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England v Australia Prudential World cup 1st semi final Headingley Jun 18 1975 Gary Gilmour Chris Old


During 70s the Headingley pitch has often been criticised as unsuitable for the big match occasion. This surface was strongly criticised by both captains and in that a game, supposedly, between some of the finest batsmen in the world could be finished in 65 overs, there was much to be said for their opinion. Yet, there was no feeling of being cheated by anyone in the capacity crowd. There was tremendous excitement, especially when Australia, in search of 94 runs needed to win, lost six wickets for 39 runs. Gasps, groans, or cheers, followed every ball.



The pitch was the same strip as that used ten days earlier in the Pakistan-Australia game but, of course, the groundsman had watered it and it looked green and damp. Australia had no hesitation about putting England in to bat after winning the toss and, from the way fieldsmen ran to change round at the end of each over they were obviously trying to get as many overs as possible bowled before the greenness went, or, if things went badly, they were concerned about batting in the faint light of late evening. They need not have worried for things went gloriously right for them.


England went into their World Cup semi-final against Australia wary of the threat posed by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson after the pummelling they had received the winter before. As it was, they were blown away by Gary Gilmour, a 23-year-old swing bowler playing in only the third of his five ODIs. Gilmour was a late inclusion in the side, but low cloud, a stiff breeze, and a grassy Headingley pitch were ideal for him.

Opening the attack with Lillee, he took 6 for 14 in 12 unchanged overs from the Football Stand end - after nine overs he had 6 for 10 - reducing England to 36 for 6. Greg Chappell had intended bowling him from the Kirkstall Lane End, but Lillee wanted to come downhill, so the junior bowler was switched. Five of the batsmen perished to inswingers, Frank Hayes padding up to one he thought was leaving him but which zipped back so far it might well have been missing leg.

The only one to fall to the awayswinger was Tony Greig, spectacularly caught one-handed by Rodney Marsh leaping wide to his right. England were skittled for 93, but the game wasn't over. The sideways movement and uneven bounce which had scuppered England did much the same for Australia, and when Gilmour strode to the middle his side were 39 for 6.


With Doug Walters at the other end, he threw the bat to good effect, surviving one chance to Greig in the slips with the score on 78, as Australia won by four wickets. Judging the Man of the Match was not a hard decision and that was Gary Gilmour from Australia.