Profiles of the Greats?

[Andy Mellon]

Well, in honour to the current debate on the England forum about 'greats' and also the fact that the new tag lines on our profiles put us alongside some of the all time greats and where they got to in the run scoring ladder, I thought it might be a nice idea to do a mini profile on the great you are currently compared with. Also, this I thought of this because the guy I'm alongside - Bill O'Reilly - I have to confess I knew very little about.

Bill O'Reilly - Born 20/12/1905 Died 06/10/1992

Bill O'Reilly was a left handed leg spin bowler whose career unfortunately coincided with World War II. He made his test debut for Australia in 1931 against the South Africans and made his last appearance versus the Kiwis in 1946. Due to WWII, he made only 27 appearances in this 15 year period.

He was 6ft 2in tall, gripped the ball in his enormous right hand and released it at a pace that could be almost fast-medium. It would then bounce ferociously on the hard pitches of his time and, on occasion, knock wicket-keepers off their feet. He bowled leg-breaks and, especially, top-spinners and googlies, backed up by an intimidating manner.

His real peak came from the Bodyline series in 1932 where he took 27 wickets and continued through 1934 where he took 28 wickets in England with 2 seven wicket hauls. He then took another 27 wickets in South Africa in 1935, and 25 and 22 in the next two series versus the English. In the middle of this period, he was voted Wisden Player of the Year in 1935.

In his last test for Australia, he took 5-14 and 3-19 before taking on a sports journalism job for the Sydney Morning Herald. Tellingly, when he died in 1992, the Don said that he was the greatest bowler he'd ever faced.

[Rachael]

That's good timing: I've got one of my all times heros, Jack Russell :-)

Odd little chap... even by wicket-keeping standards... and off the field as much as on it.. but surely as significant a contributer to the Enlgand cause as any player of his era.

Perhaps not up there with Evans as a gloveman... but arguably as good as the best of the rest... and despite a tendency to slip into "Knott" mode (worrying too much about wides and therefore going too defensive) he's aimed higher that at times.. and has surely set the bar as high as anyone when it comes to standing up to fast-medium bowlers.

Terrier of a batsman as well, of course, with wonderfully unorthodox shots and a steely determination that frequetly resulted in runs when they really mattered or (sometimes more importantly) crucial support for his top order colleagues (notably for an unbeaten 29 in 277 minutes at Johannesburg when all seemed lost).

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I just read that nobody knew where he lived or what his phone number was. A journo went to his house to interview him, but rather than just driving there he was driven there and back blindfolded. Superb keeper but he was mental.

[Zainub]

He was an artist, wasn't he RBLC, and artists are usually a bit out of the ordinary. That's why they can do things ordinary people can't. They're special.

I've seen Jack Russel on telly a lot of times, not seen him play as much as I would have liked, I've heard him talk too. I think he looks cool in his hat.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

I've seen Jack Russel on telly a lot of times, not seen him play as much as I would have liked, I've heard him talk too. I think he looks cool in his hat.

Yes if he was still going, there would be Read/Jones debate.
He lookes like a tramp at times, his shirt never tucked propper into his pants, and that hat.

But he was some keeper, and had the most effective unorthodox batting technique ever.

[Zainub]

I happen to think the hat looks cool because it hides his hair, which is a bit on the longer side (I presume by the looks of things), and I don't happen to be a fan of that.

[Maranello]

Great idea Andy. I am currently paired with W.G. Grace, someone who needs little introduction; a rather unflattering Wisden profile by Geoffrey Moorhouse can be read here.

vvvrulz is currently paired with Fazal Mehmood, a great favourite of mine. For those who don't know, he was the best Asian pace bowler of all-time till Imran Khan came around, and many contemporaries regard him as the equal, if not the better, of Alec Bedser. Some quotes about Fazal can be read in my post here.

[Beny]

the Don said that he was the greatest bowler he'd ever faced.

I've heard a bit about the battles between these two in state cricket...Awsome. They attracted 50,000 to one match.
People say he was better than Warne.

[Andy Mellon]

Well, I thought I'd write a profile on Colin Bland too, as I haven't heard of him either.

Interestingly, he was born in Bulawayo in 1938 and played test cricket for South Africa, though these days I guess he would have either been an integral part of the Zimbabwe batting line up or one of the protesters!

He plied his trade in South Africa for Eastern Province and the Orange Free State. He made his debut for South Africa in 1961 versus New Zealand and played his last game in 1967 versus Australia, despite being made Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1966. He played 21 matches and scoring his 1669 runs at an average of 49.

His Test career ended tragically at Johannesburg against Australia in 1966-67, when he crashed into a boundary fence while chasing the ball, badly damaging his left knee. In domestic cricket he was no less popular, and equally effective. In 1967-68 he smashed 197 in three hours for Rhodesia against Border in a low-scoring match on a poor wicket which highlighted his class. He was also a very useful medium-fast right-arm bowler who was probably underused.

However, the skill that he'll be remembered for is his fielding. He was widely recognised as the best fielder of his day - very much akin to a 1960s Jonty Rhodes. It was said that if he didn't perform with the bat, then his fielding would save 20-30 runs per innings. He used to demonstrate his skills to marvelling crowds during team fielding sessions and practised by throwing the ball at a single stump. His nickname was the 'Golden Eagle' for the way he would swoop down on a ball whilst fielding.

His most famous innings was for Rhodesia after his retirement from test cricket when he scored 197 in 3 hours playing against Border in East London. He was also a gifted Hockey and Rugby player, and represented Rhodesia at Hockey.

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Also, in reply to Beny. Bill O'Reilly sounds like he would have been a marvel to watch; though I can't imagine there can be much footage of him. It would be great to see some of the competitions he had against Bradman!

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Interestingly, he was born in Bulawayo in 1938 and played test cricket for South Africa, though these days I guess he would have either been an integral part of the Zimbabwe batting line up or one of the protesters!

That is strange as Rhodesia was a self-governing colony from 1923 (prior to that it was effectively a sort of corporate fiefdom, run by the British South Africa Company, which itself was founded by Cecil Rhodes to run and settle the lands on which he had "negotiated" mining concessions from the tribal chief Lobengula). However, even though self-governing from that relatively early date (other African colonies were governed from Westminster), Rhodesia maintained strong links with what was then the Union of South Africa to its south. It was commonplace for Rhodesian cricket and rugby teams to play in South African competitions pretty much all the way up to the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980. For some of that time, of course, the Rhodesians were among the very few countries which maintained official sporting links with South Africa. How times change!