The term ‘one-Test wonder’ has become a pejorative expression. With connotations of luck and a whiff of a hoax, it’s a name unbecoming of those who have reached the pinnacle of cricket.
Historical context says that Stuart Law was unlucky to be a member of that club. Some were most certainly fortunate to get there, but get there they did.
Yet one-Test wonders can forever ponder the great unknown – what would have happened if I had another shot?
This enigma is a historical ally. Tony Abbott speculated he would have won the next election. It’s all moot. We’ll never know, but equally, we can’t say he would not have.
In the debate about the unfulfilled, this is an advantage one-Test players have over those who got that second and third crack.
So how do we measure the one-Test wonder against the two- or three-Test wonder?
There have been 69 one-Test players for Australia. Twenty-eight Australian players have two Tests to their name. An equal number have three Tests to their name.
I’d contend the term ‘two- or three-Test wonder’ is even more loaded. Of course the mechanics around selection are always complex, but crudely speaking, it suggests even after a reprieve you still sucked. The mystery has diminished and the second failure confirms our doubts.
Reflect on the following names and determine whether they deserve to be tarnished with that brush.
You’ll have one of those ‘I remember him’ moments. You may debate whether they’d played too few or too many. There may be an ‘in another time he would’ve played more’ angle.
Two-Test players
George Alexander, John Barrett, Michael Beer*, Ernest Bromley, Kenneth Burn, Frederick Burton, Philip Carlson, Percie Charlton, Simon Cook, William Cooper, Adam Dale, Tony Dell, Charles Eady, John Hodges, Alexander Hurwood, Thomas Kelly, Thomas Kendall, Rob Kerr, Jason Krezja, Philip Lee, Peter McIntyre, Scott Muller, Laurence Nash, Holmesdale Nitschke, Stephen O’Keefe*, Rob Quiney*, Mervyn Waite and Roger Woolley.
Three-Test players
Graeme Beard, John Benaud, Donald Blackie, Sydney Callaway, Trevor Chappell, David Colley, Trent Copeland*, James De Courcy, Bruce Francis, John Gannen, Ronald Gaunt, Walter Giffin, Dave Gregory, Ron Hamence, Moises Henriques*, John Hill, Martin Kent, Trevor Laughlin, John Maguire, Chris Matthews, Glen Maxwell*, Patrick McShane, Geoffrey Noblett, Richard Robinson, David Sincock, Stephen Smith, Shaun Tait and George Tribe.
While these exercises in judgment are the plaything of armchair selectors, it reflects our passion for the game. We acknowledge that calling a player ‘lucky’ in no way dims their ability. At the end of the day, we’d gladly accept that tag for a Baggy Green.
With that disclaimer, I’ll get the ball rolling by saying Robbie Kerr was lucky to have played one more Test than Stuart Law. I’ll take one Baggy Green and a 54* over two Tests, two 7s and a 17.
I wonder if they think that too?
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