cameo on the Today programme this week. Shame.

His contract runs out with Sky at the end of this Ashes series, yet he still has many fans. There are those who recall his wondrous batting of course, then others who are have also been wooed by his boyish good looks over the years; but he is also an assured and genial presence on screen still. I would have thought he would be a good fit on the BBC Test highlights next summer.

No one expects him to be on Auntie’s Hundred shows – they will no doubt see some younger dudes on board.

Yet surely the Test/ODI highlights coverage will have a more traditional feel.

As a nation we are living longer. Gower – at 62 – is too young to be run out yet. 

Get well soon Chappelli

Ian Chappell has been undergoing intensive radiotherapy after being diagnosed with skin cancer. The Cricketer wishes him well. He may have been a fierce opponent to England on the field but whenever he has talked Ashes cricket over the years he has always come across as fair-minded and always fascinating.

The disease took the life of his great Channel 9 comrade Benaud. Max Walker also died of it three years ago, and John Emburey, Andy Flower and Michael Clarke have all had treatment for it in recent times.

In fact, about two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they are 70. 

Playing cricket in that treacherous sun was an especially hazardous business when ignorance about the disease prevailed.

Another sufferer, ex-left-arm quick Mike Whitney said: “We had no awareness of sun care back in the 80s. Maybe a hat and some zinc on the nose or bottom lip; but I wore nothing. No sunscreen, no hats, no shirts.”

Fortunately the authorities now vigorously get the message across.

It is one that should be heeded.

^{Hamilton Masakadza}

Masakadza great servant to Zimbabwe 

News that Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza is shortly going to retire takes me back to a lovely assignment I had in 2001.

Still studying for his A levels, he had just broken into Test cricket, scoring a century on debut against West Indies at Harare 11 days shy of his 18th birthday – the youngest player to achieve the feat. He was cheered on by his schoolmates in the stands.

I visited him on England’s limited-overs tour, and found him sharing a dormitory with Tatenda Taibu and Stuey Matsikenyiri, who would both go on to play for their country.

How many times have three boys sharing a school dorm played Test cricket, I wonder?

The idyllic scene – a marching band could be heard in the grounds, the purple jacaranda trees in full bloom – disguised the oncoming storm in Zimbabwe. Robert Mugabe’s reputation had already been sullied by then, but chaos and bloodshed would descend over the next 18 years.

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…

Now 36, Masakadza – a tall, upright, technically correct batsman – has won 38 Test caps, scoring five centuries, and played 209 ODIs, again with five tons.

With cricket facing a distinctly uncertain future in Zimbabwe (their board is suspended by the ICC because of political interference) he can at least look back with pride on doing his bit for the cause.