Basil Rigg

Basil Augustus Rigg (born 12 August 1926) is a former Australian cricketer who played for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield.

Basil Rigg
Rigg in 1948
Personal information
Full nameBasil Augustus Rigg
Born (1926-08-12) 12 August 1926
Highgate, Western Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeg break
RoleAll-rounder
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1947/48–1956/57Western Australia
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 18
Runs scored 511
Batting average 17.03
100s/50s 0/2
Top score 65
Balls bowled 952
Wickets 8
Bowling average 86.12
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/46
Catches/stumpings 11/–
Source: CricketArchive, 29 May 2020

During the 1940s, Rigg also played Australian rules football and was the leading goal-kicker for WANFL club Perth in 1943.[1] The following year he enlisted in the Australian Army and served overseas.[2] A rover, he had a stint at West Perth before returning to Perth after the war.[3] Towards the end of the decade he gave up football so he could concentrate on his promising cricket career.[4] He however still remained active outside of cricket, by playing baseball and was a state representative in the Claxton Shield.[5]

An all-rounder, Rigg was a member of the Western Australian Sheffield Shield winning in 1947/48. He played in two matches, including their win over Queensland which secured the Shield for the first ever time in the state's history. Rigg's contribution towards a successful campaign was limited, he could only manage 34 runs in four innings and failed to take a wicket.[6] In all first-class matches that summer, he took just three wickets with his leg spin, despite bowling over 500 balls. His bowling was used less frequently in future seasons. Both of his first-class half centuries were also made in 1947/48 and both were against national teams. He scored 54 not out against India and also put in his best performance with the ball by dismissing two batsmen, including their best in Vijay Hazare.[7] Playing against an Australian XI soon after, Rigg made 65 in the first innings, after initially retiring hurt on five. He also took the wicket of opener Bill Brown but went for 65 runs from his six overs. It was often the case that he would return expensive bowling figures, with his career economy rate finishing above four runs an over. Nonetheless it had been perhaps his best match as he had made his half century against an attack featuring the likes of Keith Miller and four other bowlers who would later form part of "The Invincibles".[8]

In a long and successful career with the Perth Cricket Club Rigg was one of the finest all-rounders in the Club's history. In 252 matches (1941–64) he scored over 8,200 runs and took 325 wickets. He is a Life Member and was named in the Team of the Century at the 150th Anniversary function held in 2012.

References
  1. "Basil Rigg (Perth)". WAFL Online. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  2. "WW2 Nominal Roll: Rigg, Basil Augustus". Australian Government.
  3. The West Australian, "B. Rigg For Perth", 27 June 1946. p. 4
  4. The West Australian, "Versatility", 6 October 1949. p. 21
  5. The West Australian, "States Enter Strong Baseball Teams", 21 December 1954. p. 15
  6. "Averages by Team Sheffield Shield 1947/48". CricketArchive.
  7. "Western Australia v Indians". CricketArchive.
  8. "Western Australia v Australian XI". CricketArchive.
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