On this day: Mike Whitney’s sensational Ashes debut

The 1981 Ashes series in England was a special affair as the home team kept making comebacks through the series whenever Australia earned an upper hand. The six-match series began with Australia registering a four-wicket win while the second Test ended in a draw. The third Test in Leeds was won by England to level the series, a victory that came after being enforced to follow-on by the visitors.

The English team took 2-1 lead during the following Test in Birmingham where the hosts successfully defended the target of 151 as Sir Ian Botham claimed the last five wickets of Australia at the cost of one run. The crucial fifth Test to be played at Old Trafford was scheduled to begin on 13th August. Troubles increased for the Australians as the pacers Rodney Hogg and Geoff Lawson got injured.

England calling

All this while, Australia’s Mike Whitney, the 22-year-old was searching for opportunities in the UK. He was fresh off making his debut for New South Wales in the 1980-81 season and turned up in England to represent Fleetwood in the Northern Lancashire League. Whitney then got a Gloucestershire contract to replace injured Mike Procter. He made his Gloucestershire debut with a four-wicket haul in the 2nd innings against the visiting Sri Lankans.

Rushing to debut!

Whitney’s efforts got him included in the County match against Hampshire starting on 12th August. The home team Gloucestershire elected to bat on winning the toss. Whitney, with his bowling figures of 8-5-9-2, not only impressed the Gloucestershire management, but also the then Australian skipper Kim Hughes and the Aussie selectors who watched his bowling on television.

Shortly after the match started in Cheltenham, Whitney got a call from the Australian team manager Fred Bennett. He was informed to join the Australian squad for the Manchester Test which was set to start on the following day. Whitney felt it could have been a prank call only to receive another call ordering him to board the car immediately and he was released from the Gloucestershire contract.

Pakistan player Sadiq Mohammad was picked as a full-match replacement by the home side. On his way to Manchester, Whitney expected to be 12th man in the Test match. But to his surprise, the Australian captain Hughes informed that the left-arm pacer will be making his debut. This meant Whitney got his baggy green in less than 24 hours from the point of joining the Australian Test stars for the first time.

Whitney took two wickets in each innings of the Manchester Test which Australia lost by 103 runs and also lost the series. He played the final Test at The Oval as well claiming only one wicket across the two innings. The return of the senior pacers in the following series meant Mike Whitney had to wait another six years for his 3rd appearance in Test cricket.