South Africa

[JK]

Only just noticed this ... Excellent thread ... HOF you should get yourself a copy of a movie like "Cry Freedom" (Im sure other posters could suggest alternatives too)

Some stayed on in RSA and live there to this day (Mike Haysman being one IIRC).

Would Haysman have been on the Australian Senior team radar back then? I'd always thought he could have been close but effectively killed any chance.

[hearts on fire]

HOF you should get yourself a copy of a movie like "Cry Freedom" (Im sure other posters could suggest alternatives too)

I'll keep an eye out for it, unless you know where i can get it from, then i'll get it.

[JK]

HOF you should get yourself a copy of a movie like "Cry Freedom" (Im sure other posters could suggest alternatives too)

I'll keep an eye out for it, unless you know where i can get it from, then i'll get it.

Strewth, the video store would have had it I reckon last time I went, but that was years ago - I dont know whether they would have it these days (was released approx 1983 or 84 IIRC)

[Hondo]

Would Haysman have been on the Australian Senior team radar back then? I'd always thought he could have been close but effectively killed any chance.

From memory in 1984-85 he would have been listed as a promising player, perhaps a 3rd Aust XI player (??) at the time. Maybe capable of test cricket one day. He was one of the few young guys to go on the rebel tour and I guess he'd say now he was glad he did it, even though you're right it killed any chance he had of playing for Aust.

He played for South Aust when the 2 year shield ban was up in 1987-88 but really struggled and moved back to RSA soon after I think.

The other interesting part of that time is that 4 players who signed to go on the rebel tour backed out following $$$ inducement from the ACB. These players being Graeme Wood, Murray Bennett, Dirk Wellham and Wayne Phillips. Allan Border was more dirty on those guys than the rebel tourists because, in his opinion, at least the other guys stuck to what they'd committed to. Kim Hughes claims it was finding out about these "inducement" payments that lead to him feel so disconnected from the ACB that he then decided to join the RSA tour (he was one of the last to sign and, although he'd missed selection for the Ashes tour, was planning to come back).

It's interesting to look back on how many tests those 4 guys played for Australia after that 1985 Ashes tour

Facts courtesy of "Cricket in the 80s" DVD, well worth a look

[McAlmanac]

Folks should do themselves a favour and check cricinfo for the scorecards of Australia's 1970 tour of South Africa. South Africa tore them up in all four Tests - Barry Richards' only Test matches. The margins are embarrassing. The Springboks were the best in the world at the time of their ban.

No doubt the South Africans were the best in the world at that time, but the margin was enhanced by poor programming by the ACB to take Australia from spinning Indian wickets to the quicker wickets of South Africa.

A lot of the players were suffering from poor health resulting from the Indian trip, and our key bowler Graham McKenzie was totally spent.

Ian Chappell claims he feels Souith Africa were the better team, but no way were they 4-0 better.

I had meant to mention that scheduling point. The Australians were knackered after a trying Indian tour.

Still, Australia's bowling lineup was dubious - McKenzie (the spearhead), Alan Connolly (OK), Fritzy Freeman , journeyman Lawrie Mayne, mystery spinner John Gleeson and a very young Ashley Mallett, with support from Doug Walters and the part time leg spin of Keith Stackpole and Ian Chappell.

The batting lineup was a bit better, but failed to fire - Stackpole, Bill Lawry, Chappell (who Lawry unfortunately tagged pre-tour as the best batsman in the world), Ian Redpath, Paul Sheahan, Walters. It was a bit flaky, though, having the likes of Freeman and Brian Taber (an out-and-out keeper who could hold his end up) batting at number 7 in Tests.