Bob Massie
Encyclopedia
Robert Arnold Lockyer Massie (born 14 April 1947) is a former Australia
n cricket
er who played in 6 Tests
and 3 ODIs from 1972 to 1973.
A swing bowler, he had a relatively short international career but is remembered for a Test debut in 1972 at Lord's where he took eight wickets in each innings, with figures of 16/137 for the match. This was a world record
for a Test debutant until beaten by India's Narendra Hirwani
, who took 16 wickets for just 1 run fewer. The parallels go deeper - neither man enjoyed an extended Test career; between the two of them, they played fewer than 25 Test matches.
Massie made his debut for Western Australia
against South Australia
in 1965–66. He made a duck in his first innings and conceded 81 runs without taking a wicket. He did not play another Shield match for the season, nor did he play again for Western Australia that year, but went to join Kilmarnock in the Scottish league. He also trialled with Northampton
in English County cricket, but was not signed after he played two matches in the second XI for a total of 3/166.
back from international duty. He was recalled for a match against Queensland
at the WACA Ground
, taking match figures of 8/95 to ensure his place in the state side.
At the start of the 1971–72 Australian season he gained a position in the Australian team for the second match against the Rest of the World team in Melbourne which had been quickly organised after the touring South Africans
were banned due to apartheid. Massie took three wickets. In the following match in Sydney, he took 7/76 in 21 overs including the scalp of Gary Sobers to secure his selection in the squad for the 1972 Ashes tour.
, but was not selected for the First Test. He took 8/84 and 8/53 in his Test debut in the Second Test at Lord’s
to square the series for Australia. His display of swing bowling yielded him the third best match figures of all time, 16/137 (behind Jim Laker
’s 19/90 and Sydney Barnes
’ 17/159) and the best ever match figures of debut (later bettered by one run by Narendra Hirwani
’s 16/136). Utilising his experience playing for Kilmarnock, he bowled a consistent line and length, stating “it could hardly have been better experience than to play on the soft wickets in the Scottish League". His performance was marked by a heavy emphasis on bowling around the wicket to the England batsmen. It was a tactic devised at Old Trafford where he bowled that way to his team mate Ross Edwards in the nets. He took 23 wickets at 17 in the Tests, twice taking five in an innings and once ten in a match. He was unable to replicate his form in the remaining matches, his best being 4/43 in the Third Test.
. He took eight wickets but it was his batting which attracted the most attention. With Australia faltering at 8/101 in its second innings in the Third Test, with only a 75 run lead, Massie combined with John Watkins to add 83. Massie made 42 and Australia managed to win the Test and the series. Massie’s health failed him on the 1973 West Indies tour and he was unable to recover his swing and accuracy. He played only a further five first class matches before retiring.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played in 6 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and 3 ODIs from 1972 to 1973.
A swing bowler, he had a relatively short international career but is remembered for a Test debut in 1972 at Lord's where he took eight wickets in each innings, with figures of 16/137 for the match. This was a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for a Test debutant until beaten by India's Narendra Hirwani
Narendra Hirwani
Narendra Deepchand Hirwani is a leg spin bowler who played for India. He is mainly remembered for his outstanding success on his Test debut.-Early days:...
, who took 16 wickets for just 1 run fewer. The parallels go deeper - neither man enjoyed an extended Test career; between the two of them, they played fewer than 25 Test matches.
Style
Massie was regarded for his work ethic and thinking ability. An upwind bowler, he was known for his pace and accuracy, and most notably, his ability to swing the ball late in both directions. His nickname was "Ferg" - from the well known tractor brand Massey-Ferguson.Early years
The son of Arnold and Barbara Massie, Bob began playing cricket at age ten at the Bedford Park Youth Club, while a student at Hill Crest Primary School. He moved on to Mount Lawley Senior High School and joined Bassendean-Bayswater in Western Australia’s club competition.Massie made his debut for Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
against South Australia
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
in 1965–66. He made a duck in his first innings and conceded 81 runs without taking a wicket. He did not play another Shield match for the season, nor did he play again for Western Australia that year, but went to join Kilmarnock in the Scottish league. He also trialled with Northampton
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
in English County cricket, but was not signed after he played two matches in the second XI for a total of 3/166.
First class breakthrough
He was not to regain his state place until an away trip to the eastern seaboard in 1969. In his first match upon his return against South Australia, he took match figures of 4/75. His performance in the season was unspectacular, taking less than 15 wickets in the 1969-70 Australian season. When the touring England played Western Australia in the early stages of the 1970-71 season, Massie went wicketless and found his match opportunities restricted with Graham McKenzieGraham McKenzie
Graham Douglas "Garth" McKenzie is a former Australian and Western Australian cricketer. He was a fast bowler. First selected to play for Australia at age of 19, he toured England in 1961 under Richie Benaud...
back from international duty. He was recalled for a match against Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
at the WACA Ground
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
, taking match figures of 8/95 to ensure his place in the state side.
At the start of the 1971–72 Australian season he gained a position in the Australian team for the second match against the Rest of the World team in Melbourne which had been quickly organised after the touring South Africans
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
were banned due to apartheid. Massie took three wickets. In the following match in Sydney, he took 7/76 in 21 overs including the scalp of Gary Sobers to secure his selection in the squad for the 1972 Ashes tour.
1972 Ashes tour and Test debut
Massie took 6/31 in the opening first class match of the tour against WorcesterWorcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
, but was not selected for the First Test. He took 8/84 and 8/53 in his Test debut in the Second Test at Lord’s
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
to square the series for Australia. His display of swing bowling yielded him the third best match figures of all time, 16/137 (behind Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
’s 19/90 and Sydney Barnes
Sydney Barnes
Sydney Francis Barnes was an English professional cricketer who is generally regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the sport's history...
’ 17/159) and the best ever match figures of debut (later bettered by one run by Narendra Hirwani
Narendra Hirwani
Narendra Deepchand Hirwani is a leg spin bowler who played for India. He is mainly remembered for his outstanding success on his Test debut.-Early days:...
’s 16/136). Utilising his experience playing for Kilmarnock, he bowled a consistent line and length, stating “it could hardly have been better experience than to play on the soft wickets in the Scottish League". His performance was marked by a heavy emphasis on bowling around the wicket to the England batsmen. It was a tactic devised at Old Trafford where he bowled that way to his team mate Ross Edwards in the nets. He took 23 wickets at 17 in the Tests, twice taking five in an innings and once ten in a match. He was unable to replicate his form in the remaining matches, his best being 4/43 in the Third Test.
End of career
Upon his return to Australia, he played only two more Tests in the 1972–73 season against PakistanPakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
. He took eight wickets but it was his batting which attracted the most attention. With Australia faltering at 8/101 in its second innings in the Third Test, with only a 75 run lead, Massie combined with John Watkins to add 83. Massie made 42 and Australia managed to win the Test and the series. Massie’s health failed him on the 1973 West Indies tour and he was unable to recover his swing and accuracy. He played only a further five first class matches before retiring.