John Dyson, a correct and hard-working opener, had a couple of good seasons for Australia at a time when the West Indian fast bowlers ruined the careers of a succession of top-order batsman. He toured England in 1981, and made a superb century at Headingley before Ian Botham's heroics. Dyson was also prolific for NSW. A former soccer player, he entered cricket folklore with an outfield catch at the SCG one day that would have made any goalkeeper proud. After retiring as a player he moved into coaching, taking charge of Sri Lanka in 2003. His appointment came as a surprise, given that he had little coaching experience at higher levels. However, the players warmed to his style, and in 2004 the team arrested a downward slide. His stint lasted nearly two years, before Tom Moody took over. In 2007, Dyson was interested in the India and Bangladesh vacancies, and he eventually edged out his fellow Australian Dav Whatmore for the post of West Indies coach. His tenure, as those before him will attest to, combined sporadic success with humiliating defeat, while the board continued to fight with and against the players' association. A costly and embarrassing Duckworth-Lewis calculation blunder cost his side a match against England in early 2009, and an horrifically weakened team - owing to another player-board dispute - lost a Test and one-day series to Bangladesh. It was the final nail in his coffin, and he was sacked in August.
Cricinfo staff August 2009