(1935-01-06) 6 January 1935 (age 89) Mentone, Victoria, Australia
Nickname
The Count, Sputnik, Mecki
Batting
Right-handed
Bowling
Left-arm fast
Role
Bowler
International information
National side
Australia
Test debut (cap 208)
23 December 1957 v South Africa
Last Test
6 December 1963 v South Africa
Domestic team information
Years
Team
1956/57–1963/64
Victoria
Career statistics
Competition
Test
First-class
Matches
18
74
Runs scored
154
778
Batting average
11.84
11.27
100s/50s
0/0
0/1
Top score
45*
55
Balls bowled
3,734
16,376
Wickets
45
269
Bowling average
31.62
23.35
5 wickets in innings
2
12
10 wickets in match
0
1
Best bowling
6/38
6/29
Catches/stumpings
9/–
37/–
Source: CricketArchive, 24 January 2008
Ian Meckiff (born 6 January 1935) is a former cricketer who represented Australia in 18 Test matches between 1957 and 1963. A left-arm fast bowler, he is best known for two matters that were unrelated to his skill as a player: he was the batsman run out by Joe Solomon in 1960, causing the first Tied Test in cricket history; and in December 1963, his career was sensationally ended when he was called for throwing in the First Test against South Africa by Australian umpire Col Egar. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, there had been a media frenzy about the perceived prevalence of illegal bowling actions in world cricket. The controversy and speculation that dogged Meckiff in the years preceding his final match caused sections of the cricket community to believe that he had been made a scapegoat by the Australian cricket authorities to prove their intent to stamp out throwing.
With an unconventional front-on bowling action, Meckiff progressed through the district cricket ranks at South Melbourne Cricket Club, making his first-class debut for Victoria in 1956–57. After a productive first season, Meckiff was named in a new-look Australian team for the 1957–58 tour of South Africa. This was the result of a generational change in the Australian Test team after a decline in performances in the 1950s. The shift saw Meckiff open the bowling in his debut Test, where he performed strongly to take eight wickets. Generating his pace from an unusual bent-arm action which involved a flick of the wrist, Meckiff reached his peak in the Second Test of the 1958–59 season against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He took 6/38 in the second innings as England were dismissed for 87, setting up an Australian victory. His achievement was engulfed by controversy, as English media and former players accused him of throwing Australia to victory.
The controversy over Meckiff's action persisted as throwing was in the spotlight in England, where it was regarded as a growing problem. The issue prompted numerous international discussions and meetings on amending the throwing law and the interpretation thereof. An expected confrontation with English umpires in 1961 was averted when the bowler suffered multiple injuries in the preceding Australian summer and was omitted from the team to tour England, but Meckiff had two strong seasons in domestic cricket that forced the Australian selectors to recall him for the Tests against South Africa in 1963–64. The Victorian's recall had occurred despite his being no-balled for throwing in two separate Sheffield Shield matches in the previous season. In his first over of the Test, Meckiff was no-balled four times by umpire Egar. Australian captain Richie Benaud chose to not bowl his paceman again, and Meckiff retired from all cricket at the end of the match. The throwing controversy provoked heavy debate among cricket commentators, players and umpires, past and present; some praised Egar's no-ball call while others condemned the umpire and felt that the paceman had bowled in the same way as he had always done. Others felt that Meckiff had been set up so that he would be no-balled in an "execution" or "sacrifice" to prove Australia's resolve against throwing.
IanMeckiff (born 6 January 1935) is a former cricketer who represented Australia in 18 Test matches between 1957 and 1963. A left-arm fast bowler, he...
first tie in Test match history when Egar's partner Col Hoy adjudged IanMeckiff run out during the final over of the match. Hoy and Egar stood in every...
publicist (d. 2018) 1934 – Sylvia Syms, English actress (d. 2023) 1935 – IanMeckiff, Australian cricketer 1935 – Nino Tempo, American musician, singer, and...
time had managed only 16 Test wickets in 12 matches. Davidson's partner IanMeckiff was making his debut. Benaud was in his first Test as the lead spinner...
overshadowed by the furore over various Australian bowlers, most notably IanMeckiff, whom the English management and media accused of illegally throwing...
wicket-keeper Gerry Alexander. The score was 228–8. 3rd ball: The new batsman, IanMeckiff, cut to mid-off. No run. Still five runs to win from five balls. 4th...
(WI) – called in 1961–62 and 1966 IanMeckiff (AUS) – called in November 1963 by umpire Colin Egar at Brisbane Ian Redpath (AUS) – called in 1964 Abid...
the Australian fast bowlers Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall, Alan Davidson, IanMeckiff, Gordon Rorke and even the young Dennis Lillee. Although the Australian...
got out hit wicket on his first appearance while attempting to pull IanMeckiff but scored 71 and 33 in his next Test. Kunderan had already played three...
by McKenzie. The match was an infamous one with the Australian bowler IanMeckiff no-balled for throwing, effectively ending his career. Pollock was not...
South Welshman, Gordon Rorke. The controversy reached a high point when IanMeckiff was recalled to the Australian team for the first Test of the 1963–64...
Australian paceman IanMeckiff as a "sacrificial goat", by selecting him to play Tests when it was believed that he privately felt that Meckiff had an illegal...
securing a regular place in the team. The pacemen selected were Davidson, IanMeckiff, Ron Gaunt and John Drennan. Davidson had managed only 16 wickets at...
in a drawn First Test at Brisbane overshadowed by the no-balling of IanMeckiff. Between Tests, the Victorian skipper continued his strong run with 73...
throw from square leg, and his throw hit the stumps directly to run out IanMeckiff, as the latter was going for the winning run by charging down towards...
was uneventful in terms of cricket but notorious for the no-balling of IanMeckiff. A broken finger sidelined Booth for a month and prevented him from playing...
hotel and took to the field with ten men, having failed to notice that IanMeckiff had overslept and been left behind by the team bus. During the First...
were restricted by the presence of Alan Davidson, Garth McKenzie and IanMeckiff in the team at that time, but he took the wicket of Dick Westcott in...
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