Friday, January 24, 2025

Former Australia opener Ian Redpath dies aged 83

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Former Australia batter Ian Redpath has died on the age of 83.

Redpath, who turned generally known as an stubborn opener, performed 66 Assessments and 5 ODIs in a world profession that ran from 1964 to 1976.

He got here near a century on Check debut in opposition to South Africa on the MCG when he was bowled by Joe Partridge for 97. “I hit an off-drive for 4 and there was one other one I believed was in the identical spot, and I licked my chops. Lovely follow-through, it was,” he recalled to 9 newspapers final 12 months.

It was not till February 1969, in opposition to West Indies on the SCG, that he made his maiden century with 132 within the second innings in opposition to an assault of Wes Corridor, Charlie Griffith, Garry Sobers and Lance Gibbs.

Seven extra centuries would comply with, with a career-best 171 in opposition to England at Perth in 1970, and he closed out his Check profession with three in 4 innings in opposition to West Indies in 1975-76. On the primary of that trio, on the MCG, Wisden wrote: “Though Redpath was directly subjected to loads of quick stuff, he ducked and weaved in his personal efficient manner and went on to finish an necessary century for Australia and one which underlined the worth which he has been to Australia over a few years.”

Regardless of clearly nonetheless being adequate, Redpath retired to work full-time for his vintage enterprise in Geelong. Nonetheless, he can be lured again to the sport a 12 months later by a proposal to play World Collection Cricket the place he featured for 2 seasons though missed many of the first one resulting from damage.

In a chunk for the Australian final 12 months, Gideon Haigh wrote: “As there’s valuable little footage of Redpath, the way to image him? He was a tough man to dismiss: he knew the place his off stump was; he performed straight, with a brief pick-up, primarily off the again foot; he was a swayer and a ducker of bouncers fairly than a hooker in these pre-helmet days. On his Sunicrust cricket card, he was pictured taking part in a leg look.”

“As a positive opening batter, Ian was a mainstay of the nationwide staff via one of many nice eras of Australian cricket and beloved by many all through the world for his braveness, impeccable sportsmanship and wry humour.”

CA Chairman Mike Baird on Ian Redpath

Early in his worldwide profession he had been the final Australian to play as an novice when he turned down his match payment in 1963-64 to be able to keep his novice Australia Guidelines Soccer profession.

He was vice-captain to each Ian and Greg Chappell, batting alongside the latter when he introduced up a century on debut in opposition to England in 1970-71.

“My first innings in Check cricket was, as you may anticipate, a attempting expertise, however proved to be top-of-the-line cricket classes of my profession, because of Ian Redpath,” Greg Chappell later wrote, “…Fortuitously we each succeeded and our partnership put us right into a sound place, however from my viewpoint I had obtained a useful lesson in what Check match batting was all about from one of the crucial brave batsmen ever to play for Australia.”

Redpath retains the report of scoring essentially the most runs off an over by Australian: in 1969-70 in opposition to Orange Free State he took 32 (4 sixes and two fours) off Neil Rosendorff. Nonetheless, his first six in worldwide cricket didn’t come till his penultimate Check in opposition to West Indies.

In 1975 Redpath was awarded an MBE and would go on to educate Victoria. In January 2023 he was indicted into the Cricket Australia Corridor of Fame. In 2024, the Geelong Cricket Membership renamed their scoreboard in honour of Redpath.

CA chairman Mike Baird paid tribute to Redpath after his passing.

“Ian was a a lot beloved and revered determine and everybody in Australian Cricket might be enormously saddened by his passing,” Baird stated.

“As a positive opening batter, Ian was a mainstay of the nationwide staff via one of many nice eras of Australian cricket and beloved by many all through the world for his braveness, impeccable sportsmanship and wry humour.

“We had been privileged to listen to Ian converse of the fantastic experiences and relationships cricket had supplied upon his induction into the Australian Cricket Corridor of Fame in 2023 and this deep love of the sport was manifest in his huge contribution to cricket at first-class and group degree.

“The ideas of everybody at Cricket Australia are with Ian’s household and plenty of pals at this unhappy time.”

Cricket Victoria chairman Ross Hepburn echoed these sentiments.

“That is enormously unhappy information as we farewell one of many greats of our recreation and a really proud Victorian in Ian Redpath,” Hepburn stated. “On behalf of Cricket Victoria, I want to lengthen our honest condolences to Ian’s household, notably to his 4 youngsters and plenty of pals and staff mates from throughout a era of cricket.

“Ian’s expertise on the sector and management noticed him contribute to one of many nice eras of Australian cricket and he leaves behind a exceptional legacy to the sport at nationwide, state and native degree.

“‘Redders’, as we affectionately knew him, was a gifted storyteller with a splendidly wry sense of humour. His friendship and presence might be missed by many in our cricket group.

“Regardless of being out of the sport for some years, his involvement continued to be far-reaching off the sector. In March this 12 months he led some spirited cheering for Casey South Melbourne within the Premier Cricket Closing versus Carlton at Windy Hill. In latest weeks he recorded an interview for the VicStateCricket podcast and attended a Previous Gamers Affiliation occasion at our headquarters.

“Earlier this month, his beloved Geelong Cricket Membership unveiled their new scoreboard, bearing his title.”


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