Ian Davis - play every ball on its merits
Sydney Cricket Club | February 06, 2023
Ian Davis is a proud former Balmain Cricket Club player who enjoyed his time playing for the Tigers during the 1980s.
A prodigious schoolboy’s talent Davis toured the West Indies with the Australian Schoolboys in 1969-70 at the age of 16.
He made his first grade debut in Sydney Grade Cricket with Northern District at the age of 16 and played grade cricket for Northern District, Gordon, Bankstown, Penrith, Balmain and Campbelltown. Davis captained Penrith to their first grade premiership in 1982-83
Ian Davis made his first class debut for NSW in 1973-74 and retired after the 1982-83 season at the age of 30. Ian spent one season playing for Queensland in 1975-76 and played Brisbane Grade Cricket for Toombul District Cricket Club.
On the 29 December 1973 and at the age of 20 Ian Davis made his Test debut for Australia against New Zealand at the MCG to become Australian Test player number 266.
Davis played 15 Test matches scoring 692 runs at an average of 26.61 with one century and 4 half centuries.
In 88 first class games Ian Davis scored 4,609 runs at an average of 33.39 including 7 centuries and 28 half centuries and a highest score of 156.
In Sydney Grade Cricket Ian Davis scored 7,155 runs at an average of 34.90 including 14 centuries and 35 half centuries. His highest score was 179.
In 1977 and as one of the brightest young talents in Australian Cricket Ian Davis signed with World Series Cricket and played 5 Supertests for the Australian team.
Former Balmain fast bowler Andrew Jones on Ian Davis
"I was under the captaincy of Ian Davis. The Wizard was a champion bloke and a great captain and helped me transition into first grade cricket full time. Ian played some of the best innings I have seen at the Tigers. One notable innings was against Wests at Drummoyne on a green top testing the first Orange ball for one day cricket with Dave Gilbert bowling down the hill as sharp as I have ever seen him bowl and Ian cutting him over point and 3rd man for sixes and hooking him when the opportunity arose."
Ian Davis has made an immense contribution to Cricket in Australia not just as an Australian Test cricketer but his work with Slazenger over many years and his involvement with the development of protective cricket.
Let’s find out more about Ian’s journey in the game.
Ian Davis
What year you were born?
1953 in North Sydney but lived in Nowra on the South Coast of NSW
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
I started young at about 10 in Nowra. I played NSW Schoolboys aged 12 , 13, 14 and was selected captain of the Australian Schoolboys under 14 and then toured the West indies with the Australian Schoolboys as a 16 year old in 1969-70
I played for Bankstown District Cricket Club when I was 13 in 4th grade and made my first grade debut when I was 16 for Northern Districts. I played Sydney Grade Cricket for Northern District, Gordon, Bankstown, Penrith, Balmain and was Campbelltown inaugural captain when they entered the competition
Australian Schoolboys Tour to the West Indies in 1969-70
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
16 yrs old with Northern Districts
What were your strengths as a player?
I was predominantly a back foot player with a good technique. Square of the wicket was my strength
You played 15 Test Matches for Australia and made your debut against New Zealand at the MCG on 29 December 1973. Can you share with us how you found out you’d been selected in the Test team what do you remember about your Test debut?
Yes I found out in Hobart Tasmania after a one day game. I’d played only 5 first class games for NSW and only knew 5 of the Australian team members. It was against NZ and a young Richard Hadlee. I scored 15 and we won the match easily
4,609 Test and first class run and 7,155 runs Sydney Grade Cricket, quite an incredible career, how do you look back on your cricket career?
I think it was good. The era I played in was interesting with a lot of great players and characters. No helmets in those days and probably some of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. It was a tough time for the younger guys like David Hookes, Kim Hughes and myself as World Series Cricket changed the game for ever
World Series Cricket although a great thing for the game disrupted my cricket career and I think I could have done better.
Ian Davis batting for Australia v England
You were very much part of the World Series Cricket revolution in 1977. It was an exciting time for cricket, what are your memories of World Series Cricket and is there a story you’d like to share?
World Series Cricket was the toughest cricket. 50 of the best players in the world . Not so easy being an opening batsman against the West Indies team at the time and on substandard wickets early on.
My memories are about the division between those that were purists of the game including administrators, players and fans. Playing on pitches that favoured the bowlers and the invention of the helmet which I had a lot to do with through my contacts in the sports industry. The players passion to make it work for our generation and future generations and Kerry Packers loyalty.
When I came back from the Ashes tour in 1977 I was told by my employer, the Commonwealth Bank that I cannot have two commercial work agreements which was according to them, the Bank and World Series Cricket
They made it clear I had to leave the Bank if I wanted to play WSC so I did.
Kerry Packer always said to us if we feel victimised or treated badly because we signed with WSC, he wanted to know.
I contacted him that afternoon and told him what had happened.
The next day he took all his money out of the Commonwealth Bank which as you can imagine, was a lot
Ian Davis modelling protective equipment
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
I batted against a lot of quality fast bowlers. Jeff Thomson, Dennis Lillee, Len Pascoe, Wayne Prior, Alan Hurst, Geoff Dymock, Tony Dell, Dave Colley, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Colin Croft ,Wayne Daniel , John Snow, Bob Willis, Peter Lever, Mike Proctor, Clive Rice, Richard Hadlee, Franklin Stevenson, Imran Khan, Rodney Hogg, Garth Le Roux, Sarfraz Nawaz, Chris Old, Mike Hendricks as an example.
The best 3 were:
Jeff Thomson was a slinger and generated great pace and clocked at 100 mph, Great action and maintained that pace well.
Andy Roberts could bowl very quick and really had 3 bouncers all at different pace. He could be deadly
Dennis Lillee was class and hit the wicket hard and always a challenge
Jeff Thomson
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Ashley Mallet, Kerry O’Keefe and Hedley Howarth - An off spinner, leg spinner and a left hand orthodox
All good in their own way and capable of bowling tight
Ashley Mallett
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell and Viv Richards
Greg was technically very good and had a great mind and attitude to batting
Ian was tough and had a technique I liked, great ball striker and could bat in any situation
Viv was a dynamic player with massive power and could dominate
Greg Chappell
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Greg Chappell – Queensland v New South Wales in 1976. 100 in 80 minutes in the last session to win the game.
Was there any bowler in particular who for whatever reason always seemed to cause you a few problems?
Richard Hadlee and Jeff Thomson. These 2 were different. Thomson was sheer pace and Hadlee moved the ball and bowled a great line
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to?
Not really. I had a great schoolboy career which made it easy to move into the grade, Shield and Test Cricket knowing I could do it
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Rod Marsh – he had a great cricket brain, incredible passion for the game and kept to some of the best bowlers of all time. Would have made a great Australian Captain. He could also do damage with the bat at the end of an innings.
Rod Marsh
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Ian Chappell and Dennis Lillee
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Ian Chappell - fierce competitor, loyal, great batsman under any situations and you wanted to play for him
Ian Chappell
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Ashley Mallet (Rowdy) great sense of humour
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
There was plenty back in the 1970 s but nothing personal. It was more serious banter than comical but nothing stands out sorry
Who was your childhood hero?
Ian Chappell
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Mohammed Ali, Ash Barty, Tom Watson
Ash Barty
What was your favourite ground to play at?
SCG
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Hitting a 6 to go from 94 to 100 in a Test against Pakistan in 1976. My 68 in the second inning of the Centenary Test and 48 not out v the West Indies in the first night game in WSC at the SCG under lights
Ian Davis maiden Test century v Pakistan 1976-77
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
The Centenary Test v England 1977. We won by 45 runs which was the same margin as in the first ever test 100 years prior in 1877
If there was one match up, a bowler and batsman going head to head at their peak, who would you choose?
Jeff Thomson v Viv Richards
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Bruce Laird, Dennis Lillee and Doug Walters
The World Series Cricket Australian Team at St Kilda Football Ground in Melbourne – December 1977
Standing – Kerry O’Keefe, Ray Bright, Wayne Prior, Mick Malone, Ian Davis, Graham McKenzie, Len Pascoe, Rick McCosker, Rod Marsh, Ross Edwards, Dennis Lillee, Trevor Chappell
Sitting – Ashely Mallett, Gary Gilmour, Ian Redpath, Ian Chappell (with bat), Doug Walters, Greg Chappell, Richie Robinson, David Hooker, Max Walker, Bruce Laird
What are your hobbies?
I love Golf
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Play every ball on its merits
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
No
Can we ask what state cricket associations need to have as their top 2 priorities to ensure cricket in their state and across Australia remain strong and successful on and off the field?
Don’t over coach and change a naturally talented player. Make sure the player has good support and advice around them whether it’s about the game or personal.
