Michael Whitney
Martin Chandler |Published: 2023
Pages: 18
Author: Gardner, Lyall
Publisher: Cricketers In Print
Rating: 3.5 stars
Aussie left arm quick Mike Whitney has always stuck in mind. I remember him because of his meteoric rise in the historic summer of 1981. He came over to England, as had many young Austraian cricketers before and since, to play league cricket, in his case for Fleetwood in the Northern League.
Then there was an injury crisis at Gloucestershire, and he played for them a couple of times before, just as he was about to start for the county for the third time, being called up to cover injuries in the Australian Test squad. Whitney made his debut in the fifth Test at Old Trafford and got a couple of wickets in each innings, including the one that ended Ian Botham’s acclaimed knock for England. I can’t say I remember that, but I’ve always been able to recall his running around under a steepler from Sir Beefy, and failing to make the catch.
After that I don’t recall Whitney’s name making much impression on me. He played no more county cricket and never toured England (although it certainly seems he should have in 1989). But I knew he’d played in a few more Tests, although I didn’t realise until I read Lyall Gardner’s monograph that in two of them he managed seven-fers.
Gardner himself makes it clear in telling Whitney’s story that cricket has Whitney’s mother to thank for the fact that he persevered with the game. That said Garner’s position at Whitney’s club, Randwick, must mean that he influenced the young pace bowler to some extent, but irrespective of that it clearly makes him ideally placed to write a monograph dealing with the life of an decent cricketer who has enjoyed an interesting life. Like previous monographs in this series this one is very well produced and illustrated and appears in a limited edition of seventy signed copies. It is highly recommended and can be sourced from Roger Page (rpcricketbooks@iprimus.com.au)
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