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Ian Chappell was born on this day, 1943.
There are too many anecdotes (really, too many) for one Twitter thread.
Today, I shall narrate only some random ones involving him and his brothers, Greg and Trevor.
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There are too many anecdotes (really, too many) for one Twitter thread.
Today, I shall narrate only some random ones involving him and his brothers, Greg and Trevor.
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The Chappell brothers practised cricket on their backyard.
Their father Martin laid rich, black soil was to make a 44-yard pitch (two pitches, basically, just in case) and obtained a tennis court roller was also acquired.
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Their father Martin laid rich, black soil was to make a 44-yard pitch (two pitches, basically, just in case) and obtained a tennis court roller was also acquired.
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During rain they practised fielding (Martin was an accomplished baseball pitcher) and discussed strategies on blackboard.
Inter-brother backyard Test cricket was brutal.
They played with cricket balls but without pads and gloves.
Mother Jeanne often umpired in these duels.
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Inter-brother backyard Test cricket was brutal.
They played with cricket balls but without pads and gloves.
Mother Jeanne often umpired in these duels.
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Greg, the younger brother, got away with close calls.
An angry Ian once bowled a snorter that rapped Greg on the bare fingers.
As Greg fell, Ian quipped without much concern: "Don't worry about your fingers, mate, next time it'll be your head."
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An angry Ian once bowled a snorter that rapped Greg on the bare fingers.
As Greg fell, Ian quipped without much concern: "Don't worry about your fingers, mate, next time it'll be your head."
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As Trevor grew up, Greg bowled as intimidatingly to him as Ian had done to him.
Ian, nine years elder to Trevor, often took Trevor's side.
This had probably driven Trevor into a false sense of security.
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Ian, nine years elder to Trevor, often took Trevor's side.
This had probably driven Trevor into a false sense of security.
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On one occasion Ian chipped a couple of Trevor's fingernails with some hostile bowling.
Trevor wanted his gloves. Ian assured him that he would not bowl short.
Somewhat foolishly, Trevor believed him, and paid the price.
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Trevor wanted his gloves. Ian assured him that he would not bowl short.
Somewhat foolishly, Trevor believed him, and paid the price.
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At Wellington in 1973-74 Ian scored 145 and 121, while Greg had 247* and 133.
It remains the only occasion that two teammates scored twin tons in the same Test.
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It remains the only occasion that two teammates scored twin tons in the same Test.
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The brothers thrived off each other.
Ian averaged 47.42 when Greg was in the side and 35.31 when he was not.
Greg, on the other hand, got 57.79 and 50.49 respectively.
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Ian averaged 47.42 when Greg was in the side and 35.31 when he was not.
Greg, on the other hand, got 57.79 and 50.49 respectively.
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Ian and Trevor never played international cricket together, but the world witnessed the three in action during Trevor's underarm incident.
When it became evident that Greg had instructed Trevor to bowl underarm, a helpless Ian shouted on air: "No, Greg, no! You can't do that!"
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When it became evident that Greg had instructed Trevor to bowl underarm, a helpless Ian shouted on air: "No, Greg, no! You can't do that!"
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"Fair dinkum, Greg, how much pride do you sacrifice to win $35,000? Because, brother, you sacrificed a lot in front of a huge TV audience and 52,825 people," he wrote next day.
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The brothers were the grandson of Vic Richardson. Just like their grandfather, Ian led Australia, challenged Bradman's authority, and became a commentator.
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Ian and Greg appeared in a First-Class match together for the first time against Victoria on October 24, 1967.
To avoid confusion, scoreboard operators at Adelaide Oval used CHAPPELL I and CHAPPELL G.
And Ian Chappell became Chappelli.
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To avoid confusion, scoreboard operators at Adelaide Oval used CHAPPELL I and CHAPPELL G.
And Ian Chappell became Chappelli.
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Greg moved to Queensland. When Ian and Trevor, for SA, travelled to play at Brisbane in 1973-74, Greg was leading them.
Trevor failed, but Ian scored 70 and 126, and Greg had 4/47 and 56.
When Greg bowled bouncers at SA No. 10 Barry Hiern, Ian, past his hundred, intervened.
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Trevor failed, but Ian scored 70 and 126, and Greg had 4/47 and 56.
When Greg bowled bouncers at SA No. 10 Barry Hiern, Ian, past his hundred, intervened.
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Ian: Listen, pal, if you are going to bowl bouncers, bowl them to me, not out No. 11 [sic].
Greg: Piss off, Ian. You'd be better served to concentrate on your batting.
Ian: If you have a look at the scoreboard, Greg, you'll notice I am concentrating on my batting.
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Greg: Piss off, Ian. You'd be better served to concentrate on your batting.
Ian: If you have a look at the scoreboard, Greg, you'll notice I am concentrating on my batting.
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Greg was the Australian captain when WSC began, but Packer insisted Ian led them.
Their first meeting ran thus:
Packer: Well, who do you want in this f**king team of yours?
Chappell: Hang on, Kerry, I'm not the Australian captain...
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Their first meeting ran thus:
Packer: Well, who do you want in this f**king team of yours?
Chappell: Hang on, Kerry, I'm not the Australian captain...
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... Greg Chappell is the captain of Australia, so I don't think it's really down to me as to who is in the side.
Packer: What do you think this is, son, a f**king democracy? I pay the bills, I choose the captain. You're the f**king captain.
Packer: What do you think this is, son, a f**king democracy? I pay the bills, I choose the captain. You're the f**king captain.
