CA sends best wishes to Holland family

Cricket Australia has passed on its best wishes to former Test leg-spinner Bob Holland and his wife, Carolyn, as the pair recover from an attack on a cricket field in Lake Macquarie on Saturday.

Holland, who played 11 Tests for Australia in the mid-1980s, and his wife were allegedly assaulted after asking a male and female to stop riding dirt bikes on Awaba Oval.

The 69-year-old, whose arm was in a sling following shoulder surgery three weeks ago, was punched in the mouth defending his wife before he was kicked in his shoulders and ribs while on the ground.

Mrs Holland, who filmed the riders on her phone, was also allegedly assaulted by the female rider.

Mr and Mrs Holland’s phones were taken during the incident and were later found destroyed.

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"Our thoughts are with Bob and his wife Carolyn after hearing this news,” said a CA spokesperson.

“Bob is an upstanding and valued icon in his local community and we hope that he and Carolyn both have a speedy recovery following this awful incident."

Holland’s Test career started at age 38 when he was drafted in for the second Test against the West Indies at the ‘Gabba in 1984.

However the match will not be remembered for Holland’s debut but the teary resignation of skipper Kim Hughes, who relinquished the captaincy to Allan Border.

Two Tests later Holland claimed Smatch figures of 10-144 in an innings and 55-runs thumping at the SCG, earning man-of-the-match honours.

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Holland toured England in 1985, playing four Tests, before rounding out his career in Australia the following summer, taking another 10-wicket haul in Sydney against New Zealand.

Following the ordeal, the Hollands were taken to John Hunter Hospital with facial injuries and bruising and have since been released.

Lake Macquarie police arrested a 21-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man on Sunday and the pair were later charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and inflicting actual bodily harm as well as one count of common assault. 

They will both face a court hearing on September 13, having been granted conditional bail.