AUS: Domestic Season 1992/93 - Victorian Season Summary
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Victoria
Victoria had a very disappointing season, apart from
playing in the final of the Mercantile Mutual Cup they
finished last in the Sheffield Shield. This was primarily
due to an inability of their bowlers to bowl sides out in
the required time. This was partly due to the fact that most
of there bowlers played for Australia at some time, Merv
Hughes and Shane Warne missing significant time with the
national team as did Paul Reiffel.
Victoria's batting lack the strength of last year, in
spite of having Dean Jones for more games than last year he
was in poor form with only 383 runs at 31.92. He failed to
pass a hundred once, completely contrasting with last season
where he past 200 three times. South Australian Paul Nobes
lead the Victorian averages after a little controversy about
his transferral with 682 runs at 48, the captain Simon
O'Donnell had a better season than last with 655 runs at 44,
his batting was more consistent than that of Nobes, he
passing 50 8 times whilst Nobes passed 50 only 4 times.
Darren Lehmann had a poor season averaging under 30 at
Christmas before finishing with 634 runs at around 35. He
has since moved back to South Australia, perhaps because of
the internal troubles at Victoria. One promising young
batsman, the Collingwood lefthander Matthew Elliot debuted,
whilst not setting the world on fire with his 191 runs in 4
matches he shows promise. The cricket academy player Laurie
Harper was given a few games for the second year in a row,
he failed to impress however. The two allrounders Tony
Dodemaide and Neil Maxwell had contrasting seasons.
Dodemaide batted well making a century in each of the last
two seasons as he made 380 runs at almost 35. The former New
South Welshman Neil Maxwell disappointed averaging a meagre
16, his catching however was excellent finishing with 17
catches in just 6 matches.
Inspite of playing few games and being heavily
overweight in the first half of the season, Merv Hughes
topped the Victorian averages with the ball. This showed up
how Victoria missed his aggression, and with last years
Shield player of the year Tony Dodemaide having a poor
season with the ball (22 wickets at 39), it was left to some
of the lesser lights to take wickets. Neil Maxwell did this
matching his great catching with some good bowling as he
picked up 30 wicket sin his 6 matches. It however was
another blow to Victoria when it was announced that Neil
Maxwell went back to New South Wales. Paul Reiffel was lucky
he was playing dor Australia, as his form for Victoria was
so bad that he would have been dropped. Several younger
players Simon Cook, Jamie Sutherland and Peter left armer
Peter Anderson were all tried without success. The bright
light for Victoria was the unearthing of another leg spinner
to replace Warne, Craig Howard. Howard is a contrast to
Warne, Warne being a slow laidback bowler with an almost
walk to the crease, Howard is an effervescent excitable
bowler.
Match Date Venue Result
WA v Vic 9.10.92 Perth Vic 132(42.3) WA 0-135(32.4) WA 10w
NSW v Vic 4.11.92 Sydney NSW 5-286(50.0) Vic 1-40(8.5) Drawn
NSW v Vic 6.11.92 Sydney NSW 377 7-179,Vic 9-547 Drawn
Vic v Qld 15.11.92 M'bourne Qld 8-210(50.0) Vic 7-211(49.4)Vic 3w
Vic v Qld 20.11.92 St Kilda Qld 9-222 9-144,Vic 195 9-95 Drawn
Vic v WA 4.12.92 St Kilda WA 212 3-337,Vic 352 Drawn
Tas v Vic 13.12.92 DevonportVic 222(49.0) Tas 164(46.5) Vic 58r
Vic v WA 19.12.92 Ballarat Abandoned Rain
Tas v Vic 31.12.92 Hobart Vic 7-417 3-196,Tas 204 8-332 Drawn
WA v Vic 8.1.93 Perth WA 448,Vic 265 7-457 Drawn
Qld v Vic 28.1.93 Brisbane Qld 201 7-321,Vic 155 156 Qld 211r
Vic v SA 3.2.93 MelbourneVic 8-486 7-201,SA 7-278 8-306Drawn
Vic v WA 13.2.93 MelbourneVic 9-187(50.0) WA 109(42.1) Vic 78r
NSW v Vic 20.2.93 Sydney Vic 186(50.0) NSW 6-187(47.4) NSW 4w
Vic v SA 7.3.93 MelbourneSA 9-135(50.0)SA 3-136(26.2) SA 8w
Vic v Tas 26.2.93 MelbourneVic 225 8-292,Tas 297 9-217 Drawn
SA v Vic 5.3.93 Adelaide SA 362 274,Vic 8-365 7-261 Drawn
Vic v NSW 18.3.93 MelbourneNSW 182 8-351,Vic 258 217 NSW 58r
Contributed by Phil Shead (drinnen@deakin.edu.au)