Graham McKenzie: 11 facts to know about Australia’s pace spearhead

Graham McKenzie, born on June 24, 1941, is one of the finest fast bowlers produced by Australia.

Graham McKenzie, born on June 24, 1941, is one of the finest fast bowlers produced by Australia. He was the leader of the attack in the 1960s, picking 246 wickets in 60 Tests at an average of 29.78. Nishad Pai Vaidya picks 11 facts about the former Australian pacer.

 

1.  Sporting background

McKenzie came from a sporting household. His father Eric played one game for Western Australia in the 1930s and represented Australia in hockey. Douglas, his uncle, had a longer cricket career having played for Western Australia four times.

 

2.  ‘Garth’

McKenzie is known as ‘Garth’, a nickname bestowed upon him after the famous comic book hero. The comic strip ran in the Daily Mirror from 1943 to 1997.

 

3.  Frank Worrell’s recommendation

McKenzie’s third First-Class match was against the touring West Indies in 1960. He did not bowl in the first innings, but went on to take four scalps in the second to help Western Australia win. In a chat with ESPN Cricinfo, McKenzie said, “He [Frank Worrell] must have been impressed by me because he kept mentioning me in newspaper articles throughout that tour. Then I was picked at the end of that season to go to England.” That season, McKenzie took 38 wickets at an average of 27.31. He then toured England for the Ashes in 1961.

 

4.  Starting off as a batsman

McKenzie was initially a batsman and had played for Western Australia in his maiden season as an all-rounder. Not only that, but he used to bowl off-spin is his days before First-Class cricket. He only took to pace bowling seriously when Ken Meuleman, his Western Australia skipper, asked him to focus on that trade.

 

5.  Five wickets on Test debut and a gritty knock

McKenzie made his Test debut against England at Lord’s in 1961 during the second Ashes Test. It was a memorable debut as his gritty 34 at No. 10 in the first innings helped Australia put up a strong lead. In the second innings, he recorded figures of five for 37 to bowl England out for 202, leaving Australia with a target of only 69.

 

6.  Success in India

McKenzie announced his arrival in India in the very first Test he played in 1964, when he took 10 wickets in the match to help Australia win. His overall record against India is impressive: 34 wickets in eight matches at an average of 19.26. He is one of the six visiting fast bowlers who have managed to take three fifers and one 10-wicket match-haul in India. The other bowlers who managed the same are Sikandar Bakht, Fazal Mahmood, Ian Botham, John Lever and Andy Roberts.

 

7.  Dropped after a stellar performance

In the 1967-68 Melbourne Test against India, McKenzie wreaked havoc. He reduced India to 25 for five, as he captured all the five wickets. McKenzie ended the innings with seven for 66 and then took three for 85 in the second innings. But the Test is equally remembered for Tiger Pataudi’s knocks of 75 and 85 with just one eye and one leg — among the most iconic knocks in adversity in Test history.

 

8.  Falling short of the Australia bowling record

McKenzie had a rough patch when Australia toured South Africa in 1969 as he managed a solitary wicket in three Tests. He figured in the Ashes 1970-71, but never played again. He had 246 wickets, which made his the second-highest wicket-taker for Australia in Test cricket at the time — just two wickets behind Richie Benaud, then highest wicket-takerin Tests for Australia. McKenzie was thus the most successful pace bowler for Australia when he finished.

 

9.  World Series Cricket comeback

Following his international days, McKenzie dabbled in county cricket and played the Sheffield Shield until 1974. He finished playing county cricket for Leicestershire in 1975, but two years later, he returned when Kerry Packer created World Series Cricket. He played for Australia in the first year and then represented Cavaliers in the second.

 

10.  South African safari

McKenzie ended his illustrious cricket career in South Africa in 1979-1980 when he played two List A matches for Transvaal. In 1986, he played one match for the Australian rebel team touring South Africa. He picked up one wicket in the game against Griqualand West at Kimberly.

 

11.  Professions outside of cricket

During his playing days, McKenzie was a registered Physical Education Instructor with the government. He is subsequently worked in the field of finance.

 

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Mumbai-based cricket journalist and one of the youngest to cover the three major cricketing events — ICC World Cup, World T20 and under-19 World Cup. He tweets as @nishad_45)

 

More from this writer:

Len Hutton: 10 facts to know about his record-breaking knock of 364

John Edrich: 13 facts about the gutsy opener

Allan Lamb: 12 facts about the South Africa-born England batsman

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