Legendary keeper post his half-century
Happy birthday Heals!
Former Australia wicketkeeper and current Channel 9 commentator Ian Healy, the man many consider the finest gloveman to stand behind a set of cricket stumps, celebrates his 50th birthday today.
Here are 10 moments from Heals’ life both on and off the pitch to help celebrate his special day.
Shock debut
A surprise selection on the 1988 tour of Pakistan, 24-year-old Healy became the fifth wicketkeeper used in four years since the retirement of “Iron Gloves” Rod Marsh. Losses in his first two series against Pakistan and then the West Indies tested the mettle of the Queenslander, but a solid performance in regaining the Ashes in 1989 cemented his position as Australia’s first-choice keeper for the next decade.
He’s a catch
Heals wasted no time in showing off his cat-like skills behind the wicket, pulling off a series of screamers throughout the 90s. Here’s one from the 1992 World Cup.
Six to win
The second Test of Australia’s 1997 tour of South Africa will be one Healy remembers forever. Chasing 271 to win, a brilliant century from Mark Waugh stabilised the innings before the Proteas would counter with the wickets of Waugh, Michael Bevan and Shane Warne. Needing six to win with two wickets in hand, Healy did the only sensible thing … hit Hansie Cronje over the rope for a thrilling win.
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Subtle as
Wicketkeepers are known to be the biggest sledgers in the team, partly due to their proximity to the batsman, partly out of boredom, one would assume. Healy was no different, and when Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga refused to come out of his crease against Warne, Healy suggested a chocolate bar on a good length might tempt the portly captain out of his comfort zone.
Good chat
Last ball of the day at the SCG in 1995, Basit Ali, Pakistan’s time wasting batsman, was on strike to spin king Warne. Healy and Warne decided to meet mid-pitch and give Ali a taste of his own medicine, making the right-hander wait just that little bit longer. Warne says his conversation with his keeper consisted of dinner options available that evening, and when the umpire stepped in Healy told him to do something, perhaps bowl him around his legs. Good plan.
Good genes
It wasn’t long before the Healy name was back in Australian colours, though it wasn’t the 119-Test veteran making a John Farnham-like comeback, but his niece Alyssa. Also a wicketkeeper, Alyssa followed in her Uncle’s footsteps, earning selection for the Southern Stars and a Baggy Green in 2011.
Howstat?
When Healy finished his career in 1999, he left the international circuit as the most successful gloveman in Test history. He broke Rod Marsh’s world record 355 Test catches in 1998, finishing with 395 scalps from 119 Tests. Missing just the one Test during his illustrious career, Heals was second behind Alan Knott in runs scored by a wicketkeeper, and is one of two Australians to be run out twice in the same match.
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Segway spill
Who said commentating was easy? While discussing a previous spill on a segway by Joe the Cameraman, Healy thought he’d give it a spin. He probably shouldn’t have.
Testimonial to remember
Healy made a lot of friends and fans throughout his career and a handful of the some of the biggest names gathered together for a testimonial match at the Gabba. Viv Richards, Warne, Graham Gooch, Abdul Qadir, Allan Border and even tennis great Pat Rafter and rugby league legend Allan Langer had a trundle.
Hall of Fame
In 2008, Healy was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the third wicketkeeper behind Jack Blackham and Rod Marsh.
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