Michael Gwyl Bevan
Michael Gwyl Bevan (born 8 May 1970, Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory) is a former Australian left-handed cricket batsman and a slow left arm chinaman bowler.He was an AIS Australian Cricket Academy scholarship holder in 1989. He played 232 ODI matches for Australia, and was a part of the 1999 and 2003 teams that won the World Cup. He was known as a “finisher” for Australia, particularly in ODIs, often leading the team to victory in the company of tail-enders. He holds the world record One Day International batting average for retired players of 53.58. In List A cricket as a whole, Bevan has an average of over 57, the highest of any player to have scored 10,000 runs in List A games (second is Dean Jones, on 46.93). Although Bevan played most of his domestic career for the New South Wales Blues, he moved to the Tasmanian Tigers for the 200405 season, where he continued his successes up until his retirement in January 2007. He has also played for South Australia and in England for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Sussex. Michael Bevan’s first senior club was Weston Creek Cricket Club in Canberra.
ODI career:
Bevan made his One Day International debut for Australia in the 1994 Austral-Asia Cup at Sharjah and by the 199596 season he became a regular in the side. Bevan is one of only four players with 30 ODI innings or more to maintain a batting average above 50. However, Bevan’s best performance was as a number four. Of the players to have played 30 or more ODI innings, he is one of only two (with Michael Hussey) whose batting average never dropped below 40. This, coupled with the high price he put on his wicket, resulted in many not-out innings.
2003 Cricket World Cup:
Bevan previously appeared for Australia in the 1996 Cricket World Cup, where Australia lost the final to Sri Lanka, and the victorious 1999 Cricket World Cup side. Bevan entered the 2003 World Cup injured. He played his first game in the group stage against India. He didn’t bat until the fifth group game against Namibia and he registered a rusty 17 before being caught and bowled by Louis Burger. In the final group game against England, he came in with Australia struggling at 484. He then was joined by Andy Bichel at 1358 with 70 runs still required to win. Bevan finished on 74 not out and Bichel 34 not out as Australia managed to win in the final over. An unbeaten group stage was followed by an unbeaten Super Six stage. He made 56 against New Zealand helping Australia recover from 847 again batting with Bichel to help Australia win. His last knock was an unfortunate golden duck in the semi-final against Sri Lanka and he was not required to bat in the final which Australia won.
Career statistics:
Competition
Tests:
Matches: 18
Runs scored: 785
100s/50s: 0/6
Top score: 91
5 wickets in innings: 1
10 wickets in match: 1
Best bowling: 6/82
ODIs:
Matches: 232
Runs scored: 6912
100s/50s: 6/46
Top score: 108*
5 wickets in innings: 0
10 wickets in match: n/a
Best bowling: 3/36
