Tim MAY

Tim May, the off-spinning restauranter from Adelaide, spun the ball so hard he had to use horse linament to treat the open wound left on his spinning finger. He made his debut in Pakistan in 1987-88, taking 4-97 in his first Test. He played against the West Indies in Australia later that season, but was replaced by Peter Taylor after two matches. For the next few years the selectors preferred either Taylor or Greg Matthews, although May toured England in 1989 without playing a Test. May reappeared as a spinning partner for Shane Warne in Adelaide against the West indies in 1992-93, taking 5-9 in the second innings, then scored 42 not out in a last wicket partnership which took to within two runs of victory, only to see his partner Craig McDermott caught off Courtney Walsh and the match lost with victory only one stroke away.

Despite that destruction he was dropped for the next Test. In England in 1993, with Warne's successes changing attitudes to spinners Australia abandoned their third seamer and used off spin and leg spin in harness throughout the series. May was very effective on wearing second innings wickets, taking 4-81 at Lord's, 4-65 at Headingley, and 5-89 at Edgbaston, all matches which Australia won. He took 21 wickets in the series at an average of 28.19. Australia quickly lost confidence in the all-spin attack, despite his 5-65 against New Zealand in Hobart later that year. In three Tests against a 1994-95 England team he took only one wicket. May played in the World Cup winning team of 1987, although he only bowled four overs in the final. (Bob Harragan)