Michael Bevan made his Test debut against Pakistan in Karachi on 28th
September 1994, compiling 82 runs against a bowling attack comprising
Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed. In doing so he helped guide
Australia's first innings from 4/95 to 6/281 by the time he left the
crease. Australia ended up losing the match by 1 wicket but the young
debutant could be more than happy with his performance against such a
fine bowling attack.
Bevan's Test career highlight would have
to have been his match-winning performance in the 3rd Test against the
West Indies at the Adelaide Oval in January 1997. Bevan made 85 not out
in the 1st innings, wasn't required to bat in the 2nd and took
career-best bowling figures of 4/31 and 6/82 with his left-arm chinamen
deliveries. In fact, of the 15 Test matches in which he was asked to
bowl, he took wickets in 9 of them. And whilst Michael never made a Test
ton, his 6 Test 50's and 29 Test wickets always showed the potential of
an all-rounder in the making.
Bevan played a total of 18
Test matches for Australia; a loss of confidence to overcome
short-pitched bowling becoming the downfall of his Test career as it
ended with a string of low scores. His last 10 innings produced just 87
runs which was a sad end to a Test career that had promised great things
with scores of 82, 70 and 91 amongst his first four innings.
His
potential never realised in the longer version of the game, it was in
the 50 over form of the game where Michael Bevan's batting ability
surpassed expectation. His work ethic, patience and calmness to bat
Australia into match-winning situations earned him tremendous respect in
the cricketing world. 232 ODI matches, 6, 912 ODI runs at an average of
53.58 with a highest score of 108*, 6 tons and 46 fifties lay testimony
to this statement.
Anyone at the SCG on 1st January 1996
learned all about Michael Bevan's ODI batting prowess and strength of
character. From 7/74 chasing the West Indies total of 172, Bevan batted
Australia back into the match with tail-enders, Paul Reiffel, Shane
Warne and finally Glenn McGrath. From the last ball of the match, Bevan
hit Roger Harper straight down the ground to score the 4 runs required
for victory. This was not a one-off type performance.
There
was the 102* to bring Australia back from 6/82 to get over New Zealand's
245 run total on 29th January 2002 at the MCG and the 103 against South
Africa's total of 284 at Centurion Park on 10th April 1997 to guide
Australia from 3/58. Who could forget Bevan's 74* against England's 204
run total in the 2003 World Cup to get Australia over the line from
8/135 or his 56 to help get Australia up from 7/84 towards a
match-winning total of 208 against New Zealand in the same tournament.
Such was the quality of Australia's batting in the final that Michael
was not required as Gilchrist, Hayden, Ponting and Martyn ran riot to
set India an imposing target of 359 for victory. They fell 125 runs
short, meaning that Australia had successfully defended the World Cup
following their victory in England four years earlier, with Michael an
integral part of that side throughout the tournament.
Michael
Bevan certainly thrived in the ODI tight situations and always made it
his focus to stay at the crease until the end (he remained not out in 67
of his 196 ODI innings). From the moment he scored his first ODI fifty
in the 1994/95 series against Pakistan, Bevan's ODI batting average
never dropped below 50, an amazing achievement in any form of the game
let alone the cyclic tempo of the 50 over form.
And whilst he
was omitted from the Australian ODI squad in April 2004 to make way for
newcomers in preparation for the 2007 World Cup, Michael Bevan will
best be remembered for his ultimate finishing ability with the bat in
one-day internationals, to turn unwinnable situations to winnable.
(Edward Hannan)
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