ALLAN Border’s contribution to Australian cricket is almost impossible to measure.

Such is his nature that Allan Border does not notice let alone complain that the true worth of his service to Australian cricket is often unrecognised, unwritten and undiscussed.

So to this end it is hardly surprising that the 25th anniversary of his first appearance as his country’s 38th captain went unnoticed this week.

This is not acceptable. Attention should always be drawn to December 7, 1984 when Border succeeded his mate Kim Hughes as skipper against the West Indies in Adelaide.

It is a date of the utmost significance for it marks the beginning of what is best termed “the age of stability” in Australian cricket.

It is much too easy following the heady successes of the past 20 years under Border, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist to ignore, even forget, the confusion, controversy and tensions which so characterised Australian cricket in 1984.

Despite some initial misgivings and an anxious and sometimes grumpy first two years in office Border prospered to become a very fine captain and led Australia on a record 93 occasions over the next nine years and three months.

Aside from his enormous contributions as one of the greatest and most courageous batsmen of any era (11,174 runs at 50.56 with 27 hundreds and 63 fifties) his legacy was the provision of certainty, unity and a collective confidence at a time of great uncertainty — a bequest from which Australian cricket in general and Ponting and his men in particular continue to benefit.

Indeed, it is remarkable that Australia has had just four captains in 25 years and there is no doubt that the many successes of this period have been a direct consequence of the impressive stability achieved and maintained at just about every level of Australian cricket. There is no Read more…

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The great Indian batsman Vijay Merchant once said: “Retire when people ask you ‘why?’ and not ‘why not?’.” As Michael Vaughan takes his bow, C365 reflects on those who didn’t know when to stop.

Ian Botham
While Imran Khan excelled in his twilight years as an international cricketer, Botham’s form declined horribly. After the last of his 14 Test centuries at Brisbane in 1986, Beefy’s remaining 16 games were spread over six years of injury and selectorial whimsy, bringing just 23 wickets and one fifty.

In his swansong at Lord’s in 1992, Botham was out of his depth against the pace of Waqar Younis, scoring 2 and 6. It was not the way a champion should have gone.

Ian Healy
The world’s must successful gloveman, Healy’s wish was to have a farewell Test at his home ground at the Gabba, giving him the chance to break through the 400 dismissals barrier. Read more…

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