Rik E Boy wrote:Ah Douggie Walters my Uncle's idol. And from what I read about Paul Sheehan he was an outstanding fieldsman. I have watched Douggie and Chappelli but don't recall Sheehan. I remember reading that it was Lawry who put the 'best batsman in the world' tag on Chappell which is a bit rude considering that one G Pollock was lining up for the Saffies.
Paul Sheahan made a double hundred for Victoria as a teenager and was all the talk in Australian cricket. He was tall, a fluent and attractive batsman, and brilliant fieldsman. It was easy to imagine him as Australia's next great batsman.
He made his Test debut at number 3 against India at Adelaide Oval and made 81. At that time in cricket, Chappell was struggling to hold a middle order spot, and Walters was doing National Service.
The thing about Sheahan is he is an intelligent man whose academic achievements were a priority over his cricket, thus a truncated career lasting only 31 Tests from 1967-68 to 1973-74. He became Head Master of the prestigeous Geelong Grammar.
At one time he was teaching at St.Peters College in Adelaide and played for S.P.O.C. in the ATCA. In one innings he made 200, his second 100 from only 9 overs. He made 100 against my team in the last minor round, and followed up with another in the semi final.
He started the day square cutting our quick bowler 1st ball for 6, then completely destroyed us. He was also well known as an ABC commentator for several years.