Rick Darling

Last updated

Rick Darling
Personal information
Full nameWarrick Maxwell Darling
Born (1957-05-01) 1 May 1957 (age 63)
Waikerie, South Australia
BattingRight-handed
RoleBatsman
Relations Joe Darling (great-uncle)
International information
National side
Test debut(cap  292)28 January 1978 v  India
Last Test3 November 1979 v  India
ODI debut(cap  41)22 February 1978 v  West Indies
Last ODI23 January 1982 v  West Indies
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1975/76–1985/86 South Australia
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches14189831
Runs scored6973635554758
Batting average 26.8021.3535.8327.07
100s/50s0/60/19/321/3
Top score9174134101*
Balls bowled32
Wickets 0
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 5/–6/–31/–8/–
Source: CricketArchive, 15 April 2010

Warrick Maxwell Darling (born 1 May 1957), known as Rick Darling, is a former Australian Test cricketer.

Contents

His tendency to play the cut and hook shots provided much entertainment, but also meant that he was inconsistent and error-prone. It has been said that the introduction of the batting helmet saved Darling's life several times, but also gave him extra confidence to play his favoured shots. Darling's early Test career was also characterised by his opening partnerships with Graeme Wood, the pair christened the "Kamikaze Kids" due to their often disastrous running between the wickets, which saw one of the pair dismissed run out in one innings of each of their four Tests together.

Early life

Darling is the great-nephew of Joe Darling, and learnt to play cricket at his family's home at Ramco on the Murray River. He started playing for the Salisbury Cricket Club in the Adelaide district competition in 1970–71.

He was picked for South Australia Colts in 1974–75, scoring 67 against Victoria, [1] 105 against Victoria, [2] 48 against the West Indies [3] and 45 against WA. [4]

1975–76: First Class Debut

Darling started his first-class career in 1975–76 with South Australia. He made his debut against Queensland, batting at number 6, being run out for 5. [5] (Darling would later become notorious for being involved in run outs throughout his career.) He then made 26 and 48 against Victoria, helping South Australia win the game. [6] He scored 2 against the touring West Indians. [7] A second innings of 29 helped guide South Australia to victory against Western Australia. [8] He also made 2 and 32 against WA, [9] 1 and 41 against Victoria [10] and 12 against NSW. [11] South Australia won the Sheffield Shield that year.

1976–77

Darling's Sheffield Shield scores for the 1976–77 season were 2 and 14, [12] 0 and 25, [13] 3 and 64. [14] He made his initial first class century with 107 against Victoria. [15] Then made 1 and 39, [16] 22 and 4 [17] and 7. [18]

Darling made his one-day debut in the Gillette Cup quarter finals but only scored one. [19]

Test player

1977–78

Darling was given his chance in the Australian Test team through the defection of several players to World Series Cricket in 1977.

At the beginning of the 1977–78 season he was 12th man for South Australia against the Indian team. [20] He got back into the team and scored runs, playing particularly well against Western Australia, making 45 and 100. [21] [22]

He made 101 against Tasmania in a one-day game, which saw him come into discussions about possibly opening for Australia. [23] [24] His other knocks were 0 and 43 against Victoria [25] and 39 and 15 against WA. [26]

Australia had struggled to find a consistent opening partner during the first four tests. Darling was selected for the fifth test and subsequent tour of the West Indies. Also selected was Graeme Wood and it was thought these two could make an ideal combination, although Wood was only 21 and Darling just 20. [27] [28]

Test debut

Australia's gamble on Wood and Darling made dividends with the two of them putting on 89 for the first wicket, Australia's best opening partnership of the series. Darling made 65. [29] He followed his up with 56 in the second innings, helping Australia win the game. [30] [31]

West Indies tour

Darling began the West Indies tour well, scoring 26 and 35 against Leeward Islands [32] then 105 and 43 against Trinidad and Tobago. [33] [34]

He missed the first test due to injury, [35] but recovered and made 62 against Barbados. [36] [37]

He made 8 in the first ODI [38] but 21 in the second. [39]

Darling was picked for the second test but failed twice, making 4 and 8. [40] A knock of 123 against Guyana restored his confidence [41] [42] but he failed twice again in the third test, making 15 and 0. [43] [44]

Darling made 12 and 36 against the Windward Islands (doubling as wicketkeeper) [45] and failed again in the fourth test, making 10 and 6. [46] [47] According to one report "Darling has developed an unfortunate habit of committing himself to the front foot, always looking to work the ball on the leg side. Yesterday he was bowled when he moved too far inside the line to glance and left his leg stump exposed." [48]

Darling had made 43 runs in six test innings. He was dropped from the team for the fifth test, being replaced by David Ogilvie. Bob Simpson said he would have preferred a specialist opener "but we couldn't really persevere with Rick." [49] Australia came close to winning the game before the crowd rioted and the match ended in a draw.

Darling did finish the tour however with 75 against Bermuda Counties. [50] [51] However it had been a disappointing tour for Darling, who now found his position in the Australian side in doubt.

1978–79 Ashes

Darling began the 1978–79 season failing twice for South Australia against the touring English team, making 17 and 1. [52] [53] He then made 39 against Tasmania. [54]

He was omitted for the first test side with Australia using Wood and Gary Cosier as openers. They failed to put on a strong opening stand and when Darling scored 85 and 82 against NSW [55] he was recalled for the second test, with Cosier dropped down the order. [56] [57] "

"I'm happy that we now have two experienced opening batsmen in Wood and Rick Darling, and I am confident that they will be able to give us a sound start,"" said captain Graham Yallop. [58]

This did not turn out to be the case with Darling only scoring 25 (run out) and 5. [59] He made 19 and 41 for South Australia against England. [60]

Darling and Wood put on two 50-plus opening stands in the third test, helping Australia to a rare victory. Darling made 33 (run out) and 21. [61] [62] [63]

Darling's finest Test innings was 91 against England at Sydney in the 4th Test. [64] He helped Australia to a first innings lead but they collapsed in the second innings (Darling made 13; it was Wood's turn to be run out) and lost badly. [65] [66]

Darling was injured in a fielding mishap. "I just could not hold a bat", he said. "Frankly I don't think I'll be able to play again for at least a week". [67] This saw him omitted for a one-day match against England (he was replaced by Andrew Hilditch). However he kept his place for the fifth test. [68]

It was the next match for which Darling is perhaps most famous though, as he was struck on the chest by a delivery that lifted viciously from fast bowler Bob Willis. The blow caused Darling's chewing gum to become lodged in his throat, and he collapsed on the pitch, not breathing. English spinner John Emburey was first on the scene, and thumped Darling on the chest, allowing him to breathe again. Umpire Max O'Connell then provided mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and Darling was taken off the field: [69]

"All I can remember is, Bob Willis had this big inswinging, in-dipping action", Darling says. "The ball was pitched well outside off stump was the last thing I remember. Once it swung in, it also cut in further. I was caught in no man's land. I was sort of caught out of position, and hit in the chest. Unfortunately, at the time, I was chewing a chewy, and I swallowed my tongue and chewy as well. That caused me to black out." [70]

He returned to the crease the following day, but could only make 15 runs. Darling:

I knew the Englishmen would test me out as soon as I walked out. Ian Botham. Bob Willis. I remember facing Ian Botham when I went out there, and he did test me out. Fortunately enough I did hook him for a six, but I must admit it was more of a top edge. Adelaide Oval had quite short square boundaries, and it managed to clear them for a six. Of course he tested me out a few more times. [70]

Darling made 9 in the second innings and Australia fell to a crushing 205-run loss, which allowed England to retain The Ashes. [71] [72]

English captain Mike Brearley attributed his team's success to its ability to get through the Australian batting order. "The biggest problem is to break the opening pair. Rick Darling and Graeme Wood", he said. "At times they have played very well, but we have found that once we can get one of them cheaply we have been able to dismiss numbers three, four and five with the new ball." [73]

Darling was dropped for the sixth test in favour of Hilditch. [74] He kept his place in the one day side but performed poorly. [75] [76]

He made 36 against NSW, [77] 17 and 22 against Queensland., [78] and 1 and 34 against WA. [79]

Pakistan Series

He was recalled to the Australian side for the second test against Pakistan, replacing Graeme Wood. "Darling has been unlucky throughout the series", said Yallop. [80] Darling responded with 79 for South Australia against Pakistan. [81] [82]

Darling had an excellent return to the test side, fielding brilliantly and scoring 75 in the first innings, putting on 96 with Hilditch. [83] [84] A similar knock of 79 in the second innings helped Australia win and Darling won the man of the match award. [85]

It was reported that World Series Cricket officials had offered Darling a contract for the upcoming 1979/80 WSC season (which did not eventuate). [86] Darling had been unemployed for six months but went to work for Hindmarsh Building Society, sponsors of the South Australian side. [87]

Career batting graph for Rick Darling Rick Darling Batting.png
Career batting graph for Rick Darling

Darling was described as one of the most nervous first-class cricketers, often biting his fingernails before he went out to bat.

1979 World Cup

Darling was selected to play for Australia in the 1979 World Cup. He made 60 in a warm up game against New Zealand [88] but failed to impress in the official games, with scores of 25 (against England [89] ), 13 (against Pakistan [90] ) and 13 (against Canada [91] ).

1979 India tour

Darling was selected for Australia's tour of India in 1979. [92] He fell ill with a stomach ailment early in the tour. [93] Then later he was hit in the face while fielding, meaning he only batted once in the lead up games, making 34 against North Zone. [94] [95] Eventually Darling was ruled unfit and Wood took his place. [96]

Darling returned to the team for the second test, replacing Dav Whatmore but was dismissed cheaply for 7 in the first innings, and did not bat in the second innings due to illness. [97] [98]

82 in a tour game against Central Zone restored his confidence. [99] [100] In the third test he was injured again while fielding. [101] Darling batted down the order and scored a fighting 59. [102] He opened in the second innings and scored only 4. [103]

According to a contemporary report, "In a team of complex characters, Darling is perhaps the most complex. He is a tremendously talented batsman dragged back by acute nervousness. Sometimes he gets so worked up thinking about batting that he has to run off the field and be physically ill in the dressing room. Darling's problem has always been with him. It is the main reason why he has been made into an opener, when his technique and attacking flair make him more suited to a position down the order." [104]

Darling made 27 and 3 against West Zone [105] and was dismissed cheaply twice in the fourth test, 19 and 7. [106] He was dropped down the order for the fifth and sixth tests. In the fifth he made 39 and 7; [107] in the 6th it was 16 and 0. [108]

In the final Test, Darling was hit on the head attempting a hook shot from a Kapil Dev bouncer, and was carried off the field and forced to retire hurt with no score to his name. [109] His head split open, Darling was taken to hospital, where, according to Bob Merriman, the doctors refused to stitch him up until he signed an autograph for them. (Darling later said this was untrue.) [70]

Post-WSC career

1979–80

Darling began the 1979–80 season superbly with 88 against the West Indies for South Australia. [110] [111]

"I can see that if I want to get back in the Test side I will have to concentrate on opening because there seems to be plenty of middle-order batsmen", he said. [112] However, when picked to play against the West Indies for a Tasmanian Invitational XI he made 1; then when he asked to bat down the order he was dismissed for 15. [113] [114] Against NSW he made 42 and 10 [115] then impressed against England with 45 and 75 not out [116] and 50 against WA. [117]

Darling was unable to force his way back into the test team but was selected to play for Australia in the one day side. [118] He made 20. [119] [120]

He followed this with 134 against Queensland in a Sheffield Shield game, his fifth first class century. [121] [122] He was injured while fielding later in the season. [123]

1980–81

Darling began the next summer well with 81 against Tasmania. [124] [125] He suffered more injury problems hurting his thigh in a game against Western Australia. [126] Highlights of the summer included 61 against India, [127] 65 against Victoria [128] and 50, [129] plus 51 in a McDonald's Cup semi final. [130]

1981–82: Return to the national side

Darling had an excellent season in 1981–82. He made 72 against NSW [131] [132] and 88 against the West Indies. [133] [134] When Graham Yallop fell injured, Darling was recalled to the Australian one day team. [135] [136] He made 41 against Pakistan, featuring in another run out with Graeme Wood, but being Australia's second top scorer. [137] [138]

Later innings included 5 against the West Indies, [139] 35 against Pakistan (where Darling was run out again) [140] [141] and 74 against Pakistan (Australia's top score, Darling run out again, Pakistan won). [142] [143] He had a run of low scores – 7 against the West Indies, [144] 5 (run out) against Pakistan [145] and 20 against the West Indies. [146] He made 132 and 58 not out for South Australia against Pakistan. [147] [148] However he was dropped from the one day team. [149]

Darling made 134 against Victoria [150] [151] which saw him back in the one day team. "Darling is chancy with the bat but the selectors are banking on his coming good in their moment of need", wrote the Canberra Times. "He now has 659 runs in first-class cricket this season and brings the bonus of brilliant cover fielding." [152]

He made a useful 34 against the West Indies, helping Australia to a victory. [153] [154] He made 14 in the next game [155] [156] then was dropped again from the squad in favour of David Hookes. [157] He and Hookes were placed on standby for the Australian team for the Test in Adelaide against West Indies in case Greg Chappell and Kim Hughes were unable to field. [158]

Other notable innings that year included 88 and 52 against Tasmania, [159] and 121 against West Australia. [160] He also made a half century in the McDonald's Cup semi final. [161] South Australia won the Sheffield Shield at the end of the season. Darling's batting was a crucial part of the state's success. [162] His omission from the 1982 tour of Pakistan surprised several observers.

1982–83: Serious injury

Darling took some time to get going form-wise at the start of the 1982–83 season. He was beginning to find form with 98 against NSW. [163] His next match was against Queensland; Darling was 17 when he was hit on the face by a delivery from John Maguire. He suffered bleeding in the eye and lacerations and had to spend several days in hospital. [164] [165] [166] He returned to the team two months later. [167] He played one game, making 15 and 4, [168] then declared himself unavailable due to personal commitments. [169] Darling later recalled:

The one that finished my career was when I got hit in my eye by John Maguire from Queensland...He got one to really rear up, and I got back to hook and it went between the visor and the top part of the helmet and smashed in my eye. That finished me. After that, I didn't want to be there. I thought of other things I wanted to do in life. Even though I continued playing on in Shield for two or three years, I just didn't want to be there. [70]

1983–84 and later seasons

During the 1983–84 summer he returned to the South Australian side, batting down the order. [170] He scored 58 against Pakistan [171] [172] but in his next game he clashed with South Australian captain David Hookes who wanted Darling to open in the absence of Wayne Phillips, but Darling wanted to bat down the order. Hookes responded by making Darling come in at number eight. [173] [174] Darling withdrew for the rest of the season as a result. [175]

Darling returned for the 1984/85 season, claiming the dispute had been settled. He scored 100 in a state trial game but was omitted from the initial state squad. [176] He managed to force his way back into the side for several games that summer, making 113 runs at 37 with a highest score of 58. [177]

In 1985–86 Darling scored a century against the touring Indians. [178] [179] It was his best innings of the season, in which Darling made 350 runs at an average of 31. Another highlight was 97 against NSW [180] and 60 against NSW. [181]

Summary

Overall, he played 98 first-class games, finishing with a batting average of 35.83. Darling was renowned for being one of the country's best cover fieldsmen of his time.

In 2014 he recalled that he was injured several times:

Probably the ones that hit me in the head later on in my career were a lot more detrimental than the one that hit me in the chest. The fact that it has caused long-term effects – I was probably hit badly in the head three or four times in my career. To the point where it has now caused what they call post-traumatic epilepsy. It's not a full-blown epilepsy attack, but more of a dizzy spell, sort of a blackout type. Only in the last 12 months has this been identified. Medication has fixed it up. [70]

Retirement

In 2014 Darling was working as a gardener at a retirement home. [70]

Trivia

Footnotes

  1. ^ Alan McGilvray (1978). "Alan McGilvray's Australian Selection". ABC Cricket Book - England Tour of Australia 1978–79. Sydney, Australia: Australian Broadcasting Commission. p. 21. ISBN   0-642-97244-3.
  2. ^ "The Ashes, 1978–79, 5th Test scorecard". Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 January 2006.
  3. ^ Partab Ramchand (26 February 2001). "India one up at the Wankhede stadium". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2 January 2006.
  4. ^ "Shake those Pompoms!". The Sports Factor. ABC Radio National. 8 October 2004. Retrieved 2 January 2006.
  5. ^ "Whalley Cricket Club" . Retrieved 2 January 2006.

Related Research Articles

Trevor Martin Chappell is a former Australian cricketer, a member of the South Australian Chappell family which excelled at cricket. He played 3 tests and 20 One Day Internationals for Australia. He won the Sheffield Shield with New South Wales twice, and scored a century for Australia against India in the 1983 World Cup. His career was overshadowed, however, by an incident in 1981 in which he bowled an underarm delivery to New Zealand cricketer Brian McKechnie to stop the batsman from hitting a six.

Raymond James Bright is a former Australian Test and One Day International cricketer from Victoria. He was a left arm spin bowler and lower order batsman who captained Victoria for a number of seasons. He was also an Australian vice-captain.

Rodney Malcolm Hogg is a former Victorian, South Australian and Australian cricketer. He was a fast bowler. Hogg played in 38 Test matches and 71 One Day Internationals between 1978 and 1985. In Tests he took 123 wickets at an average of 28.47. He is best remembered for taking 41 wickets in his first six tests during the 1978–79 Ashes.

Bruce Yardley was an Australian cricketer who played in 33 Test matches and seven One Day Internationals between 1978 and 1983, taking 126 Test wickets.

Gregory Michael Ritchie is a former Australian cricketer who played in 30 Tests and 44 ODIs from 1982 to 1987.

Stephen John Rixon is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer. He played in 13 Tests and 6 One Day Internationals between 1977 and 1985. He is currently the fielding coach of the Sri Lanka national cricket team.

Robert George Holland was a New South Wales and Australian cricketer. He was, because of his surname, nicknamed "Dutchy".

Geoffrey Dymock is a former Australian international cricketer. He played in 21 Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals between 1974 and 1980. On his debut, he took five wickets in the second innings against New Zealand in Adelaide in 1974. He was the third bowler to dismiss all eleven opposition players in a Test match, and remains one of only six bowlers to have achieved this.

Gary John Gilmour was an Australian cricketer who played in 15 Tests and 5 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1973 and 1977.

Alan Fairfax Australian cricketer

Alan Geoffrey Fairfax was an Australian cricketer who played in ten Tests from 1929 to 1931. He was an all rounder.

John Russell Watkins, is a former Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1973.

John Bryant "Sam" Gannon is a former Australian cricketer who played in three Test matches during the 1977/78 season.

Tom George Hogan is a former Australian cricketer.

Robert "Robbie" Byers Kerr is an Australian former cricketer who played in 2 Tests and 4 ODIs in 1985. He represented Queensland in four Sheffield Shield finals.

Glenn Samuel Trimble is a former cricketer who represented Australia and Queensland. A batsman who preferred to play straight, and a part-time medium pace bowler, Trimble was a regular member of the Queensland side in the mid-1980s, and won an Esso Scholarship in 1986, playing with the Essex County Cricket Club Second XI in England.

Kevin John Wright is an Australian former Test cricketer.

Peter Ian Faulkner is an Australian former first-class cricketer who played for Tasmania. An allrounder, he took over 100 wickets and made over 2000 runs in his first-class career. He never played for Australia although he toured South Africa in 1985/86 and 1986/87 with the rebel Australian XI and he was selected in an Australian one day squad during the 1984-85 summer, and toured Zimbabwe with an Australian Under 25 side.

An Australian national cricket team captained by Ian Craig toured New Zealand between February and April 1957. They played 12 matches, seven of which were first-class, including three matches against New Zealand, but these were not granted Test status. The Australians won one and drew two of the international matches, and won the other four first-class matches.

Raymond Berry Phillips is an Australian cricketer who was born and raised in New South Wales and originally represented that state, but moved to Queensland in 1979 and played for that state for many years. He was selected for the 1985 Ashes squad but did not appear in any of the Test matches on the tour.

The 1980–81 Sheffield Shield season was the 79th season of the Sheffield Shield, the domestic first-class cricket competition in Australia. It started on 17 October 1980 and finished on 9 March 1981. Going into the final round of matches, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland were all in a position to win the Shield. It would be Western Australia, who found form in the second half of the season with four straight victories, who would emerge victorious, drawing against Queensland to secure its eighth championship.

References

  1. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/131/131771.html
  2. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/131/131773.html
  3. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/140/140056.html
  4. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/132/132925.html
  5. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/35/35701.html
  6. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/35/35747.html
  7. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/35/35778.html
  8. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/35/35834.html
  9. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/35/35895.html
  10. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/35/35902.html
  11. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/35/35913.html
  12. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36622.html
  13. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36641.html
  14. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36655.html
  15. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36663.html
  16. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36763.html
  17. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36822.html
  18. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36854.html
  19. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/36/36684.html
  20. "SA batsmen told to 'buckle down'". The Canberra Times . 11 November 1977. p. 16. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  21. "South Aust confident of first win in Shield". The Canberra Times . 31 December 1977. p. 22. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  22. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/37/37636.html
  23. "TASMANIA UPSETS SOUTH AUSTRALIA". The Canberra Times . 16 January 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  24. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/37/37778.html
  25. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/37/37663.html
  26. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/37/37727.html
  27. "'Baptism of fire' for Darling, Wood". The Canberra Times . 24 January 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  28. "Callen ser for fifth Test". The Canberra Times . 27 January 1978. p. 27. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  29. "Newcomers lift Australia". The Canberra Times . 30 January 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  30. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  31. "Bedi critical of umpiring Australia takes 339-run lead in Test". The Canberra Times . 31 January 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  32. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  33. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  34. "Middle-order batsmen give Simpson concern". The Canberra Times . 28 February 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  35. "SPORTS SECTION". The Canberra Times . 4 March 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  36. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  37. "Simpson's nostalgic century". The Canberra Times . 15 March 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  38. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  39. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  40. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  41. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  42. "Australian batsmen find form". The Canberra Times . 27 March 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  43. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  44. "Australia wins third Test". The Canberra Times . 6 April 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  45. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  46. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  47. "Holder swings Test to West Indies". The Canberra Times . 18 April 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  48. "Batting was 'worst of the tour'". The Canberra Times . 20 April 1978. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  49. "Foster back in W. Indies Test team". The Canberra Times . 28 April 1978. p. 25. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  50. "SPORT IN BRIEF Moffat out to May 28". The Canberra Times . 15 May 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  51. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  52. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38611.html
  53. "McDiarmid out of Quenbeyan team". The Canberra Times . 18 November 1978. p. 44. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  54. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38643.html
  55. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38665.html
  56. "HOURN FINDS FORM NSW set for win against S. Australia". The Canberra Times . 28 November 1978. p. 22. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  57. "Dymock, Darling in, Higgs, Laughlin out". The Canberra Times . 7 December 1978. p. 44. Retrieved 31 October 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  58. "WILLIS, OLD HURT England hobbling on Test eve". The Canberra Times . 15 December 1978. p. 24. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  59. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  60. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38744.html
  61. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  62. "Rash shots give English a hope". The Canberra Times . 2 January 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  63. "Australia has 103-run margin". The Canberra Times . 4 January 1979. p. 22. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  64. "Australian batsmen labour mightily on the Sabbath day". The Canberra Times . 8 January 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  65. "England retains Ashes". The Canberra Times . 12 January 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  66. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  67. "Rick Darling out Blewett in doubt". The Canberra Times . 19 January 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  68. "HILDITCH IN FOR HURT DARLING". The Canberra Times . 23 January 1979. p. 18. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  69. "FIFTH CRICKET TEST Australian hopes badly shattered". The Canberra Times . 28 January 1979. p. 24. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  70. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sidharth Monga, "Rick Darling: bouncer magnet", Cricinfo 14 December 2014 accessed 15 December 2014
  71. "England 87 runs on, wants more". The Canberra Times . 29 January 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  72. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  73. "England has upper hand: Brearley". The Canberra Times . 31 January 1979. p. 32. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  74. "HILDITCH GAPPED". The Canberra Times . 3 February 1979. p. 44. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  75. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  76. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  77. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38899.html
  78. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38915.html
  79. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38939.html
  80. "Four dropped from Australia's team". The Canberra Times . 17 March 1979. p. 41. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  81. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/38/38966.html
  82. "S. Australia leads the Pakistanis". The Canberra Times . 20 March 1979. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  83. "TEST CRICKET". The Canberra Times . 25 March 1979. p. 25. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  84. "Australian bats in best opening stand of season". The Canberra Times . 26 March 1979. p. 12. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  85. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  86. Australian Cricket, "People...", March 1979, p. 5.
  87. "Imran Khan 'threat' to NSW batsmen". The Canberra Times . 1 March 1979. p. 1 Section: SPORTS SECTION. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  88. "Australians defeat NZ by 153 runs in trial". The Canberra Times . 4 June 1979. p. 17. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  89. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  90. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  91. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  92. "Wood back for tour of India". The Canberra Times . 19 July 1979. p. 30. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  93. "Two Australian cricketers down with illness but practice 'best yet'". The Canberra Times . 28 August 1979. p. 20. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  94. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  95. "OVERSEAS SPORT CRICKET Test worry". The Canberra Times . 10 September 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  96. "Australia on top in Test". The Canberra Times . 12 September 1979. p. 36. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  97. "CRICKET Australia trails India as Test drawn". The Canberra Times . 25 September 1979. p. 20. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  98. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  99. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  100. "CRICKET Australians lead Central Zone". The Canberra Times . 29 September 1979. p. 38. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  101. "Hogg bounces back with late wickets". The Canberra Times . 3 October 1979. p. 36. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  102. "CRICKET Darling defies India, Australia on top". The Canberra Times . 5 October 1979. p. 18. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  103. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  104. "CRICKET Lower-order form of Darling bonus". The Canberra Times . 6 October 1979. p. 42. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  105. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  106. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  107. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  108. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  109. "India takes sixth Test by an innings". The Canberra Times . 8 November 1979. p. 36. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  110. "W. Indies none for 27. SA 202". The Canberra Times . 17 November 1979. p. 42. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  111. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/39/39759.html
  112. "Lloyd to test injured back". The Canberra Times . 23 November 1979. p. 18. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  113. "Injured knee worry for Lloyd". The Canberra Times . 26 November 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  114. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  115. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/39/39789.html
  116. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/39/39801.html
  117. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/39/39855.html
  118. "Richards spearheads W. Indies' easy win". The Canberra Times . 10 December 1979. p. 18. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  119. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  120. "CRICKET England humbles Australia". The Canberra Times . 12 December 1979. p. 56. Retrieved 8 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  121. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/39/39957.html
  122. "Outright win to Qld with day to spare". The Canberra Times . 18 February 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  123. "CRICKET Qld collapses, SA poised to win". The Canberra Times . 3 March 1980. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  124. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/40/40689.html
  125. "SHEFFIELD SHIELD CRICKET". The Canberra Times . 25 October 1980. p. 45. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  126. "Darling doubtful". The Canberra Times . 8 January 1981. p. 22. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  127. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/40/40763.html
  128. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/40/40868.html
  129. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/40/40991.html
  130. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/40/40959.html
  131. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/41/41770.html
  132. "CRICKET South Australia has something to 'Crowe'about". The Canberra Times . 7 November 1981. p. 46. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  133. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/41/41788.html
  134. "South Australia crashes". The Canberra Times . 17 November 1981. p. 22. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  135. "Australia trains confidently for Melbourne". The Canberra Times . 21 November 1981. p. 44. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  136. "Large crowd expected at MCG game". The Canberra Times . 22 November 1981. p. 27. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  137. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  138. "CRICKET Visitors take revenge for first Test loss". The Canberra Times . 23 November 1981. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  139. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  140. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  141. "CRICKET Easy win for Australian in bad-tempered game". The Canberra Times . 7 December 1981. p. 16. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  142. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  143. "CRICKET Pakistan wins in a canter". The Canberra Times . 18 December 1981. p. 20. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  144. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  145. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  146. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  147. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/41/41883.html
  148. "Darling and Phillips defy Pakistan attack". The Canberra Times . 28 December 1981. p. 18. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  149. "CRICKET Australian one-day fortunes bleak". The Canberra Times . 12 January 1982. p. 16. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  150. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/41/41950.html
  151. "Victoria chases 364". The Canberra Times . 18 January 1982. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  152. "CRICKET Win or nothing for Australians". The Canberra Times . 19 January 1982. p. 18. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  153. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  154. "CRICKET Rain helps Australia into Cups finals". The Canberra Times . 20 January 1982. p. 30. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  155. "CRICKET Big win for W. Indies". The Canberra Times . 24 January 1982. p. 15. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  156. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  157. "CRICKET W.Indies piles on the agony". The Canberra Times . 25 January 1982. p. 14. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  158. "CRICKET Australia launches fightback in Test". The Canberra Times . 31 January 1982. p. 17. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  159. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/42/42041.html
  160. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/42/42073.html
  161. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/40/40971.html
  162. "CRICKET Shield earned by South Australia". The Canberra Times . 2 March 1982. p. 16. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  163. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/42/42956.html
  164. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/42/42996.html
  165. "Darling hit, hospitalised". The Canberra Times . 28 November 1982. p. 25. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  166. "Darling, Hilditch and Sleep return for SA". The Canberra Times . 23 December 1982. p. 22. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  167. "South Australia favourite to win". The Canberra Times . 18 February 1983. p. 24. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  168. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/43/43274.html
  169. "Darling ruled out for SA". The Canberra Times . 25 February 1983. p. 24. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  170. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/44/44119.html
  171. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/44/44138.html
  172. "SA in strong position". The Canberra Times . 29 October 1983. p. 50. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  173. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/44/44182.html
  174. "Victoria and SA fade to drawn match". The Canberra Times . 29 November 1983. p. 24. Retrieved 15 December 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  175. "CRICKET Sarfraz arrives with pledge to scare batsmen". The Canberra Times . 1 December 1983. p. 32. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  176. "CRICKET Big summer ahead". The Canberra Times . 10 October 1984. p. 40. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  177. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/45/45421.html
  178. "TOUR MATCH India's spinners prove expensive". The Canberra Times . 2 December 1985. p. 20. Retrieved 9 December 2015 via National Library of Australia.
  179. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/46/46657.html
  180. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/46/46688.html
  181. https://cricketarchive.com/SouthAustralia/Scorecards/46/46702.html