Tony Dell - my finest Queensland cricket team
By Dean Tuckwell
Australian fast bowler Tony Dell took 114 wickets in his 5 seasons for Queensland with a best of 6 for 17. He played from 1970 until 1975 in sides that twice finished second in the Sheffield Shield.
A win against NSW in the final match of the 1973/74 season would have secured the state's first Shield but they came across a fired-up Jeff Thomson. Playing his first game of the season, Dell's future opening partner had a point to prove as he bowled with fearsome pace to take 7 for 85 in the first innings in the performance that prompted Greg Chappell to get him to Queensland.
Chappell and Thomson played most of the games In 1974/75 and despite winning one more match, Queensland were pipped for the Shield by Western Australia with the sides playing 2 tight draws in the season.
Tony Dell picks his finest Queensland side:
Tony Dell
"This side is based on blokes I've seen, played against and played with. I'll buck the system and I'll ignore the stats. It's just a side I'd love to be part of and I apologise to those I've left out."
1. Matthew Hayden
Sheer weight of runs for Queensland and Australia. A brutal batsman who could demoralise bowlers and make life easier for his team mates
2. Kepler Wessels
You don't get to play for Australia and South Africa without being a champion. I played him once at Valleys when he got a hundred. I kept thinking how the fuck do I get this bloke out.
3. Peter Burge
He was my first ever first grade captain. He could bat a bit and was so relaxed. In that first match we needed about eight to win with nine down. He said to me I don't mind how you get out as long as you don't get run out. I got run out with three to win.
4. Greg Chappell – Captain
Best Australian batsman ever. Best cricket brain ever. An inspiration to all of his team
5. Allan Border
World record holder at one stage. Dragged Australia back from the brink by himself in the mid to late eighties. Those two ninety not outs in the West Indies say it all.
6. Martin Kent
A short career just full of class. I was there for his debut 140 against NSW and was mesmerised. He got 200 before tea in a club game against us one day. No matter what I bowled he had an answer.
7. Peter Anderson
The best keeper I've ever seen and the engineer of my only leg-side stumping.
8. Malcolm Francke
He had more self-belief than the rest of the side put together. "Bloody O'Keeffe and Jenner, they are not fit to clean my boots" was often heard in the dressing room. And that was often backed up by our opposition.
9. Ray Lindwall
An Australian legend....what more can I say but a good bloke and a good florist.
10. Ross Duncan
Rossco could do anything with the ball either new or old. In or out in the air or off the pitch. He was bowling reverse before it was invented. He even had a good bouncer. I would give anything to see him bowl against the flat footed, square on, modern batsmen.
11. Jeff Thomson
170kph......say no more.
This side is very personal and it wasn't hard for me to name.
If I were to really analyse the selection I'd be thinking about Sammy Trimble, Stuart Law, Martin Love, Greg Ritchie, Peter Allen Ian Healy, Andrew Bichel, Michael Kasprowitz, Carl Rackemann, Phillip Carlson et al.