ALLAN BORDER

'Allan Robert Border AO' (born July 27 1955 in Sydney, New South Wales) is a former Australian cricket captain. His playing nickname was '"A.B."'. He played 156 Tests in his career, a record until it was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh. Border still retains the world record for the number of consecutive Test appearances of 153 and the number of Tests as captain. He was a primarily a left hand batsman but also achieved sporadic success as a part time left arm orthodox spinner. Border amassed 11,174 runs (a world record until it was surpassed by Brian Lara in 2005). He hit 27 centuries in his Test career. He retired as Australia's most capped player and leading run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs.

Contents

Early years

First class debut

Early international Career

Rise to captaincy

Early captaincy

Australia's rise

World records held at the time of his retirement

Post-retirement Honours

External links

Early years

He was born in Cremorne, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney. His father John was from Coonamble in rural New South Wales, and was a wool classer by trade. His mother Sheila was the proprietor of a corner store in the nearby suburb of Mosman. The second of four boys, he grew up in Mosman, where the family moved after his younger brothers were born. The brothers grew up in an environment amenable to sport, with a spacious backyard and Mosman Oval, the home of district cricket and baseball clubs directly opposite their home. Border attended North Sydney Boys High School, and graduated at the end of 1972. Throughout his early years, he had always played in cricket teams two or three years above his age group. He also played for Mosman Baseball Club, where he developed his fielding and horizontal bat shots. Border initially made his debut for Mosman in Sydney Grade Cricket aged 16 against Petersham as a left arm orthodox spinner, listed to bat at No. 9. He was also selected for the 1972-73 Combined High Schools in the intrastate carnival.

First class debut

Border first gained prominence in grade cricket in the 1975-76 season, when he accumulated more than 600 runs. At the start of the 1976-77 season, he made two consecutive centuries to put himself in contention for his first class debut. With New South Wales heavily represented at Test level, opportunities arose and Border was selected to make his debut against Queensland at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 1977. He compiled 36 and took the last three catches as his team claimed victory. Border attempted to improve his career by quitting his job as a clerk in the film library of BHP to spend six months during the 1977 English season playing for Downend Cricket Club in the Gloucestershire League. His stay was highlighted by a 159
★ in an invitational match against Cambridge University. Returning to Australia, Border compiled 617 runs at 36.29 in the 1977-78 Sheffield Shield season. Border returned to England in 1978 for East Lancashire Cricket Club in the Lancashire League, scoring 1191 runs at 56.71 and taking 54 wickets at 18.60.

Early international Career

In 1977, Kerry Packer had started the breakaway World Series Cricket, and with many players signing up for the new venture, they had been banned from Shield and Test cricket. This opened many vacancies in the Australian cricket team. Border started the 1978-79 Sheffield Shield season by scoring his maiden century of 135 against Western Australia in Perth, followed by a 114 against Victoria at the SCG. After Australia had lost the first two Tests in the 1978-79 Ashes series, selectors made changes to the team and Border was selected for his Test debut. He made a nervous start to his international career, taking more than half an hour to score three runs, before eventually being dismissed for 29. He was run out for a duck in the second innings. At the following match in Sydney, he made top scored in each innings with 60
★ and 45
★ as Australia lost the Test and the Ashes. However, scores of 11 and 1 in the Fifth Test in Adelaide saw him dropped from the Sixth Test.
Border was recalled for the First Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and made his maiden Test century of 105 as Australia reached 3/305 chasing 382 for victory. Border’s dismissal then triggered a major collapse of seven wickets for five runs, with Sarfraz Nawaz taking a spell of 7/1 to lose by 71 runs. Border then made 85 and 66
★ as Australia squared the series in Perth. In only his second Test series, he had topped the batting aggregates and averages with 276 runs at 92.
In May 1979, the Australian Cricket Board had reached an agreement with World Series Cricket, allowing the rebel players to return to international cricket at the start of the 1979-80 Australian season. This meant that Border and other players would have extra competition for their places in the team. They had two further tours to stake their places in the team before the return of the rebels. The 1979 Cricket World Cup campaign in England ended early when Australia were knocked out of the first round, with Border accumulating 59 runs in two innings. This was followed by a three month, six Test tour of India. Australia failed to win a single match in the dry spinning conditions. Border managed 521 runs at 43.42, including a 162 in the First Test in Madras, handling the Indian spinners much more efficiently than his teammates. As a result, Border was one of only three players to retain their position for the First Test against England in Perth in the 1979-80 Australian season. Border scored 115 in the second innings to help secure victory, and in doing so passed 1000 Test runs. He had done so in 354 days, the fastest by an Australian. He was unable to maintain his form during the season, ending with 317 runs at 31.7 in three Tests each against England and the West Indies cricket team.
This was followed by a tour to Pakistan, where Australia had not won a Test since 1959. This did not change, as Australia lost the series 1-0. Border managed 150
★ and 153 in the Third Test in Lahore, becoming the first batsmen in Test history to pass 150 in both innings of a Test, allowing Australia to escape with a draw. Border moved to Queensland in the off season after marrying, representing them in Shield cricket from 1980-81 until the end of his career. His first international season since his move north was not as successful, scoring 328 runs at 36.44 in three Tests against New Zealand and India respectively, although he ended on a strong note with 124 in the final Test in Melbourne.
In 1981, Border made his first Ashes tour. After scoring a fifty in each of the first two Tests, Border gained attention for his dogged style in the fifth Test at Old Trafford. Australia were set 506 to win on the fourth day, and Border stubbornly resisted the English attack despite a fractured left finger. On the final day, he registered his century after 377 minutes, the slowest Test century by an Australian, and remained unbeaten on 123 when Australia were dismissed. In the final Test at The Oval, Border scored an unbeaten 106 in the first innings, and 84 in the second. He had defied the English bowlers for more than 15 hours in scoring 313 runs, and his series total of 533 at 59.22 prompted Sir Leonard Hutton to call him the best left handed batsman in the world. He was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1982.
Border was unable to maintain his form at the start of the 1980-81 season, scoring 84 at 16.8 in three Tests against New Zealand. He returned to form in the three Test series against the West Indies, regarded as the best team in the world, scoring a century and three half centuries to accumulate 336 runs at 67.2 and help Australia draw the series. This was followed a three Test tour of New Zealand, where he managed only 44 runs at 14.67. Border was unable to repeat his prior performances in Pakistan when Australia toured in late 1982, managing only 118 at23.6 as Pakistan took a 3-0 clean sweep.
The 1982-83 Australian season saw another Ashes series. Australia won the series 2-1 to claim the Ashes, but it was Border’s effort in the Fourth Test loss at the MCG which was his most remembered innings of the series. Australia had lost nine wickets and still required 74 runs for victory when Jeff Thomson joined Border at the crease. 18,000 spectators attended the final day’s play as the pair slowly accumulated the runs, before a juggling catch dismissed Thomson three runs short of the target. Border then scored pair of 80s in the Fifth Test to secure the series, in which he scored 317 runs at 45.28.

Rise to captaincy

1983-84 saw Australia host Pakistan for a five Test series. Border scored 118 and 117
★ in the Second and Third Tests as Australia took a 2-0 series victory. Border had compiled 429 runs at 85.8. It was the end of an era for Australian cricket with Rod Marsh, Dennis Lillee, the world record holders for Test wicketkeeping dismissals and wicket takers respectively both retiring. In addition, captain and leading runscorer in Australian Test history Greg Chappell also retired, leaving the Australian team depleted. This resulted in Border being elevated to vice captain under Kim Hughes, with their first assignment being a tour to the West Indies, universally regarded as the finest team of the era.
The First Test was drawn, and the teams headed to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where Border played what he described his two finest innings. In poor visibility and on a bouncy wicket, Australia had slumped to 3/16 when Border came to the crease and Australia reached 4/55 by the end of a rain interrupted day’s play. Australia progressed to 8/241 on the second day, with Border still undefeated on 92 as his teammates steadily departed. He ended unbeaten on 98 the following day in a total of 255. The West Indies took a 213 run lead and reduced Australia to 3/55 late on the fourth day. Border came to the crease and again resisted them from one end. By late on the final day, Australia had reached 9/238 with only a 25 run lead when Terry Alderman joined Border. Together they added 61 runs to save Australia from defeat. Border struck the final ball of the match for a boundary to reach 100
★ , having resisted the bowling for a match total of 634 minutes. Despite losing the final three Tests, Border managed a 98 and 60
★ to end the series with 521 runs at 74.73, twice as many as the next Australian. The team had been crushed in the last three matches by either ten wickets or an innings.

Early captaincy

Australia was to receive no respite in the 1984-85 season, with the West Indies returning for a five Test tour. After being heavily defeated in the first two Tests by an innings and eight wickets respectively, Hughes tearfully resigned as captain. Border was promoted to the captaincy, although he had only one prior season as captain of Queensland. The Third Test brought no relief as the tourists won by 191 runs, their sixth consecutive defeat of Australia. The tide was stemmed in the Fourth Test in Melbourne as Australia held on for a draw, and Border gained a maiden win in the final Test in Sydney to end a difficult series, in which he managed only 246 runs at 27.33.
Border’s captaincy was weakened in April when in April 1985, it was announced that a “rebel” tour of South Africa would occur, defying the sporting ban on the apartheid regime. Seven players originally picked in the Australian squad for the 1985 Ashes tour had defected to play under Hughes-led rebels and were banned from Test cricket. In the six Test series Australia was defeated 3-1. Australia’s only success came in the Second Test at Lord's. Border top scored with 196 in the first innings to set up a 135 run lead which helped secure a four wicket victory. An unbeaten 146 in the second innings in the Fourth Test in Manchester after Australia conceded a 225 run lead in the first innings helped to save Australia from another defeat. The tour ended with consecutive innings defeats in the fifth and sixth Tests. He totaled 597 runs at 66.33 in the series at 1355 runs at 71.31 for the whole tour, including eight centuries.
Upon his return, Border expressed his dismay at Australia’s inability to perform under pressure. This became more pronounced during the 1985-86 Australian season, when New Zealand defeated Australia in a Test series for the first time. Despite Border’s unbeaten 152 in the second innings, Australia fell to an innings defeat in Brisbane. Australia won the second Test, but New Zealand won the third to take a 2-1 series victory. This was followed by a three Test series against India, a historically weak team overseas. India had the better of the play, taking a first innings lead of over a hundred in each of the Tests, with the average lead being 175. In the second Test, it took a last wicket partnership of 77 between Border who scored 163, and David Gilbert to deny the Indians. In the final Test, Australia had lost six wickets and were still 85 runs behind when time ran out.
This was followed by another 1-0 series loss on a tour to New Zealand. Border’s form remained strong, scoring 140 and 114
★ in the Second Test before Australia lost the third in Auckland. Despite the team’s poor form, Border still managed to maintain his high standards with the bat, accumulating 867 runs at 61.9 with four centuries during the summer.
The new season brought no upturn in the team’s performance. A tour to India saw Border score 106 in the first Test in Madras, which resulted in only the second tie in Test history. The other two matches were drawn, and Border finished the tour with 245 runs at 81.66. The 1986-87 Australian season brought another Ashes series, and another series loss. After England had won the first Test, consecutive centuries by Border in Perth and Adelaide saw Australia secure consecutive draws. However, Australia were defeated by an innings in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne sealed a series defeat. Australia had only won two of their last 22 Tests, and none of their last 14. They had gone three years without winning a Test series. Despite a consolation victory in the fifth Test dead rubber, Border contemplated resigning the captaincy.

Australia's rise

He rebuilt the Australian side in partnership with coach Bob Simpson. The 1987 World Cup victory heralded the start of more prosperous times for Australian cricket.
The 1987-88 Australian season saw Australia’s first Test series victory for four years. Australia took a 1-0 series victory over New Zealand, and the first under Border. Border's personal contribution was highlighted by 205 in the drawn Ssecond Test in Adelaide, his highest Test score. The Test season was completed with one-off Tests against England and Sri Lanka, which ended in a draw and win respectively. Border had another strong season, with 426 runs at 71.
The 1988-89 season began with a tour of Pakistan. Australia were unable to end the 29 year streak without a win on Pakistani soil, losing the first Test by an innings, and drawing the other two matches. Border compiled 230 runs at 57.5 with one century. The Australian season saw a tour by the West Indies, who recorded a comfortable 3-1 series win. The tourists won the first three Tests by nine wickets, 169 and 285 runs respectively. Border was unable to produce his best, compiling 258 runs at 32.25 without scoring a century. His series was highlighted by his 100th Test ona turning wicket in Sydney, where he produced a performance with the ball which surprised the cricketing A part time bowler with only 16 wickets in 100 Tests, and only one in the last six years, Border brought himself into the attack after lunch. He took 7/46, the second best innings bowling by an Australian captain as the West Indies collapsed for 224. Australia replied with 401, including a laborious 75 form Border, in which he took 310 minutes to register the slowest half century ever by an Australian. He took 4/50 in the second innings to end the match with 11/96, the best match figures by an Australian captain. It was a remarkable feat given that Australia previously had specialist bowlers as captain. Upon receiving the man of the match award, Border stated “There will be batsmen all around the world shaking their heads in disbelief when they see the result”.
The 1989 Ashes tour saw Border’s first major series win as Test captain. Australia took the first two Tests, and after a drawn Third Test, took the next two comfortably by nine wickets and an innings respectively to regain the Ashes. A draw in the Sixth Test gave Australia a 4-0 series win, the first time it had taken more than two Tests in a series for over five years. Border did not score a century, but was extremely consistent with six half centuries to end with 442 runs at 73.66.
He was subsequently named the 1990 Australian of the Year for his part in helping Australia regain the Ashes.
The 1989-90 Australian season saw one, two and three Tests against New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively. Border’s men won a Test each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, while the others were drawn. It was the first Australian season in six years where they were undefeated. The year was ended by a one off Test in New Zealand, which they lost by nine wickets. Border ended the season with 328 runs at 41, with five half centuries.
The 1990-91 saw another comfortable Ashes series win, 3-0. The three victories were by eight, nine and ten wickets respectively, and Border compiled 281 at 46.83. Early 1991 saw a five Test tour the West Indies, the first since the heavy 3-0 defeat in 1983. Australia had improved, but not sufficiently to overcome the West Indies. After the first Test was drawn, a 297 run second partnership between Desmond Haynes and Richie Richardson set up a ten wicket victory in the second Test in Georgetown. A second innings of 9/536 in the Fourth Test in Bridgetown saw the West Indies take an unbeatable 2-0 series lead with a heavy 343 run win. Border scored 275 runs at 34.37.
The 1991-92 Australian season saw a heavy 4-0 win in a five Test series over India. The victories were by ten and eight wickets, and 38 and 300 runs respectively. Border scored 275 runs at 55, with three half centuries. He generated controversy when he refused to travel to Perth after the Fourth Test in Adelaide, after his close friend and vice captain Geoff Marsh was dropped by selectors. He eventually relented and arrived late.
Australia, the pre-tournament favourites were knocked out of the group stage of the 1992 Cricket World Cup, coming fifth.
The 1992-93 three Test tour of Sri Lanka, which Australia won 1-0, was Border’s only series win on the subcontinent as captain. His 106 in the Third Test at Moratuwa also ended a four-year drought without a Test century.
The 1992-93 saw another tour to Australia by the West Indies, the only team against which Border had lead but was yet to record a series victory. The West Indies had themselves started rebuilding phase, with Malcolm Marshall, Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes all retiring. Australia had the upper hand in the First Test, with the West Indies managing to hold out the Australian attack for a draw, having lost eight second innings wickets by the end of the match. Border scored 110 in the Second Test as Shane Warne skittled the tourists with 7/52 in the second innings to take a 1-0 series lead. The Third Test was a high scoring draw noted by Brian Lara’s 277, while Border’s 74 saw him become the second player after Sunil Gavaskar to pass 10,000 Test runs. The Fourth Test in Adelaide saw the closest finish in Test history (excluding a tie). Australia had slumped to 8/102 in pursuit of the 186 runs needed to give them an unassailable series lead. Stubborn lower order resistance saw them come within one run, before Craig McDermott was given out to deny Australia a drought breaking series win. This left the series to be decided in the Fifth Test at the WACA Ground in Perth, the bounciest surface in world cricket. Australia was unable to regroup and succumbed to the pace of the West Indies. They collapsed from 1/58 in the first innings to be dismissed for 119, with Curtly Ambrose taking a spell of 7/1. Australia were crushed by an innings within three days, with Border recording his first pair in his first class career. It was a poor end to a modest season in which he scored 298 runs at 33.11. The southern hemisphere summer was ended by a three match Test series in New Zealand, which was drawn 1-1. It was highlighted by his 88 in the First Test in Christchurch, in which he passed Gavaskar’s Test run scoring record.
1993 saw a return to England for another Ashes tour. Australia won the series 4-1, losing only the sixth and final Test. The series was sealed at Headingley in the Fourth Test, when Border made his second Test double century, an unbeaten 200 to help Australia take an unbeatable 3-0 lead. He had a healthy series, totally 533 runs at 54.12. The Australians then claimed the Trans Tasman Trophy with a comfortable 2-0 victory over New Zealand at home in late 1993, with two innings victories. Border scored 105 in the Third Test at his home ground in Brisbane. It was to be the last of his 27 Test centuries.
Border ended his career by leading the first Australian Test team to play South Africa after their post-apartheid reinstatement. Three Tests were played in the respective countries, with both series being drawn 1-1 after South Africa had taken a 1-0 lead. Border’s final innings was an obdurate unbeaten 42 to help secure a draw in Durban. Border had a modest time with the bat, accumulating 298 runs at 33.11.
Ultimately, Border left his successor Mark Taylor with a side that would go on to be the best in the world. Border's chief regret as captain was said to be his failure to beat West Indies, something Taylor remedied early in his time as captain.
Allan Border wrote an autobiography entitled "''Beyond Ten Thousand: My Life Story''", which was published in 1993.

World records held at the time of his retirement

★ top run scorer at 11,174 runs, a record held until November 2005, when it was passed by the West Indian Brian Lara ''(see: List of Test cricket records)''

★ most Test matches played (156) and most consecutive Test matches played (153). Border still holds the record for most consecutive matches.

★ scored more fifties (63) and more scores of at least 50 (93) than anybody else

★ captained Australia 93 times (all consecutive).

★ Most capped Australian player in Tests and ODI

★ Leading Australian runscorer in Tests and ODIs. His ODI tally has since been surpassed.

★ most Test catches by a fieldsman (156); record since passed by the Australian Mark Waugh.

★ The only player to have scored 150 in each innings of a Test, a record which still stands at the end of 2006.[1]
He was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1982.

Post-retirement Honours

After he retired from Test cricket he played in Queensland's maiden Sheffield Shield win in 1994-95. He was named 12th man in Australia's "Greatest ever ODI Team", which was selected by voting of each of Australia's ODI representatives. He also became an Australian selector. The Australian cricketer of the year now receives the Allan Border Medal with the inaugural award being won by Glenn McGrath in 2000.
Two cricket fields have been renamed in Border's honour. The first is in Mosman, a suburb of Sydney, and is the home ground of the Mosman District Cricket Club for whom Border played club cricket before his move to Queensland. The second, Allan Border Field is in his adopted home state of Queensland and has hosted numerous domestic first class and limited over matches.
In the year 2000 he was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

External links

★ CricInfo Player Profile : Allan Border
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