Australian cricket lost its youngest Test skipper when Ian Craig died of cancer in Bowral on Sunday, aged 79.
His achievements may never be broken.
Ian Craig scored 91 in his Shield debut against South Australia, with 53 and 47 in his Test debut against South Africa at the MCG.
Those three digs had many pundits predicting he was another Don Bradman. How he hated that comparison.
During the many seasons I had the privilege to play with Ian in Mosman first grade, we often talked about how he had trouble handling the accolades thrust on him at such a young age.
He was a very unassuming and quiet bloke, who just played cricket because he loved it. He was the first to admit he didn’t have the hunger of a Bradman, nor the ability of the icon.
But let me tell you Ian Craig was a joy to watch as a batsman. His footwork was simply outstanding, and he was like Bradman by keeping his shot-making on the deck, he rarely hit a six.
But his timing and placement were exquisite, and he was great to bat with as he was a very quick on his feet and was always looking to turn the strike over.
After such an astonishing start to his Shield and Test careers, Ian’s cold hard career stats don’t do him any justice. In 11 Tests he averaged only 19.88.
In 144 first-class games Ian scored 7328 runs at 37.96, with 15 tons and 38 half-centuries.
What does stand out was his captaincy. In 48 first-class games as captain, Ian lost only two.
As captain on the 1957-58 South African tour of five Tests, Ian captained the side to a comprehensive 3-nil series win.
That side read like a Who’s Who, with the opening batsmen Colin McDonald and Jimmy Burke, followed by Neil Harvey, Ken Mackay, Ian Craig, Peter Burge, Bobby Simpson, Richie Benaud, Alan Davidson, Wally Grout, Ian Meckiff, and Lindsay Kline.
One helluva side, and Ian Craig as captain was the ‘baby’ of the team.
On his return home, Ian contracted hepatitis, and that virtually ended his career and started Richie Benaud’s career as skipper. Richie always speaks in glowing terms of Ian’s tenure at the top.
Ian David Craig was that sort of bloke, highly respected and admired by all those lucky enough to know him
To Ian’s wife Ros, a great lady, and their three children Andrew, Jonathan, and Alex, cricket and The Roar are with you all for the loss of a gentleman, and a gentle man.
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
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