Australia's Next Keeper

[Tooting Bec]

Just for information's sake, here is a list of Australia's wicketkeepers:
Add any information about any of these guys, or references to information about some of the early keepers, as I don't know much about them.

Wicketkeepers

John Blackham
AH Jarvis
FJ Burton 1886-87
JJ Kelly 1896
Hanson Carter
William Carkeek
Bert Oldfield
HSB Love 1932-33
BA Barnett 1938
Don Tallon
Ron Saggers
Gil Langley
Len Maddocks
Wally Grout
Barry Jarman
Brian Taber
Rod Marsh
Steve Rixon
John Maclean
Kevin Wright
Roger Woolley
Wayne Phillips
Tim Zoehrer
Greg Dyer
Ian Healy
Phil Emery
Adam Gilchrist
Brad Haddin

Can't remember Dyer? How many tests did he play?

[Dogwatcher]

About six tests.


Caused a lot of controversy when he claimed a catch that was later found to have touched the ground - against the Kiwis I think.

Didn't get much of a game after that.

From NSW had a mo'

[Rik E Boy]

Steve Rixon, now there's a name for the 'unlucky' thread. A great wicketkeeper (along with the equally unlucky Richie Robinson from Victoria) who didn't get to play for Australia all that much due to the brilliance of Rod Marsh.

regards,

REB

[spell_check]

Barry Jarman played SANFL for West Torrens - 8 matches in 1958.

[GWW]

About six tests.


Caused a lot of controversy when he claimed a catch that was later found to have touched the ground - against the Kiwis I think.

Didn't get much of a game after that.

From NSW had a mo'

I remember watching NSW on tv in a game against SA at Adelaide Oval, first time I'd seen Lehmann bat (88 i think). He was controversially run out, i think Lawson was involved as captain, and a wicket keeper as well. Does anyone know if THAT was Dyer, or maybe Emery (although he may have started later)..

[Dogwatcher]

That was Dyer too I reckon. It gets a good mention in Hookesy's biog.

[am Bays]

Dyer played 5 tests IIRC 3 v NZ in 87, the Bicentenial test and then the one off test v Sri Lanka in Perth. After the Perth test v Sri Lanka in Feb 88 Australia didn't play another test until Sept 88 in Pakistan. Enter I A Healy...

[Hondo]

Dyer played 5 tests IIRC 3 v NZ in 87, the Bicentenial test and then the one off test v Sri Lanka in Perth. After the Perth test v Sri Lanka in Feb 88 Australia didn't play another test until Sept 88 in Pakistan. Enter I A Healy...

Debuted the year before v England (Zoehrer must have been injured), played 1 test to make it 6 overall. I would have guessed 5 as well.

Has a place in history as a member of the 1987 World Cup winning side.

Interestingly he retired after the 1988-89 season at the young (by today's standards) age of 30 I think that catch controversy v NZ haunted him due to the innuendo that he cheated. A charge he denied but that may have contributed to him giving the game away.

http://content-www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4996.html

[am Bays]

Dyer played 5 tests IIRC 3 v NZ in 87, the Bicentenial test and then the one off test v Sri Lanka in Perth. After the Perth test v Sri Lanka in Feb 88 Australia didn't play another test until Sept 88 in Pakistan. Enter I A Healy...

Debuted the year before v England (Zoehrer must have been injured), played 1 test to make it 6 overall. I would have guessed 5 as well.

Has a place in history as a member of the 1987 World Cup winning side.

Interestingly he retired after the 1988-89 season at the young (by today's standards) age of 30 I think that catch controversy v NZ haunted him due to the innuendo that he cheated. A charge he denied but that may have contributed to him giving the game away.

http://content-www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4996.html

Correctomundo, he played the Adelaide test match, I had forgotten that.

[am Bays]

The interesting period of Australian Cricket 'keeping history IMO spans the career of Don Tallon. Many good judges reckon he was the best 'keeper in Australia in 1938 but just missed selection for teh England tour in favour of more seasoned campaigners BA Barnett and Charlie Walker for the first test tour of the post Oldfield era.

Both Walker and Barnett had indifferent tours sharing the 'keeping duties in the test (Jack Pollards book The Glovemen has photo of IIRC of Barnett missing a howler of a stumping chance - should have goon in teh books as a run out he was that far down teh crease ). As I said hindsight tells us that Tallon should have gone.

In the immediate post war period he was untouchable as our #1 keeper. he was a times simple brilliant (some say his leg side diving catch of Hutton off Lindwall at the Oval test when England were out for 52 is one of teh greatest in our 'keeping history) and his work in teh 46-47 home test saw him take a remarkable catch to dismiss Compton after it deflected off the 1st slip behind him. He was a lightning fast stumper but his briliance was matched by missed chances. I think he missed two catches in Englands 2nd innings at OldTrafford in 1948 (the only drawn test).

He missed the South African tour so Saggers kept and Langley went as his deputy. As Tallon aged and his deafness increased his was proned to mistakes but will still capacble of Brilliance he was overlooked in teh early 50s for Langley. Tallon ended up as Langleys deputy on the 1953 English tour.

Whilst Langley lacked the polish and skills of tallon he was very safe and more dependable hence his preference to the man some consider our best ever 'keeper.

Adelaide hawk I'd be interested in your thoughts given you knowledge of Australian Cricket history..

[Dogwatcher]

Tassie - did you get all of that from Pollard's The Glovemen?

I'm doing a bit of research on test cricketers at the moment, would be interested to know.

[am Bays]

Tassie - did you get all of that from Pollard's The Glovemen?

I'm doing a bit of research on test cricketers at the moment, would be interested to know.

Some of it yes as well as McGillvray books and Rosevar's book on Langley

mate I love keeping and I love the history of Australia's keepers (greatest two hours of my life bar the kids being born and marrying the missus was 'keeping to Kasper, McGrath, Dizzy, Tait, Warne and McGill at an Australian practice in 2004 in Darwin).

Pollards book is a beauty

[Dogwatcher]

I'm a big wicketkeeping fan.
One of my biggest thrills, small indeed, was to attend the SA Country Cricket Carnival as a keeper.
Had two games where I managed to take five catches in an innings. A rare thing.
Doing what you did would be awesome.

I'll have to read the Pollard book, how old is it?

[brod]

Dyer played 5 tests IIRC 3 v NZ in 87, the Bicentenial test and then the one off test v Sri Lanka in Perth. After the Perth test v Sri Lanka in Feb 88 Australia didn't play another test until Sept 88 in Pakistan. Enter I A Healy...

Debuted the year before v England (Zoehrer must have been injured), played 1 test to make it 6 overall. I would have guessed 5 as well.

Has a place in history as a member of the 1987 World Cup winning side.

Interestingly he retired after the 1988-89 season at the young (by today's standards) age of 30 I think that catch controversy v NZ haunted him due to the innuendo that he cheated. A charge he denied but that may have contributed to him giving the game away.

http://content-www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4996.html

Never understood how he could try to deny that..it was simply so blatant

[brod]

I think that the Aussies now need to have the BEST GLOVEMAN selected, and not worry anywhere nearly as much about the batting.

A poorer batsman will cost on average maybe 15-20 runs/innings, but a keeper who is missing just one chance a match is costing the side FAR more. This is so much more important now with the bowling attack that we are putting out on the park, we need to take every chance that is given.