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The 1985 Ashes series was still in the balance when Kent swing bowler
Richard Ellison was drafted into the England side for the last two Test
matches. It was still in the balance midway through the first day of the
Edgbaston Test, with Australia at 189 for two and Wessels and Border
well entrenched. Ellison then came on and scythed through the Aussie
batting, ending with 6-77. He administered the coup de grace when
Australia went back to the crease late on the fourth day 260 behind.
With four wickets for 1 run in 15 balls he left them staggering on 37
for five and on the last day they went down to an innings defeat,
Ellison's final figures 4-27.
It was a similar story at the Oval, where
he had 2-35 and 5-46. He topped the England bowling averages with 17
wickets at an average of 10.88. In West Indies early in 1986 he had 5-78
at Kingston, Jamaica, but played only two more Tests in that series. He
played once against India at home that year, but lost form and his
place. He was injured throughout 1987 and never got his Test place back.
In 1989-90 he joined the unofficial England tour of South Africa,
taking the wickets of Jimmy Cook, Brian McMillan, Ray Jennings and Kent
teammate Roy Pienaar in the unofficial Test. Ellison was an aggressive
left-handed batsman who played notable innings for Kent in two cup
finals, but had little chance to make a contribution in his few Test
matches. He played for Tasmania in a 1986-87 season and his brother
Chris was a Cambridge blue. (Bob Harragan)
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