John Inverarity

Robert John Inverarity (born 31 January 1944, Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia) is a former Test and first-class cricketer. A right-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox spin bowler in his playing career, Inverarity was also one of the enduring captains in the Australian Sheffield Shield during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Cricket career

He played in six Tests between 1968 and 1972 and played first class cricket for Western Australia, South Australia and Australia over a period of twenty-three years between 1962 and 1985. As a state player, he captained Western Australia to Sheffield Shield glory four times in five years. When his teaching career took him to Adelaide his new team of South Australia went on to win the Shield in 1981–82. Batting at the Adelaide Oval he was involved in one of the most unusual "dismissals" in cricket history. After being clean-bowled for a duck by Greg Chappell - the ball deviating in mid-air - he was recalled to bat by umpire Colin Egar who signalled dead-ball, literally; the ball had deflected off a now-deceased unlucky local sparrow. After retiring from cricket in 1985 (aged 41) he continued teaching, before going into coaching on the English county scene with Kent and Warwickshire.

To recognise his contribution to the state team, the Western Australian Cricket Association named a stand at the WACA cricket ground in his honour. The stand, built in 1970 for the WACA's inaugural Test and initially named the...
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