conversations with Ian Chappell

http://www.abc.net.au/local/sites/conversations/


presuming this works

if not log onto the ABC & listen,

presuming your a cricket lover, you'll enjoy this interview, as it is an compelling interview, just for Chambo Unley Oval even gets a mention

the interview is by Richard Fidler (of the 'Doug Anthony All Stars' fame)

Why is it I can never see links? This needs to be addressed.

When I was a kid Chappelli was my favourite cricketer.

Loved his "I'll do it my way" confidence and always seemed so cool as a cucumber. Who else would casually drop their dacks in the middle of a sports field with 10,000 people looking at you?

Very interesting interview.

Chappelli has always had a veiled disrespect for Bradman, the administrator and this comes through. He recounts a story about his grandfather, Vic Richardson, who was asked what Bradman was like. He snapped back, "Great batsman" and that is all.

It seems Vic didn't have a lot of time for Bradman and much later, Chappelli adopted the same attitude over the views held by the Bradman and the ACB re player payments prior to World Series Cricket.

Ian Chappell is a large part of my cricket life, ever since I was a boy learning about the game, it seems Ian Chappell was there. He played for SA, was one of my Scanlens bubble gum cards, and I saw him make 99 and 127 in the first Sheffield Shield game I ever saw.

He became an immediate favourite, I just enjoyed watching him go about his business with an almost pugnacious elegance. I wanted to watch him bat at every opportunity, and went to an SA v NSW game at Adelaide Oval. NSW were 8/263 overnight and a strong possibility of seeing Chappell bat the next day.

NSW finished at 330, then Les Favell and John Causby put on 281 before Favell holed out just before stumps. Chappell walked in, blocked 1 ball, and walked off again. Even though I'd watched a brilliant batting display, I was so disappointed I'd missed Chappell bat, my parents allowed me to miss school on the Monday and return to Adelaide Oval. It was worth the trip as Chappell made 128.

As a cricketer he was brilliant and uncompromising, as a leader he had few peers. I remember the time the entire State team nearly went on strike because Chappell disaproved of the dropping of Rick Drewer. Sanity prevailed, and SA played the next game. The first wicket fell, and as Chappell walked to the wicket a voice called out, "Hey Chappell!! I thought it was one out - all out with your mob"

I had the pleasure of staying in the Sheraton Hotel in Perth back in the World Series Cricket Days. I started to realise I was sharing the hotel with all the WSC players. It was a hot day, the day Thommo won the Fastest bowler in the world competition, and I went to the bar for a cold one, only to find myself in the company of all the players.

I sat in a group, and as expected, Chappell dominated the conversation with everyone listening intently. He was talking about weaknesses in David Hookes' game. I stupidly suggested that Hookes was only young and still learning the game. Chappell just looked at me and said "Bullshit! He's played enough senior cricket to know better!".

There you had it, forthright as ever, even to a person he'd only known for 30 minutes. After a few hours, Chappell decided he'd had enough to drink and he needed to eat. At no stage did he ask anyone else if they wanted to come with him, he just stood up, announced he was going for something to eat, and the entire team of Australian players stood up and followed him out of the bar ... all except Thommo and Pascoe who wanted to keep drinking

Unfortunately, any Chappell interview is never long enough.

Why did Ian Chappell leave South Australia after the 1975-1976 season ?

To get an idea of what was happening , I will try and trace back and provide an insight for his reasons of leaving
I didnt see the TV documentary , hopefully Im covering some new ground

Ian Chappell had made arrangements well before the 75/76 season that he would be consulted by the South Australian selectors on any team selections

February 1976
South Australia v Victoria
SS match Adelaide Oval

VI 247
Yallop 77
Mallett 4/38

SA 146
I Chappell 39
Walker 6/49

VI 262
Robinson 71 not out
Hogg 4/57

SA needed an imposing 364
By winning it would put SA in a very favorable position to win the Shield
The Vics had a pretty good attack of Alan Hurst, Max Tangles Walker , Ray Bright, Jimmy Higgs , and Trevor Laughlin
About half way through day 3 SA commenced its pursuit of this big target
On day 4 SA were limping at 6/225
Ian Chappell was still at the crease
By the time he had reached 19 runs, he had made 1000 runs in FC cricket for the season
7/288
Ashley Rowdy Mallett was out for 19 , the game still in the balance
Dennis Yagmich the ex WA keeper was to join Chappell
He did a job in supporting Chappell
They put on a 70 run partnership
Chappell was dismissed Hit wicket B Higgs 171
8/358
SA still needed 6 more runs , and passed the VI total with 2 wickets in hand
Geoffrey Attenborough 6 not out , got those last 6 runs
Dennis Yagmich was there at the end with 20 not out
8/364
SA win, and the skipper made almost half the total by himself
The next man in , in that game was a fast bowler in his SS debut called Rodney Hogg
Hogg 3/56[9] + 4/57[12] and 3 not out in the first innings had a dream debut

Theres a reason Ive highlighted this game
It has been documented that whilst Ian Chappell was batting, the SA selectors choose a squad for the next game against NS in Sydney
Bob Blewett was selected in the squad , Rick Drewer was not
The problem was the selectors had not consulted with Ian Chappell on this squad ....


To be continued ....

Left South Australia? Where did he go?

I didn't think he played for any other team in the Sheffield Shield?

FOOTYfollower wrote:Left South Australia? Where did he go?

I didn't think he played for any other team in the Sheffield Shield?

IN the 1976-77 season Ian Chappell played district cricket for North Melbourne whilst remaining an Adelaide resident. He didn't play Sheffield Shield for anyone. After the two years of WSC, Chappell returned to South Australian cricket. He played district cricket for West Torrens rather than Glenelg and captained SA almost to a shield victory. Jim Higgs bowled Victoria to victory to prevent SA from winning the shield. At the end of the 1979-80 season, Ian Chappell retired and shifted to Sydney to live. He has resided in Sydney ever since.

Thanks for the info

I can remember watching him as an 8 year old in 1980 at Adelaide Oval. I certainly wouldn't have understood at that time the events of the previous few years.

I reckon I saw him on tv in his final test(?), where he was caught close in for 4.

FOOTYfollower wrote:Thanks for the info

I can remember watching him as an 8 year old in 1980 at Adelaide Oval. I certainly wouldn't have understood at that time the events of the previous few years.

I reckon I saw him on tv in his final test(?), where he was caught close in for 4.

Almost right. Not a bad memory for an 8 year old. His second last test match was at Adelaide Oval where he made 4 and 2. He was caught Greenidge in the first innings so that might be the dismissal you can remember. He was caught behind in the second innings.

His last test match was at the MCG against England a week later. He made 75 caught and bowled Underwood and was not out 26 in the second innings.

Ahhh ok. Thats probably the innings (4) I was thinking of then

At the end of the England tour of 1975, Ian Chappell gave away the captaincy
One of the reasons was the off field commitments required by skippers
He has stated that captaining on the field was OK
Ian has also thought that 25-30 Tests as an AustralIAN captain is about right
Benaud, Simpson and Lawry all lasted about the same time

SA had finished bottom in the 2 previous summers of 1973/74 + 1974/75
Ian was the skipper in one of the most explosive , controversial seasons of cricket played by SA
But it remains a season to remember

South Australia V New South Wales
Adelaide Oval 1975

SA 8/ 325 dec
I Chappell 86
Colley 4/54

NS 9/372 dec
McCosker 82
Prior 5/88

SA 311
I Chappell 97
Okeefe 5/45

NS 243
Gilmour 74
Prior 5/80

SA won by 23 runs
At 5/219 NS looked home
At 7/243 NS were still favored to win this
Then
Toohey C Chappell B Prior 65
Pascoe lbw Prior 0
Hourn B Prior 0
Wayne Fang Prior takes a timely hat trick to finish off the easterners
What a way to win the first game of the season

David Hookes made his debut 15 +35
Ross Collins played for NS , but I cant remember this player at all

4 SA players were reported by the umpires for various offences
Chappell , Mallett, Jenner and Prior
Chappell was reported on 3 counts, bowling a series of head high full tosses at Kerry Okeefe, swearing at Kerry Okeefe and swearing on another occasion
This is what Ian had to say
* I objected to what I believe is a flaw in the bonus points scheme
The team batting first is more or less obliged to declare after its 65 overs, if it hopes to get a result
But the team batting second is under no such obligation
On this occasion I was angry when NS captain Doug Walters elected to bat on after his team had passed the 65 over mark, in a hope of a big lead
So I came on with the deliberate intention of bowling a series of meduim pace full tosses, to point put the futility of the thing
I also felt Doug was batting on as a deliberate snub to SA cricket
We had been the chopping block before and I was determined , as were others, that we werent going to be the chopping block again
I wasnt upset about being reported for the full tosses for I considered my conduct a reportable offence
I just felt a protest had to be made
But reports against Mallett and me for swearing at Kerry Okeefe late in the NS innings were ridiculous
I did use a 4 letter word, and so did Mallett, but the remarks were light hearted and concerned a joke that was well known among Okeefes team mates, both in this state and the AustralIAN team.*

Thats just some of the controversy from this match
What a volatile start to the season
Chappelli with his own version of Bodyline !
There is more ...

Scrappy wrote:South Australia V New South Wales
Adelaide Oval 1975

SA 8/ 325 dec
I Chappell 86
Colley 4/54

NS 9/372 dec
McCosker 82
Prior 5/88

SA 311
I Chappell 97
Okeefe 5/45

NS 243
Gilmour 74
Prior 5/80

SA won by 23 runs
At 5/219 NS looked home
At 7/243 NS were still favored to win this
Then
Toohey C Chappell B Prior 65
Pascoe lbw Prior 0
Hourn B Prior 0
Wayne Fang Prior takes a timely hat trick to finish off the easterners
What a way to win the first game of the season

I was there for the last day of that match. Two things stick in my mind. Firstly Wayne Prior bouncing Doug Walters who got into such a horrible tangle that he fell onto his wicket and somehow at the same time badly damaged his knee and missed the rest of the season. You don't often see the dismissed batsman being carried off on a stretcher.

And then with NSW within site of victory with a very young Peter Toohey and Dave Colley starting to build a partnership, Ian Chappell ran down to Wayne Prior and said something to him. As Prior bowled, Chappell took off from first slip and commenced sprinting towards fine leg. Prior bounced Toohey, he hooked, got a fair bit of bat onto it but Chappell who was by now at a deep leg slip leapt like a baseball outfielder and caught it "back handed" one handed high above his head. It is one of the greatest catches and greatest pieces of captaincy I have ever seen. Prior then had Len Pascoe LBW next ball before being much to quick for David Hourn and comprehensively bowling him.

RIG is that legal or sporting what Chappell did, changing his fielding position as the bowler delivers ?
Obviously not, its about the only thing Chappell did that was not reportable in this match !
As for the Walters dismissal , thats extraordinary

Wayne Fang Prior
Was reported for telling a batsman he was going to knock his head off
Fang did this after the batsman complained about Fangs bouncers

The SACA
Chappells versions of the events
Was a meeting over the reports
Chappell has called some of the happenings as unbelievable
Chappell, in response, told the committee that he felt that SA needed a nice yes man type for the captaincy to keep the SACA happy
Chappell has stated that the SACA had a vendetta against himself and Mallett over things they wrote pre season in the Cricketer magazine
Both Rowdy and Chappelli criticized the SACA admin , in a hope of the SACA taking an action of sorts

A lot of us can remember Chappells pre BALL routine
He would adjust his box protector constantly , Im not sure what females thought of this habit
During this match Chappell went one step further
Ian dropped his dacks and adjusted his thigh pad
This was caught by the press, and it became a front page picture/ headline
I was amused at this clipping , it was Ian Chappell all over !
But he was a marked man at the time
It was only yesterday in the T20 game Adel Strikers v Brisbane Heat it happened again
Luke Fluke Pomersbach, dropped his dacks to make adjustments , but when I searched the front page of the press today there was no picture of this ...

Verdicts
All 4 players were given warnings
The legacy of what happened had Chappell seriously considering giving it away for the rest of the season
He has said the win over NS over-rided his decision to quit
Maybe just maybe Fangs hat trick was the reason he continued as a player


Max OcConnell
It is said that Max later apologised to Ian over the Umpiring reports
Max was a very good umpire, and one of the most pleasant men one could ever meet
Max has some involvement in a book that might be published now , or to be published about Umpires


So there we have it, a sensational win , and SA almost lost its skipper for the season

Game 2
South Australia V Queensland
Adelaide Oval

QL 188
Ogilvie 55
G Chappell 54
Jenner 5/73

SA 248
Cosier 59
Hookes 53
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTThomo 4/60

QL 229
G Chappell 99
Mallett 4/48

SA 3/170
I Chappell 89 not out

SA by 7 wickets and obtained 18 points[3 batting + 5 bowling bonus points]
SA scored 19 points in game 1 v VI

Greg Chappells second innings dismissal must have been pleasing
C I Chappell B Jenner 99

David Hookes debuted in game 1 v NS
In this game was the debut of Joe Darlings Great Nephew, Rick Darling
Rick went on to make 5554 first class runs, and played 14 Test Matches
Running between wickets with Rick Darling was unnerving at times
Rick Darling never took a first class wicket in the 32 balls he bowled

The SA spin twins had a good match
Rowdy Mallett 3/32[15.5] + 4/58[32.6]
Terry Jenner 5/73[21] + 3/67 [23]
They took 15/230 off 92.1 overs
The QL spinner was the Sri Lankan born leggie Mal Francke
Mal was a very underrated spin bowler , but had a poor return in this match
Mal 1/89[21] +0/58[16] didnt have a good game with the ball

Fast Bowlers
In game 1 Priors new ball partner was Stan Steamer Wilson
I can recall a District Cricket game at Adelaide number 2
Steamers mob was playing Woodville
A young lad R.E. was rather apprehensive about facing Steamer , who bowled very swiftly
For most of the week I would be throwing balls from half a pitch away, that often rose head high
RE was practicing his hooks and pulls and we practiced for hours
RE made a ton against Steamer that week
Practice makes perfect !
The lad took a lot of confidence from that match , he needed it as he had to face Big Bird Joel Garner later in his District career
In this game Priors new ball partner was left hand medium pacer Geoffrey Attenborough, an under rated bowler
The surprise was the 12th man in the first 2 games, Jeff Bomber Hammond

Game 3
Victoria v South Australia
MCG

SA 5/279 dec
Cosier 71
Drewer 51
Hookes 54 not out
Jenner 38 not out
Max Tangles Walker 2/77

VI 7/275 dec
Yalopp 79
Hibbert 63
Robinson 55 not out
Mallett 2/64

SA 177
Cosier 49
Darling 48 run out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walker 4/26
Bright 4/58

VI 174
Yallop 62
Mallett 4/42

VI at 5/138 looked the winners with that terrific keeper batsman Richie Robinson, and future Australian Skipper Graham Yallop in a 60 run partnership
Mallett, the best finger spinner Ive seen play for SA got both of them out
At 7/169 with 12 needed , the Vics were in the box seat
Wayne Fang Prior [3/28], as he did in the first SS game of the year, fired out the tail, and SA won by 7 runs

SA collected another 17 points, and were undefeated after 3 games
Why oh why were both teams declaring in the first innings ?
Ian Chappell declared SA innings at 7/279 off 71 overs
Ian Redpath made a perplexing VI declaration at 7/275 off 64 overs
Why would Redpath declare 4 runs behind the SA total is really puzzling

Ian Chappell
Ians version of the following events
The great man was at it again !
On day 3 Ian was heckled by the crowd
Ian described it as good natured , and reciprocated with his gestures back at them
Both umpires, Jack Collins and Keith Carmody told Chappell to get on with things
Ians reaction was to swear at both umpires !!!!!
The previous game against VI , the season before, Chappell also swore at Umpire Ray Isherwood
After the game the umps informed Chappell he would be reported
Chappell had this to say to Carmody in this appropriately named thread
" You'd better better shoot through before I say more ."
Ian was later reprimanded over the incidents


3 wins in a row , the wooden spooners of the 2 previous seasons , were well on track for the SS title

Scrappy wrote:
Wayne Fang Prior [3/28], as he did in the first SS game of the year, fired out the tail, and SA won by 7 runs

SA collected another 17 points, and were undefeated after 3 games
Why oh why were both teams declaring in the first innings ?
Ian Chappell declared SA innings at 7/279 off 71 overs
Ian Redpath made a perplexing VI declaration at 7/275 off 64 overs
Why would Redpath declare 4 runs behind the SA total is really puzzling

Was this amazing win the first time that Ian Chappell ever played in a winning game against Victoria at the MCG? SA certainly had a poor record there.

Both teams declared when they did because of the bonus points system. In fact I am surprised that SA actually batted for 71 overs, the bonus points ended after 65 overs. Certainly in Redpath's case he declared because Victoria couldn't score any more bonus points but if they lost a wicket in the 65th over, SA would have got another point. We have already noted Chappell's protest against his mate, Walters captaincy when Walters wouldn't declare after the 65 over in the previously mentioned game in Adelaide.

For those too young, or those who don't remember, the bonus points system came into operation in the 1971/72 season. The batting side scored a bonus point for every 25 runs scored after 150 in the first innings in the first 65 8 ball overs and the bowling side scored one for every two wickets taken. Later on the bowling bonus point was changed to one after the first wicket and then another after the third, fifth, seventh and ninth wickets fell as long as they were in the 65 overs.

Does anyone remember when the bonus point system finish? It was definitely still in operation in 1979-80 when the WSC split ended but I don't think it was still around in 1981-82 when SA again came from bottom the previous season to win the Shield.

Scrappy wrote:RIG is that legal or sporting what Chappell did, changing his fielding position as the bowler delivers ?
Obviously not, its about the only thing Chappell did that was not reportable in this match !

Correct me if I'm wrong here.

I don't think there was anything wrong with it at the time but they did introduce a rule later where fielders in catching positions weren't allowed to move whilst the bowler was running in. Not sure.

We saw the incident many years ago where Dean Jones was batting out of his crease. David Hookes instructed the bowler to bowl wide of the off stump so Jones would have to let it go. As the bowler ran in, the keeper dropped back, and Hookes walked across to take the ball and throw the stumps down.

Hookes was a real disciple of Chappell, always thinking outside the square, always willing to try something different.

For my money, the best Test captains Australia has had in my time are Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor, and I base that on their ability to produce something from nothing.

robranisgod wrote:
Both teams declared when they did because of the bonus points system. In fact I am surprised that SA actually batted for 71 overs, the bonus points ended after 65 overs. Certainly in Redpath's case he declared because Victoria couldn't score any more bonus points but if they lost a wicket in the 65th over, SA would have got another point. We have already noted Chappell's protest against his mate, Walters captaincy when Walters wouldn't declare after the 65 over in the previously mentioned game in Adelaide.

For those too young, or those who don't remember, the bonus points system came into operation in the 1971/72 season. The batting side scored a bonus point for every 25 runs scored after 150 in the first innings in the first 65 8 ball overs and the bowling side scored one for every two wickets taken. Later on the bowling bonus point was changed to one after the first wicket and then another after the third, fifth, seventh and ninth wickets fell as long as they were in the 65 overs.

Prior to the bonus points system. There was 4 points for a first innings win and 6 points for an outright win. Often one team would get 4 points and the winning team 6 points. When the bonus point system came in there were no first innings points hence captains often declared just behind the oppositions score. There were just the bonus points and the outright points.

Bonus Points
Bonus points made for entertaining cricket , for the crowds
Instead of middle order batters building an innings , they were often called upon to either :
Scores runs quickly to obtain batting bonus points
Defend and preserve wickets to deny the bowling teams a bonus point

It was riveting cricket at times , I didnt mind watching battles within battles
It created an interest for the spectator
But the downside was batsman were perhaps not properly groomed if thrust into the Test arena , where a greater emphasis was to build an innings

Imagine how hard it must have been for the batting newcomers into the side in 1975/1976
David Hookes and Rick Darling debuted in the early part of this season
One feels it was easier for middle order batters before and after the Bonus Points system

Western Australia v South Australia
WACA 1976
Game 4

SA 7/330 dec
I Chappell 117
Cosier 94
Alderman 3/63

WA 161
Edwards 52
Prior 5/44

WA 268
Langer 64
Attenborough 4/61

SA 2/102
I Chappell 67 not out
Alderman 1/20

Another win , SA obtained 21 points for the match
This was a fair effort in Perth , when one looks at the bowling line ups

SA
Attenborough
Prior
Cosier
Mallett
Jenner

WA
Lillie
Alderman
Clark
Paulsen
Brayshaw

Mallett and Jenner took 2/110 in this match
Perth is generally a fast bowlers deck
Deniss Lillie, Terry Alderman and Wayne Clark all played Test Cricket
The only genuine quick SA had was Fang Prior
To beat WA in Perth so convincingly was a very good effort

The SA openers had games they would prefer to forget
Ashley Woodcock 42 run out + 0 retired hurt
Rick Drewer 0 + 0 , Lillie dismissed the opener both times, they were the only wickets Lillie took in this game

Also interesting to note the ex Queensland leg spinner Bob Paulsen got a game before Bruce Yardley who was 12th man
Paulsen ended up with 0/71 in this match

Once again the SA skipper led from the front with 117 + 67 not out
Both innings he came in at 1/1

South Australia v Western Australia
Adelaide Oval 1976
Game 5

SA 87
Woodcock 20
Hookes 20
Liliie 7/41

WA 177
Kim Hughes 45
Mallett 5/68

SA 239
Woodcock 59
Lillie 5/72
Malone 4/74

WA 6/152
Hughes 54 not out
Brayshaw 50 not out
Cosier 3/20

DK Lillie destroyed SA 12/113 for the match
I Chappell, in a rarity this season, failed twice
Mick Malone came in for Terry Alderman , this mob had an abundance of quicks in those days

SA had a big chance to win this game
WA had to make 152 to win batting last and slumped to 6/62
Hughes and Brayshaw got them over the line
Wayne Fang Prior did not bowl in the second innings, he had a cracked foot
Had Fang bowled , SA might have pinched this ?

Lillee got Drewer out twice in this match for 0 +5
Maybe Richard Harris Drewer could have preferred to be at MacArthur Park ,instead of facing up to Lillie
In a remarkable sequence , Drewers 2 games v WA read 0- 0- 0- 5
FOT dismissing him 4 times in a row
Drewer was a stubborn left handed batsman , small in stature, but a real gritty batsman
Drewer ended up witha FC record of 659 runs @ 26.36, and never made a SS ton

The injury of Prior would have been a concern
Could SA cover the loss of its premier fast bowler ?

SA made 87 in the first dig , perhaps they found it hard to concentrate as this game was played on Valentines Day 1976

Scrappy wrote:Why did Ian Chappell leave South Australia after the 1975-1976 season ?

To get an idea of what was happening , I will try and trace back and provide an insight for his reasons of leaving
I didnt see the TV documentary , hopefully Im covering some new ground

Ian Chappell had made arrangements well before the 75/76 season that he would be consulted by the South Australian selectors on any team selections

February 1976
South Australia v Victoria
SS match Adelaide Oval

VI 247
Yallop 77
Mallett 4/38

SA 146
I Chappell 39
Walker 6/49

VI 262
Robinson 71 not out
Hogg 4/57

SA needed an imposing 364
By winning it would put SA in a very favorable position to win the Shield
The Vics had a pretty good attack of Alan Hurst, Max Tangles Walker , Ray Bright, Jimmy Higgs , and Trevor Laughlin
About half way through day 3 SA commenced its pursuit of this big target
On day 4 SA were limping at 6/225
Ian Chappell was still at the crease
By the time he had reached 19 runs, he had made 1000 runs in FC cricket for the season
7/288
Ashley Rowdy Mallett was out for 19 , the game still in the balance
Dennis Yagmich the ex WA keeper was to join Chappell
He did a job in supporting Chappell
They put on a 70 run partnership
Chappell was dismissed Hit wicket B Higgs 171
8/358
SA still needed 6 more runs , and passed the VI total with 2 wickets in hand
Geoffrey Attenborough 6 not out , got those last 6 runs
Dennis Yagmich was there at the end with 20 not out
8/364
SA win, and the skipper made almost half the total by himself
The next man in , in that game was a fast bowler in his SS debut called Rodney Hogg
Hogg 3/56[9] + 4/57[12] and 3 not out in the first innings had a dream debut

Theres a reason Ive highlighted this game
It has been documented that whilst Ian Chappell was batting, the SA selectors choose a squad for the next game against NS in Sydney
Bob Blewett was selected in the squad , Rick Drewer was not
The problem was the selectors had not consulted with Ian Chappell on this squad ....


To be continued ....

This was game 6 for the season
Wayne Prior out injured with his foot injury
The consensus at the time was possibly that Prior was irreplaceable ?
His replacement was a 24 year old SS debutant Rodney Mal Hogg
What a player and what replacement !
Hoggy played District Cricket for Woodville
It was a time that I had aspirations of becoming a District Cricketer at the same club
A lack of ability was my greatest flaw
Our paths crossed , Rodney went on to play Test Cricket , I ended up playing against players of the ilk of RedandBlack, Booney and Bayman

Rodney Mal Hogg took 3/56 +4/57 on debut to kick start a wonderful career

Chappelli would have been licking his chops with the fiery Hogg and Prior to return eventually.

Chappelli was always an aggressive captain. But I just wonder if his aggression was proportional to the cattle he had with him. This SA side was a pretty handy one. Adding Hogg into the mix must have gotten his captaincy juices flowing just a little more.

The 1973 - 1977 era was when his hero status to a young cricket fanatic was at its zenith. All he had to do was wear his undies on the outside, like Superman, Batman etc. and he could have had his own comic strip.

Scrappy wrote:Western Australia v South Australia
WACA 1976
Game 4

SA 7/330 dec
I Chappell 117
Cosier 94
Alderman 3/63

WA 161
Edwards 52
Prior 5/44

WA 268
Langer 64
Attenborough 4/61

SA 2/102
I Chappell 67 not out
Alderman 1/20

Another win , SA obtained 21 points for the match
This was a fair effort in Perth , when one looks at the bowling line ups

SA
Attenborough
Prior
Cosier
Mallett
Jenner

WA
Lillie
Alderman
Clark
Paulsen
Brayshaw

Mallett and Jenner took 2/110 in this match
Perth is generally a fast bowlers deck
Deniss Lillie, Terry Alderman and Wayne Clark all played Test Cricket
The only genuine quick SA had was Fang Prior
To beat WA in Perth so convincingly was a very good effort

The SA openers had games they would prefer to forget
Ashley Woodcock 42 run out + 0 retired hurt
Rick Drewer 0 + 0 , Lillie dismissed the opener both times, they were the only wickets Lillie took in this game

Also interesting to note the ex Queensland leg spinner Bob Paulsen got a game before Bruce Yardley who was 12th man
Paulsen ended up with 0/71 in this match

Once again the SA skipper led from the front with 117 + 67 not out
Both innings he came in at 1/1

Probably the highlight of this game were the two female streakers who ran onto the pitch whilst Ian Chappell was batting in the first innings. This game was telecast live on Channel 10, so those of us watching the game saw more than the cricket. As an aside, I believe that Scrappy's elder brother (Scrappy with a silent "s") was at the WACA that day. He delighted in giving everyone a graphic description of Chappell's innings and associated events.

Ian Chappell also has often mentioned that he batted at number 3 in four innings at the WACA in the 1975-76 season and he was batting before the end of the first over on all four occasions.