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This is for Sime…
For years Neil Harvey was the man.
I’m not talking about as a batsman, although his batting was brilliant. Hence why he made my Best Aussie Eleven.
His batting aside, his true value to my generation is as a “rent a headline” guy.
Like many famous men from the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Eddie McGuire and Myself, he is never short of an opinion and never far away from getting angry at nothing.
He called for Mark Waugh & Shane Warne to be banned from cricket for life over the bookie scandal.
He said Steve & Mark Waugh were a waste of space, and that they were playing for money in 2002.
When Steve Waugh’s side broke the world record of most test victories in a row, he said he could name 3 better Australian teams than them.
And of the modern players compared with the Invincibles he didn’t think Ponting would have made the grade, but he thinks the Invincibles could have slotted Warne in.
Now the Invincibles were a brilliant side, but lets not forget that Sam Loxton, Ian Johnson and Doug Ring all played tests. You’d think Ponting, McGrath or Gilchrist might have slipped in there.
Neil is probably the captain of the “twas better in my day” club.
But now Neil is slowing down, he has hardly attacked Ponting of late (perhaps he’s waiting for some losses) and he is in danger of losing his crown.
In fact the last time I saw Neil speak, he didn’t look angry at all, I was a little disappointed.
Bishen Bedi, spinning god, has decided that his time is now, and he is doing everything in his power to take over from Neil.
We all know his views on the javelin throwing shot putter Murali.
He has now expanded that to include Harbhajan Singh.
Let us not forget his utter disdain for John Buchanan.
The size of cricket grounds for one day games has also come under attack from Bishen.
And my personal favourite was when he said Ian Harvey was as much a spinner as Harbhajan Singh was.
Bishen is still a reasonably young man, and since India are the logical next super power (unless they implode or start a nuclear war with Pakistan) Bishen should be the man to take over the mantle.
He does need to expand his repertoire a little. He gets a little hung up on the spinners, he needs to start bagging fast bowlers, wicket keepers and cricket officials at the same level he bags the spinners.
Being Neil is a tough job, but Bishen gets my stamp of approval.
And if for some reason he thinks he can’t do it, Navjot Sidhu is a more than capable replacement.
If India wants to take over cricket, they must do so in all facets of the game.
