Michael Bevan Retires - and Tribute Thread.

[Craig]

Had to be a thorn for the opposition many a time. I guess with him and Steve Waugh there at the crease, even when Australia were in trouble you always knew they had a chance, but even if Waugh gone and Bevan was still there, you couldn't feel comfortable until he was out pretty quickly if you were an opposing fan.

Still can't believe he did that against New Zealand at the MCG when Australia were 6/85, that's bull**** that it was able to ever happen, but credit to him, he did. Another prominent innings was in the 2003 World Cup where Bond ran through the Australian line-up at PE as if it were nothing for him, then he and and the support of Bichel got Australia to over 200 and as well all know, Australia won it.

That said there were plenty of great knocks, like one the one Fuller suggested, but they are the one's I remember most.

 

[Barney Rubble]

Big loss to the game, one of the greatest ODI players there's ever been and a man who was clearly completely dedicated to the game. Shame he never played more Tests.

 

[howardj]

In the mid-late 1990's, as an Australian supporter, you felt so safe while ever Tugga Waugh was still batting in Test matches, and likewise felt safe while ever Bevo was at the crease in an ODI. I'd equate it to the safety a lost child feels when he sees his Mum's face in the Supermarket. .

 

[archie mac]

hope you bounced him first..

Tttt he never looked in any trouble against the rising ball, in fact he smashed them all over the park

 

[pasag]

Bevan's Match: Australia v West Indies 95/96

 

[Richard]

Greatest ODI batsman ever for me... no-one comes close (Richards was part of an earlier era of ODIs, in any case, comparisons are stupid).

Crying shame he was never given the opportunity internationally to do what he did for fun in domestic cricket in England and Australia... come in at three the first 15 and smash it all over everywhere.

As it was, we only got the chance to recognise him as "the best middle-order batsman in ODI history". Yet MGB was so, so much more than a "finisher".

And the ultimate proof that not being good enough in Tests doesn't mean you're not in ODIs.

 

[silentstriker]

Right up there with Richards and Tendulkar. Best ever in ODI. I agree that he could have been great in Tests. Someone with that much talent could have succeeded.

 

[Matt79]

Echo the sentiments already expressed. Awesome ODI and FC batsman - an unlucky Test batsman to have had a weakness exposed and be dropped in a period where once you were out it was nearly impossible to force your way back in (I think he'd well and truly addressed the perceived weakness and would have been a success at Test level, but there was always a great incumbant and another great alternative ahead of him).

Best runner between wickets ever?

Not to forget his occasionally effective, and often humourous spin bowling.

I've never riden on every ball of an innings the way I did with his knock against the Windies that New Year's. I can still remember my brother shrieking and just about falling off the couch and my parents jumping up and cheering with me...

 

[Steulen]

That game against England in the World Cup...he took his time to settle, because of that it looked like all chances of victory were gone, and then he just won the game as if any other outcome was utterly impossible...such brilliance.

 

[Richard]

Jack McNamara was never a fan, though.

 

[age_master]

Great ODI batsman, unfortunately alot of people didn't like him as a person, and i am one of those.

and from that thread...
Richard do you still think Clarke is making regular appallingly poor mistakes in the field?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Jack McNamara was never a fan, though.

Haha, that's being a bit all-encompassing there. A very fine cricketer, but by many accounts a very "different" personality. I don't think it's coincidence at all that once Ponting became captain, Bevan's role in the side receded, as opposed to the end of Waugh's tenure where Bevan was being given more opportunity at 4.

Bevan's probably another example of a Kallis type, who was what some might label "selfish" but in doing so got the most out of himself and, the vast majority of the time, it benefited the team.

 

[Pratters]

Best runner between wickets ever?

Yes, I have not seen any one as good as Bevan where running between the wickets is concerned.

 

[archie mac]

Yes, I have not seen any one as good as Bevan where running between the wickets is concerned.

Dean Jones was not too far behind him (get it )

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Yes, I have not seen any one as good as Bevan where running between the wickets is concerned.

I think Hussey comes closest to matching him of anyone else I've seen.

 

[honestbharani]

One of the best ever ODI cricketers....


A man who handled pressure as well as anyone has ever done in the history of sports, leave alone cricket.


I count myself lucky to have watched one of the GOATs of the ODI game.

 

[SquidAU]

Ah, Bevo....how I shall miss thee!

He had a stellar ODI career and I quite liked his book.

SCG 1996 and MCG 2002 were the top 2 finest innings of his, IMO.

 

[Richard]

Richard do you still think Clarke is making regular appallingly poor mistakes in the field?

I've certainly seen far fewer of late, though that amounts to little more than one Ashes series.

If he's improved his fielding, good on him.

 

[Richard]

Haha, that's being a bit all-encompassing there. A very fine cricketer, but by many accounts a very "different" personality. I don't think it's coincidence at all that once Ponting became captain, Bevan's role in the side receded, as opposed to the end of Waugh's tenure where Bevan was being given more opportunity at 4.

Bevan's probably another example of a Kallis type, who was what some might label "selfish" but in doing so got the most out of himself and, the vast majority of the time, it benefited the team.

I don't disagree for a minute. I wasn't being totally serious, it was rather a TIC comment, but I was interested when you said that at the time.

 

[Richard]

Dean Jones was not too far behind him (get it )

No coincidence that Jones was the man who more than any other made ODI cricket what it is today and Bevan was the man who stood astride modern ODI cricket like a colossus.

Amazes me that people can say so unequivocally that Richards, not Jones, was the best player of ODI-cricket-1970s\80s-style.