Experience Counts

In the summer 1992 a young right-handed middle-order batsman with a 'classical' technique, known in particular for his elegant stroke making square of the wicket on the off-side and through the covers made his Test Match debut for Australia. Although he managed 59 in the first innings of a low scoring match in Sydney, it was his performance in the second innings which blighted his reputation for many years into the future. With Australia stumbling while chasing a small target of 117 against South Africa, he had trouble scoring, with an unconvincing 6 from 59 balls in almost two hours as he and Craig McDermott took the total from 8-75 to within sight of victory at 8-110. He then attempted an airborne cover-drive off Allan Donald and was caught, and Australia lost the Test. This “young bull” was heavily criticised by the media who blamed him for the defeat and was subsequently dropped from all National squads.

He wasn’t seen in Australian teams until the start of the millennium, by then selectors considered him an “Old Bull” and he rightfully replaced an injured Ricky Ponting on the tour to New Zealand. During this tour he went on to top the averages, subsequently scoring his maiden test century during the 2001 Ashes tour. This “Old Bull” became an integral part of Australia’s middle order for the next 6 seasons highlighted by nearly becoming the first Australian batsmen since “The Don” to make three centuries in three innings (he was dismissed for 97 in the third) and by winning the McGilvray Medal, ABC Cricketer of the year and the Alan Border Medal in 2005.

The moral to the story is (and we all know the story of the 2 bulls standing on the hill).......while we need “young bulls”, at the end of the day it is experience that counts and as history tells us, it will always be the “Old Bulls” that can be trusted to get the job done (and to keep their mouths shut at critical times).