Greg Dyer

Gregory Charles Dyer (born 16 March 1959) is a former New South Wales and Australian wicketkeeper. Dyer played in six Tests and 23 ODIs from 1986 to 1988, including playing in the victorious 1987 World Cup Final. He toured India in 1986 as a back-up keeper.

Greg Dyer

Personal information
Full name	Gregory Charles Dyer
Born	16 March 1959 Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Batting	Right-handed
Role	Wicket-keeper
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 339)	12 December 1986 v England
Last Test	12 February 1988 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 94)	24 September 1986 v India
Last ODI	4 February 1988 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1983–1989	New South Wales
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 6 23 51 45 Runs scored 131 174 1,671 408 Batting average 21.83 15.81 28.81 20.40 100s/50s 0/1 0/0 1/10 0/1 Top score 60 45* 106 52* Catches/stumpings 22/2 24/4 123/18 39/9
Source: CricketArchive, 14 January 2013

Dyer replaced Tim Zoehrer for only a few Tests as his international career was cut short by the emergence of Ian Healy, along with a controversial incident in a Test match against New Zealand in 1987-88. Dyer claimed to have "caught" New Zealand batsman Andrew Jones who was duly given out, although television replays showed the ball had touched the ground before being caught by Dyer.[1] He was subsequently dropped from the team two matches later and retired from first-class cricket shortly thereafter.[2]

He shares an Australian One Day International 7th-wicket partnership record with Steve Waugh.

In 2011, Dyer became the president of the Australian Cricketers Association.[3][4][5]

Career

Dyer played for NSW and Australian Under 19 sides, and for NSW colts.[6] He became New South Wales' preferred back up keeper for Steve Rixon when Rixon was injured or was busy on international duty. Notably, Dyer played several games in 1984-85 when NSW won the Sheffield Shield.[7]

When Rixon signed to tour in South Africa, Dyer became New South Wales' first choice wicketkeeper. He was a crucial part of the side which won the Shield again in 1985-86.

1986 Tour of India

Australia's wicketkeeper over the 1985-86 summer was Wayne Phillips, but his form dropped away and Tim Zoehrer was appointed in his place. Dyer was unofficially announced next in line when selected as a reserve keeper on the 1986 tour to India.[8]

Dyer performed strongly in tour games but Zoehrer was first choice keeper for the three test matches.[9]

He played in some one day games, making his ODI debut in the third game.[10] In the fourth ODI he came to the wicket when Australia was 6-136 and he and Steve Waugh put on a 102 run stand off 76 balls.[11][12] He played in the 5th[13] and 6th ODI.[14]

Dyer also scored a century against Delhi in a tour game.[15]

1986-87 Test debut

Dyer made his test debut during the third test of the 1986-87 Ashes when Zoehrer was injured.[16] Dyer broke his nose during the game but kept playing.[17] He was not required to bat in the game, which was a run-heavy draw.[18]

Zoehrer's aggressive on field behaviour over the summer was causing media controversy and Dyer was increasingly spoken of as a more viable option.[19] After the 1987 tour to Sharjah, Zoehrer was omitted from the squad to tour India for the World Cup; he was replaced by Dyer.[20]

1987 World Cup

Dyer was a key part of the Australian team which won the 1987 World Cup.[21]

Following this triumph, Dyer was appointed captain of NSW for the 1987-88 season.[22]

1987-88 summer

Dyer began the 1987-88 summer as Australia's first choice keeper as they took on New Zealand. In the first test, Dyer took six catches and scored 8 runs with the bat, as Australia earned a then-rare victory.[23] In the second test, a draw, Dyer scored 60.[24]

Catching controversy

In the third test, New Zealand were 1-119 when Dyer claimed a catch off Andrew Jones from the bowling of Craig McDermott. TV replays showed that Dyer had fumbled the ball.[25] This decision later proved extremely costly for New Zealand because Australia only just narrowly escaped with a draw in the game. (Dyer scored 21 and 4 in the bat.)[26]

"Dyer has to live with his conscience for the rest of his life — no way can I blame the umpires," said New Zealand's cricket manager.[27]

Dyer later made a statement saying:

I have not commented earlier because I was in the middle of a Test match and was trying to concentrate on it and also because I, and the Australian team management, felt it would have been inappropriate to comment on umpiring decisions... Given that the ball initially hit my left glove and ended in my right glove, I made a gesture of query to the umpires. However, I honestly believed at the time of the incident, as did my captain and my teammates, that the ball had not touched the ground. One angle of slow motion TV replay apparently indicates that the ball had in fact touched the ground. In the circumstances I can understand Andrew Jones being upset, but I would like Andrew, along with all other interested parties, to know that I acted in good faith.[28]

Alan Border said, "I had no doubt whatsoever it was taken and I got a shock later when I saw the replays. Greg was very upset."[28]

Dyer kept his spot in the side for the one-off Bicentennial Test between Australia and England in February 1988. Dyer took three catches and scored a duck in a drawn game.[29]

His last test for Australia was the one-off test against Sri Lanka. Dyer took six catches and scored 38 in a comfortable Australian win.[30]

Dropped from Australian Team

New South Wales finished third at the end of the season under Dyer's leadership. In March 1988, Dyer was dropped from the Australian side to tour Pakistan that winter in favour of Ian Healy. This was considered a shock selection at the time because Healy was relatively inexperienced at first class level.[31]

He was reappointed captain of NSW for the 1988-89 summer.[32] He was sacked mid season, replaced as wicketkeeper by Phil Emery and as captain by Geoff Lawson.[33][34]

References

1. Grant, Trevor (28 December 1987), Row breaks out over Dyer's catch that wasn't, The Age, retrieved 31 January 2015
2. "Greg Dyer: World Cup winner whose career ended following a fraudulent claim". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
3. "Dyer takes over as ACA president". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
4. "'Miss this opportunity and it'll put cricket back five years'". Retrieved 23 July 2016.
5. Hanlon, Peter (25 December 2015). "How Greg Dyer did himself out of a job with the ICC". The Age. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
6. "Rain ends NSW's chance". The Canberra Times. 55 (16, 531). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 December 1980. p. 14. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Injuries dog Test players". The Canberra Times. 59 (18, 062). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 March 1985. p. 22. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Phillips discarded as selectors go for a 'keeper". The Canberra Times. 60 (18, 474). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 May 1986. p. 30. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Test selectors play a waiting game". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 614). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 September 1986. p. 22. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
10. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16783/scorecard/64287/India-vs-Australia-3rd-ODI-australia-tour-of-india-1986-87/
11. "Wiley Indians one-day masters". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 629). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 October 1986. p. 24. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
12. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16783/scorecard/64288/India-vs-Australia-4th-ODI-australia-tour-of-india-1986-87/
13. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16783/scorecard/64289/India-vs-Australia-5th-ODI-australia-tour-of-india-1986-87/
14. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16783/scorecard/64290/India-vs-Australia-6th-ODI-australia-tour-of-india-1986-87/
15. "Dyer and Gilbert hit centuries". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 639). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 October 1986. p. 21. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "Spinner set to carry Test drinks". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 698). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 December 1986. p. 24. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "Dyer plays on with reset broken nose". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 703). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 December 1986. p. 42. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
18. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16779/scorecard/63446/Australia-vs-England-3rd-Test-england-tour-of-australia-1986-87/
19. "Zoehrer defended by Border". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 749). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 February 1987. p. 18. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
20. "Times Sport". The Canberra Times. 61 (18, 880). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 June 1987. p. 9 (TIMES JOBS). Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
21. "Border makes plans to quit". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 029). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 November 1987. p. 20. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
22. "TIMES Sport Pakistan blazes way to semis". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 009). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 October 1987. p. 42. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
23. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16721/scorecard/63473/Australia-vs-New-Zealand-1st-Test-new-zealand-tour-of-australia-1987-88/
24. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16721/scorecard/63474/Australia-vs-New-Zealand-2nd-Test-new-zealand-tour-of-australia-1987-88/
25. "Sunday Sport McDERIMOTT TO RESCUE". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 075). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 December 1987. p. 6 (Sunday Sport). Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
26. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16721/scorecard/63475/Australia-vs-New-Zealand-3rd-Test-new-zealand-tour-of-australia-1987-88/
27. "War of words rages on over disputed catch". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 076). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 December 1987. p. 1. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
28. "TIMES Sport Tail does Border proud". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 079). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 December 1987. p. 18. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
29. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16715/scorecard/63476/Australia-vs-England-Only-Test-england-tour-of-australia-1987-88/
30. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16719/scorecard/63480/Australia-vs-Sri-Lanka-Only-Test-sri-lanka-tour-of-australia-1987-88/
31. "Dyer dropped from tour squad". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 171). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 April 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
32. "Dyer reappointed to NSW captaincy". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 245). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 June 1988. p. 48. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
33. "Dyer dropped from Shield team". The Canberra Times. 63 (19, 461). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 January 1989. p. 48. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
34. "India splits over board's decision on six players". The Canberra Times. 63 (19, 663). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 August 1989. p. 38. Retrieved 6 March 2016 – via National Library of Australia.

External links

• Greg Dyer at ESPNcricinfo