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Ian Chappell: 24 facts about the controversial general of the 1970s

One of the finest batsmen of his time, Ian Chappell is often, somewhat unfairly, remembered as the leader of the ‘Ugly Australians’ of the 1970s.

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ian chappell

Ian Michael Chappell, born September 26, 1943, is synonymous to talent, pluck, combativeness, and controversies. One of the finest batsmen of his time, Ian Chappell is often, somewhat unfairly, remembered as the leader of the ‘Ugly Australians’ of the 1970s. Figures of 5,345 runs from 75 Tests (not to speak of 105 catches, mostly at first slip) at 42.42 and 19,680 First-Class runs at 48.35 hardly do justice to his immense skills. Chappell remained, in the heart of many a fast bowler, one of the best players of short-pitched bowling: his pulls and hooks were ferocious. Spinners, on the other hand, remember him for his aggressive footwork.

Chappell was also an aggressive captain who refused to stop at anything before defeat. It was not easy, managing a side with as many mercurial characters, but Chappell was always the man they looked up to — for it was he who risked his neck by coming in the way of the board officials when it came to negotiations, and more. Later a commentator, Chappell continues to remain as outspoken as ever. Abhishek Mukherjee lists 24 facts about a misunderstood champion with a heart as big as any to have graced the wonderful sport.

1. It started with the parents, of course

Martin Chappell was a club cricketer who once made it to the state squad. Jeanne Chappell was, of course, the daughter of Vic Richardson, perhaps the greatest all-round sportsperson Australia had produced.

To keep it simple, Martin and Jeanne were the ideal set of parents for the Chappell brothers. There was no compromise on diet, work ethics, discipline, and approach towards the sport. An incident may make this clear.

Ian started keeping scores for Glenelg C — the side Martin played for. Ian always turned up in whites, and his prayers came good one day when Glenelg C were a man short and Ian, then 13, was asked to play with the big men.

The opposition side had a demon fast bowler called ‘Blue’ Ballantyne. Little Ian survived him for over forty minutes before getting out, and was obviously pleased. Martin was not: “You backed away from one delivery of Blue Ballantyne and until you get behind everything you are not playing in C grade again.”

Martin made sure the backyard was tailor-made for cricket. Rich, black soil was obtained to make a 22-yard pitch (but twice the width, to move the pitch if needed). A tennis court roller was also acquired. During rain they practised fielding (Martin was an accomplished baseball pitcher) and discussed strategies on blackboard.

2. Brother acts

Inter-brother backyard ‘Test cricket’ was a brutal, no-holds-barred affair at the Chappell’s. They played with cricket balls but without pads and gloves. Jeanne often umpired in these duels, which ensured the younger Greg got away with close calls.

This infuriated Ian to no bounds. Once he bowled a snorter that rapped Greg on the bare fingers. As Greg fell, an unconcerned Ian came back with “don’t worry about your fingers, mate, next time it’ll be your head.”

Once Trevor was old enough, he was dished out the same treatment by Greg as Greg was himself subjected to by Ian. Big Brother, being nine years elder to Trevor, often took Trevor’s side.

This had probably driven Trevor into a false sense of security when it came to Ian. Once, when Ian was bowling a hostile spell (chipping a couple of Trevor’s fingernails), Trevor wanted his gloves. Ian assured him that he would not bowl short. Somewhat foolishly, Trevor believed him.

3. More brother acts

At Wellington in 1973-74 Ian Chappell scored 145 and 121, while Greg had 247 not out and 133. It remains the only occasion that two teammates have scored twin tons in the same Test.

The brothers thrived off each other. Ian scored 3,509 runs at 47.42 when Greg was in the side and 1,836 at 35.31 when Greg was not there; Greg, on the other hand, scored 3,525 at 57.79 in Ian’s presence and 3,585 at 50.49 in his absence.

4. Even more brother acts

Ian and Trevor did not play international cricket together, but the world witnessed the three in action once — during Trevor’s underarm incident. When it became evident that Greg had instructed Trevor to bowl underarm, a helpless Ian shouted on air: “No, Greg, no! You can’t do that!”

5. Vic and Lynn

Despite the presence of Richardson, the brothers were coached by Lynn Fuller, not a great cricketer by a legendary coach in South Australia. Richardson never interfered, for according to his theory too many coaches may confuse cricketers.

However, he had one famous bit of advice for Ian: “Just remember, when you win the toss, nine times out of ten you bat first; on the tenth time you think about putting the opposition in, but you still bat first.”

6. The grittiest smile?

The 149 against New South Wales (the attack boasted of Alan Davidson, Richie Benaud, Frank Misson, Johnny Martin, and Bobby Simpson) at Adelaide Oval in 1962-63 was one of Ian’s earliest classics.

After the innings Benaud paid a visit to the South Australia dressing-room and had a chat with Barry Jarman: “What’s young Chappell like? He’s not a smart-arse, is he?”

When Jarman asked exactly what had happened, Benaud responded: “he just kept grinning at me while he was facing up.” Jarman had to explain Benaud that Ian’s face looked that way whenever he gritted his teeth hard — something he did while facing any bowler till then.

7. A leg for Mutton

Ian had started off as an off-spinner (outside backyard cricket, that is, where he bowled at unforgiving pace). In his early days he was not given the ball throughout one match. When he asked his captain, he was told Richard Mutton (himself a Shield player), the team manager, thought Ian’s action was suspect.

Ian shifted to leg-spin (“there was no way you can chuck a leg-break”). He finished with 176 wickets at 37.57; 20 of these came in Tests.

8. I for an I

Ian and Greg appeared in a First-Class match together for the first time against Victoria on October 24, 1967. To avoid confusion, scoreboard operators at Adelaide Oval used CHAPPELL I and CHAPPELL G. The nickname Chappelli was coined.

9. The Jordon incident

In a tour match against South Zone in 1969-70, Ray Jordon was standing up to the stumps for Alan Connolly. EAS Prasanna (a man Ian has always called the best spinner he has faced) missed one, and was sure it missed the wickets — only to see his off-stump knocked forward. Prasanna stood ground, and left only after Jordon sledged him off it.

Brian Taber had a tough time against South Africa later that season, scoring 11, 15, 6, and 0. Lawry discussed with Ian whether Taber should be replaced by Jordon. Ian’s response was typical: “You are the captain and you can pick whatever team you like, but if you are going to pick Ray Jordon in the Australian cricket team, please don’t consider me for selection. I’m not available.”

As expected, Lawry asked for an explanation. Ian told him about the Prasanna affair. Jordon never played a Test.

10. Autographs? No bar!

Ian was always one to sign autographs, especially to children. He was seen spending more time than most stars signing books and bats and sheets and more on the ground for all and sundry. Off the ground, especially when in the bar, it was a strict no-no: it was extremely difficult for anyone to extract an autograph from Ian once he was out there at the counter.

11. A man for freedom

As captain Ian always believed in giving his men total freedom on the field. Ross Edwards, that exceptional fielder, once complained that he should be placed wider in the cover. Ian responded: “If you think you should bloody well go squarer, go squarer. You’re the cover specialist in the team.”

12. Brothers lock horns, again

By the time Ian and Trevor travelled to play at The Gabba in 1973-74, Greg was captain of Queensland, and had settled down in Brisbane with his wife Judy. While Trevor failed, Ian scored 70 and 126, and Greg had 4 for 47 to go with his 56.

Though the situation at Greg’s home was normal, it was hostile on the ground. Ashley Mallett recollects an incident:

During the South Australia second innings Greg bowled bouncers at No. 10 batsman Barry Hiern. Ian, past his hundred, intervened.

Ian: Listen, pal, if you are going to bowl bouncers, bowl them to me, not out No. 11 [sic].
Greg: Piss off, Ian. You’d be better served to concentrate on your batting.
Ian: If you have a look at the scoreboard, Greg, you’ll notice I am concentrating on my batting.

13. Ugly Australians

The incident took place in the Christchurch Test of 1973-74, where Glenn Turner scored 101 and 110 and Richard Hadlee claimed 7 for 130 to lead New Zealand to a 5-wicket victory. However, the Test, as was common with Tests in New Zealand in the 1970s, was marred by controversial umpiring.

Turner kept padding Max Walker away, and several LBW appeals were turned down, mostly by Bob Montieth. Things broke loose when Turner hit a lofted stroke: though it was evident that the ball had bounced inside the rope, Montieth ruled a six.

Ian went into a heated argument with Montieth. Turner intervened, there were a lot of altercations, and Montieth eventually changed his decision to a four. Bevan Congdon, New Zealand captain, asked Ian for an apology that afternoon, and was happy with the response (“Turner can sing for an apology”).

Unfortunately, the New Zealand media was not happy. The phrase UGLY AUSTRALIANS was all over the press the morning after…

14. The Don: The Godfather

Ian’s cold relationship (and that is an understatement) is well-documented. The matter started with Ian’s visit to Bradman’s office in 1972-73, asking for a pay raise for the team. The Board (where Bradman dominated financial terms) were reluctant, and eventually agreed to a bonus.

Despite that, the earnings were frugal: while the twelve Australians received $4,800 between them for the Ashes Test at MCG in 1974-75, the gate receipts amounted to a whopping $250,000…

The bitterness continued till Chappell’s last season, when Ian was suspended for three weeks on disciplinary grounds. He was called up for a hearing after that by a committee headed by Bradman: Ian turned up with beer and a cigar. He was slapped another six-week ban.

Two things are to be noted here: Richardson (grandfather of the Chappell brothers), along with Bill O’Reilly and Jack Fingleton, were among the strongest voices against Bradman the person; and Bradman, in his playing days, had been at loggerheads with the Board for his payments, and almost never shared his earnings from the sport with teammates.

15. The Botham affair

When in Australia in 1976-77, Botham had apparently overheard Chappell “rubbishing England”, and threatened Chappell of “trouble” if he carried on. Chappell continued; Botham punched him and chased him out of the bar; the duo stopped only at the sight of a police car.

As per Chappell (but Botham denied this), Botham pressed an empty beer glass against Chappell’s cheek, threatening “I’ll f**king cut you from ear to ear.” Chappell responded with “Son, that won’t f**king impress me very much. In fact, (it) would be an act of cowardice. I’ll tell you what would impress me — if you cut me with a cricket ball.”

Even in 2012, Botham was waiting outside Adelaide Oval when Chappell said something “provocative”. They were at it again, and had to be separated after they went for each other’s throats.

16. F**king democracy

The stellar role played by Ian for Australians during Kerry Packer’s World Series Cup (WSC) is well-documented. However, though Greg was the Australian captain at that time, Packer insisted Ian led Australia —for nobody embodied the Australian spirit of the era the way Ian did.

The conversation ran thus (remember, this was their first meeting):

Packer: Well, who do you want in this f**king team of yours?
Chappell: Hang on, Kerry, I’m not the Australian captain. Greg Chappell is the captain of Australia, so I don’t think it’s really down to me as to who is in the side.
Packer: What do you think this is, son, a f**king democracy? I pay the bills, I choose the captain. You’re the f**king captain.

17. Winding Lillee up

Dennis Lillee finished the first season of WSC with 21 wickets at a below-par 36.43, and told Ian he would retire from the sport subsequently. As he thrust his hand out, Ian refused to shake it, with the words “I only shake hands with fast bowlers.”

“Well, f**k you. I will be back next season,” was the response. Lillee wreaked havoc next season with 46 wickets at 22.50.

18. Putting Marsh in his place

As captain, Ian used different strategies to control different players. Rod Marsh narrates an incident in You’ll Keep: “I misgloved a couple of balls in a short space of times in the first innings and he hopped into me quick and lively, and said, ‘Come on, you’re not out there for your good looks, you know.’ That came as quite a shock to me and I was furious. But later I realised I had deserved it and it certainly had the right effect because the standard of my work improved markedly.”

19. Getting Mallett on board

When Packer gave Chappell the list of players he wanted for WSC, Ian complained about the absence of Mallett. When Packer was firm that he would not include “that f**king straight breaker”, Chappell decided to strike a deal: If Mallett can get you out in one over, will you sign him?”

Packer took it up rather seriously, going to the nets (even on his England trip), but the over probably never happened. Mallett was signed up for WSC anyway.

20. Dismissing Packer

The incident goes back to one of his last days in First-Class cricket (he retired at 32). Ian was sitting alone in the dressing-room after a terrible day at work. As Packer came in (from behind) and put a hand on his shoulder, Ian asked him to “f**k off”.

When the met next, Packer told Ian: “Jesus Christ, you’re a cantankerous bastard. I knew you’d be angry and I thought long and hard about what I was going to tell you. I thought, ‘that can’t offend him. What I’m going to say cannot possibly offend him,’ and you still told me to ‘f**k off’.”

21. Barbara-Ann

Ian married Kay in 1966, and had a daughter, Amanda, with her. They divorced in 1980. Ian met WSC coordinator Barbara-Ann Loois, a WSC coordinator, during his tenure with Packer. They are married since 1982.

22. I swear!

It may not seem so, but Ian has mellowed down over years — at least in terms of ‘cuss-words’. He was almost fired from the Channel 9 commentary team, only for Packer to decide against it — for Ian did not “do it deliberately.”

It took Ian six months to put a rein on himself. When he met Garry Sobers the next time the following conversation happened (as per Mallett):

Sobers: Ian, somebody told me you are not swearing.
Chappell: Yeah, that’s right, Garry.
Sobers: Maan, I’m going to have to do all the talking!

23. The Tampa affair

For the uninitiated, Norwegian freighter MV Tampa rescued 438 refugees sought permission from Australian Government to enter Australian waters. John Howard refused, which led to a diplomatic feud between Norway and Australia. The refugees, mostly fleeing Afghans, sought asylum in Australia. The Howard Government declined to this, bringing memories of St Louis, 1939 to old-timers: one can only imagine the horror the Afghans would have had to encounter if they were dispatched back to their country in 2001.

When the Australian Special Forces boarded MV Tampa, it infuriated Chappell to no bounds. It was Barbara-Ann who convinced Ian that he must act on the matter: “Bad things happen when good people do nothing.”

The asylum seekers were sent to Nauru (instead of Australia) on a temporary basis. By the time Ian visited them they were put in Baxter Detention Centre near Port Augusta, South Australia — behind barbed wires. He did not even hesitate to compare the Australian Government with Nazi Germany.

Ian reached out to United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), of whom he later became a special representative. Ian played a stellar role — both in terms of fundraising and otherwise.

24. The forgotten men

Ian was also instrumental in giving the team of Aborigines that toured England in 1868 the stature they deserved. Among other things, 13 new Test caps were unveiled numbers AUS 1 to AUS 13 for the men who braved the difficult journey and had done a wonderful job of it in the Mother Nation.

When Gary Gilmour had to undergo an emergency liver transplant, Ian was among the first to come to his aid to help raise funds.

(Abhishek Mukherjee is the Chief Editor of CricketCountry and CricLife. He tweets at @ovshake42.)

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