Greg Chappell elegance personified (part 1)
In a nutshell Greg Chappell is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He sits second to Donald Bradman as the greatest batsman Australia has ever produced.
Chappell scored a century in his first and last Test. He only needed a single Test innings to achieve the feat.
The great Australian player was a formidable talent and he had great self belief in himself, so he made the most out of his sheer talent. His iron will enabled him to score runs heavily against the top quality attacks of his era.
Australia has produced many great willowers, but Greg remains very special as his numbers as a player are outstanding. He was the first Australian to reach the 7000-run landmark. In his last Test innings, he surpassed Bradman as the top run-getter for Australia
and later on, he posted a marvellous century to end his career on a high note.
His measured approach, technical brilliance and sheer elegance to go along with his full array of stroke-play enabled him to score runs in all conditions and against all kinds of bowling attacks.
Watching the maestro bat was an absolute delight and a sight to watch on a cricketing field. Crowds in Australia paid money to watch their master batsmen displaying his all-round stroke play with remarkable brilliance.
In addition, he added more versatility to his all-round play as he took 119 wickets in international cricket. Furthermore, Chappell was an outstanding slip fielder as he held 122 catches, most of them in the slip region.
However, it was his batting skill for which he will be always remembered as one the greats. Apparently, it can be seen through his significant numbers in both forms of the game. Adding to it, he is one of the four players to score a century in his first
and last Test match, others to achieve this remarkable feat are, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Azharuddin-c76823, Reggie Duff, and, Bill Ponsford.
Chappell’s statistics in both forms of the game are phenomenal. Overall, in Test matches, the master batsman scored 7110 runs at an amazing average of 53.86 with a best of 247. In his tally of runs, he amassed 24 centuries and 31 half centuries.
In matches won, Greg was instrumental for Australia with the bat. Resultantly, he won 38 matches as a player, and racked up 3595 runs at a breathtaking average of 70 with a best of 204. In his hunt for runs, Chappell struck 14 centuries.
Away from home, he fared equally well and it was one of the reasons that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 did well in overseas Tests. Chappell played 32 matches and mustered 2595 runs at an average of almost 53. Out of his 24 Test centuries, eight were scored outside his home
country.
Amazingly, there have been many great batsmen to play for Australia at number 4, but Chappell remains the most successful at the two-down position. Playing at number 4, Chappell appeared in 54 matches, scoring 4316 runs at a brilliant average of 59.12 with
a best of 247. More importantly, he registered 15 centuries, batting at number four position.
In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Greg has considerable statistics as he racked up 2331 runs at a brilliant average of 40.18 with a best of 138 and 3 centuries. More importantly, in an era of defensive batting, Chappell has a brilliant strike rate of 75
runs per 100 balls.
Against every Test playing nation of his era, Chappell scored runs at an average of over 45. Compared to his high standards, his worst average was against England in the Ashes. He averaged 45.94 against the arch rivals and 40.80 in England. Chappell never
played a Test match in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, because in those days he appeared for a rebel league called Kerry Packer series.
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