It wasn’t Ian Craig’s prodigious talent. Nor was it the maturity which belied his tender years.
The trait Australian cricket great Bobby Simpson most admired was Craig’s ability to lead.
Burdened with the moniker of “the next Bradman” at 17, Australia’s youngest Test captain at 22 didn’t win the deference of his senior peers with the bat or ball, but with leadership built upon respect.
“He was very, very mature. And that was seen in his captaincy. He had to captain the side with so many great players and he won their total respect,” Simpson told AAP on Friday after a memorial service for Craig, who died from cancer on November 16, aged 79.
“We thought he was about 30.
“What I learned from Ian was patience. And goodwill towards your fellow players. He was very strong on that.”
But despite his wisdom, Craig wasn’t immune from finding himself in trouble as a youngster.
“Ian was clearly mature beyond his years, he had to be to play for and captain his country at such young ages,” Craig’s brother, Geoff told mourners.
“But this does not mean he was never a naughty little boy.
“He and a friend once decided to raid a tree laden with beautifully ripe apricots.
“Imagine my mother’s embarrassment a few hours later when our neighbour knocked on the backdoor bearing a gift of apricots in a brown paper bag, with Ian’s shoes on top.”
Craig, despite an early exit from the game at 26 due to a battle with hepatitis, inspired a generation of Australian cricketers, including former captains Simpson and Neil Harvey, who were in attendance at his memorial at the Bradman Oval in Bowral.
What was often an uplifting, and lighthearted service MC’ed by radio personality Alan Jones, was also at times deflated by grief for another Australian cricketer whose career also ended far too soon – Phillip Hughes.
Jones called it “a fortnight of unspeakable grief in the world of cricket, at both ends of the cricketing spectrum”.
“Since Ian wanted today to be above all else, a party, I think Kerry O’Keeffe’s comments incorporate that sentiment of party when he tweeted ‘the bloke fielding at point in cricket heaven had better be nervous … very nervous’,” said Jones.
“Phillip has already been suggested will have his hand up to open the innings and Craig will the be the captain I’m sure.”
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