Test Debut: Australia v England at Melbourne, 3rd Test, 1978/79
Last Test: Australia v South Africa at Durban, 3rd Test, 1993/94
Major Teams: Australia, Essex, Queensland, Gloucestershire, New South Wales
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1982
Born in 1955 in Cremome, Sydney, Allan Border is one of Australian cricket’s greatest players. A feisty competitor, he came into the national team during a difficult time, inherited the captaincy when the Australian side was struggling and proceeded to rebuild Australia into a force to be reckoned with. Allan retired from Test cricket in 1994.
His record is brilliant: 156 Tests, 11174 runs, an average above 50.56. The first two figures are world records, and only 24 players in the history of the game have averaged better. In 93 Tests as captain, he netted 32 wins. A strong and powerful leader, Allan thrived in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of Test cricket. In the shortened version of the game, he proved an innovative and successful captain. Allan’s mid-wicket fielding in one-day matches will long be remembered. As a batsman, he became renowned for his fighting qualities, often producing his greatest innings when his side’s back was to the wall. His slow orthodox left arm bowling was underrated, and perhaps under used, as in the right conditions he was capable of bothering the best batsman. In fact, he holds the record for the best Test match bowling analysis for an Australian captain.
Allan was an Australian selector for many years. Australian cricket owes a lot to Allan. Now an Australian selector, occasional coach of Australia A and the Australian U/19 team, and a cricket consultant to the ACB.
Allan is an Australian Cricket legend who is revered in his Australian homeland and throughout the world as one of the modern day greats.
Represented exclusively in conjunction with Austin Robertson