RIP Ian Redpath, the 'Gandhi' among self-less team men

For a cricket-crazy schoolboy growing up during the 1970s, choosing the top side during this decade was relatively easy. Only a few Test matches were being played, and limited overs cricket was a poor cousin compared to the more popular longer version. Hence, comparisons of teams' strengths were easy as there were not many avenues for disagreements and arguments. The general consensus of followers of the game during this period was that Australia was the top side during the first half of this decade, while the West Indians usurped this position from the middle of 1976 onwards.

The strength of both these sides was the presence of a set of fast bowlers who could terrorise the batters by the sheer pace at which they delivered the cricket ball. While Australia had the duo of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in their ranks, West Indies went one up and chose to have as many as four speeders in their playing eleven. But the success of these sides was not dependent on these bowlers alone; they also had a dependable set of batters who put enough runs on the board to help the side win matches.

Both these sides had some outstanding batters in their ranks who always ensured enough runs on the board to allow the bowlers to dismiss the opposing sides twice within the allotted time. Though there were superstars with the willow who invariably hogged the limelight, these teams also had solid batters in their ranks who stood like a rock in crises and invariably came good at such junctures. Two names come to mind when one thinks of batters who bailed out the Australian team of the early 1970s in times of trouble - Doug Walters and Ian Redpath. While Walters was an entertainer who used twinkle-toed footwork and pranks on the field to become a popular icon, Redpath was more of the strong, solid type who preferred to let his bat do the talking.

Born in 1941, Redpath was one of the last full-fledged amateurs to grace Australian cricket. He was good at cricket and Australian rules football and represented Victoria in both these disciplines. He refused to accept payment even from the Australian Cricket Board for fear that it might invite him into trouble with the Victoria Amateur Football Association (VAFA), which had stringent norms in this regard. When he became a regular in the Test squad and had to tour with the national side, he was forced to accept payment from the cricket board, which led to VAFA disqualifying him from playing in their league!

Redpath made his entry into international cricket in the second Test of the series against South Africa in January 1964. He and Bill Lawry were involved in an opening partnership of 219 runs. While Lawry went on to score a century, Redpath was unlucky to miss out on the coveted three-figure mark by 3 runs. He had to wait another five years before reaching his maiden Test hundred, which he did against the West Indies in 1969. He showed his versatility by batting in the middle order when required by the side, which proved his utility through a Test hundred that eluded him for a long time.

Like good wine, Redpath improved with age, and his best performance came against the West Indies in 1975-76, which proved to be his last outing with the national side. He struck three centuries in this six-Test series against a pace attack led by Andy Roberts and Michael Holding. He was at his best in the last two games, when he made two hundreds and two fifties, thus signing off on a high. He decided to quit at this juncture because the remuneration from cricket was not good enough, and he wanted to focus on his antique business, which helped him earn a decent livelihood.

But when Kerry Packer started the World Series Cricket in 1977, Redpath was recruited to play in this championship. He had some initial misgivings but finally joined his former colleagues and contributed substantially in the “Super Tests”. Though an injury bogged him down in the first season, he displayed that he possessed the technical skills to tackle the thunderbolts sent down by the West Indian quicks even in the twilight of his career. His last match was in March 1979, against WSC World XI, and he did not play first-class cricket once the curtains came down on this championship.

Redpath toured India twice (in 1964 and 1969) and also played in the home series of 1967-68. He was comfortable against the spin bowlers and played a huge role in Australia, winning the final Test of the series. He played at Chennai in December 1969. In the first innings, he and Walters were involved in a 102-run partnership for the sixth wicket after the team was floundering at 82 for 5. After Australia secured a 95-run lead in the first knock, off-spinner Erapalli Prasanna ran through their top order and pushed them to the ropes. With the scoreboard showing 6 wickets down for a mere 24 runs, Prasanna lured Redpath out of the crease with a beautifully flighted delivery, which deceived the batter who was stranded way outside his crease, but wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer missed an easy stumping. Redpath made the most of this lapse and held his side together with a knock of 63 runs, which helped Australia to reach a total of 153. The importance of Redpath’s innings can be gauged from the fact that the visitors managed to triumph over the hosts by a margin of only 77 runs. Redpath took the Test away from India with his resolute batting.

Though he was not one to play for records, Redpath owns a unique one as the only Aussie opener to carry his bat during an innings in test cricket. He achieved this in the last Test of the series against New Zealand, played at Auckland in March 1974. Australia lost the second Test of the series and badly needed to win the last game before going back home with their heads held high. Redpath ensured this by scoring an unbeaten 159 out of an Australian total of 346, which paved the way for his side’s 297-run victory.

Another interesting titbit about Redpath was that he did not hit a “sixer” till his 65th Test and finished his career with only two hits that cleared the ground! This may sound astounding for the younger followers of the game brought up on a diet of limited-overs’ cricket, which are used to seeing bowlers getting carted over the ropes regularly. This also shows the dour nature of his

batting and a reluctance to gift his wicket by playing the ball in the air.

Both Ian Chappell and his brother Greg, who led Australia during the first half of the 1970s, held Redpath in very high regard. In a glowing obituary, the elder Chappell hailed him as a great team man who was always willing to sacrifice his comforts for the side's sake. Greg had written that it was his good fortune that Redpath was at the other end when he debuted in Test cricket and learnt a lot by watching his senior partner in action. Almost all the players he played with and against swear that he was technically accomplished and a very gritty and tenacious batter who placed a high price on his wicket.

It may be of interest to the fans of the game in India that Redpath was initially nicknamed by his teammates as “Gandhi” due to his quiet demeanour and long neck. However, this was subsequently changed to “Redders” during the tour of Australia to India in 1964-65 so as not to affect the sentiments of the fans in the host country!

Rest in peace Ian Redpath. The world of cricket will be poorer by your absence.