Mike Veletta      

Full name Michael Robert John Veletta

Born October 30, 1963, Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia

Current age 46 years 24 days

Major teams Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Western Australia

Batting style Right-hand bat

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Other Coach

Mike Veletta is unlikely to figure in any Australian cricket Hall of Fame, but he did play a pivotal role in their seminal 1987 World Cup win. In the final against England he slammed 45 off only 31 balls, an innings that was ultimately decisive as Australia squeezed home by only seven runs. Such chicanery was slightly out of character for Veletta, the man with eyes like Errol Flynn's. He was ordinarily a dogged opener for Western Australia, and in the 1986-87 Sheffield Shield final he took them to victory with a 762-minute 266. He also had three opening partnerships of more than 300 with Geoff Marsh for WA, but at the top level Veletta never really cracked it. In eight Tests he got a number of starts, but failed to reach 50 and ended with an average of 18. He returned to WA as their coach on a three-year contract in 2001, but that was terminated a year early.

Notes

Western Australia: 1983-84 to 1994-95, Coach 2001- to 2003. Club: Weston Creek,

Latest Articles

• Johnson's heroics, and Veletta's 'gem of a cameo' (Feb 26, 2007)
• Happy birthday, Courtney (Oct 30, 2003)
• WACA terminates Veletta's contract (Mar 21, 2003)
• Veletta eyes new challenge (Oct 11, 2001)
• State coaching panel named (Jun 1, 2001)

View the full index of related articles »

Latest Photos

Oct 23, 2001

Mike Veletta - Portrait October 2001

© Getty Images

1998

Mike Veletta

© Western Australian Cricket Association

Nov 4, 1987

Mike Veletta forces one on the on-side during his 48

© Getty Images