GrahamYallop

Ashes Tests: 13

Captain: 6

Record: 1 win, 5 losses

Off the Mark

A naturally gifted player, Graham Yallop represented Australia in 13 Ashes matches. His 709 runs came at an average of 28.36; not an accurate reflection of his overall ability.

Yallop was exceptional against slower bowling, which was highlighted by impressive records against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. However, he always seemed hesitant against the quicks after collecting a bouncer to the jaw while in the West Indies.

His Stint

Yallop took over a side decimated by the advent of World Series Cricket. Australia was missing a host of star players to the rebel squad, and nothing but a heavy defeat seemed likely.

Winning the toss in Brisbane, Yallop played it safe and elected to bat on a green top. Barely an hour later, seven batsmen were back in the sheds with just 53 runs on the board. Rodney Hogg added 36 on debut, but it couldn’t mask Australia’s horrid score of 116. Hogg and opening partner Alan Hurst took all ten English wickets, but not before they had built a lead of 170. Staring down the barrel at 3/49, Yallop needed to make a stand. Joined by future leader, Kim Hughes, the pair set about regaining Australian pride. The duo added 170, with Yallop reaching 102 in his first match as captain. England lost three wickets chasing down the lowly target, setting up what would be a demoralising 5-1 series win.

Yallop was the standout in another crushing defeat, this time at the SCG. The skipper was the only player to pass 16, as an at times expensive Ian Botham did the bulk of the damage. Yallop scored his second century of the series, but it was all in vain. Seven batsmen fell for single figures in Australia’s second innings, leaving the tourists just 35 for victory. It was a valiant knock from Yallop, but he had no support.

His Legacy

Yallop was never the right man for the job. He wasn’t respected enough by his teammates, nor did he have the experience. Great leaders often led from the front, and although he managed two centuries against England, it simply wasn’t enough.

It was clear that his teammates didn’t see him as a fit leader. The inexperienced Rodney Hogg refused to listen to Yallop’s advice during the Adelaide Test. When Yallop asked him to keep bowling through an asthma attack, Hogg lost it with his skipper, and threatened to settle their dispute behind the pavilion.

While he will be remembered as the man who led Australia to the slaughter (the 5-1 Ashes loss was the worst in Australian history), Yallop was in fact a very handy cricketer. His batting wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. His 286 against Pakistan showed how dangerous he could be, especially without the added pressures of being Australian captain.

Played and Missed

Graham Yallop was the first player to wear a helmet in a Test match. He would have loved one only months earlier when he was struck in the face by a violent half-tracker.

Yallop had an excellent conversion rate in Tests. He passed 50 on 17 occasions, turning eight of those into triple figures.

Yallop’s longest stretch without a Test match hundred was six.

He only lost the toss on one occasion from his seven matches as captain.

In his 39 Test career, Yallop managed just one wicket. The unfortunate batsman was India’s Yajurvindra Singh.