Lives in Cricket No 12 - Ric Charlesworth

His 25 from 55 balls in 66 minutes was the longest by 22 minutes, and the highest by six runs, in the local team’s collapse to 77 all out. Defeat seemed a formality on a good WACA wicket against a side including not only Greg Chappell but West Indian Viv Richards. But, inspired by Dennis Lillee, the West Australians dismissed Queensland for 62. A video of what was known for ever after as ‘The Miracle Match’, issued by the WACA twenty-five years later, shows how different 40-over games in this early era of one-day cricket in Australia were from the tight structures and artificial constraints on playing conditions that would eventually dominate the 50-over calendar in the post-Packer era. With no restrictions on field placings, an almost manic Lillee bowled a first over exclusively of bouncers until a good-length ball knocked back Richards’ off stump. Soon he had Chappell caught for two by Marsh before finishing with four for 21 from 7.3 eight-ball overs. * * * * * 36 1976-1981 Western Australia’s Shield-winning side of 1976/77. Back row (l to r): I.J.Brayshaw, T.C.Mullooly, R.S.Langer, M.F.Malone, D.K.Lillee, C.S.Serjeant, B.Yardley, D.Foster (manager). Front row: R.G.Paulsen, R.I.Charlesworth, R.W.Marsh (capt and wk), B.M.Laird, K.J.Hughes. W.M.Clark and A.L.Mann are missing from this picture.