Tom Veivers

Of Scottish descent, Tom Vievers, who emerged from Queensland country cricket, was something of an Australian rarity when picked against South Africa in 1963-64. A conventional offspinner, he was a type of bowler not seen in the Baggy Green for some time. And he could bat as well, as he showed in his third Test at Sydney when he held out to defy South Africa in the final match of the series. In England in 1964 his batting fared better than his bowling. He top-scored with 54 at Lord's as Australia were skittled for 176, and in the final Test at The Oval hit an unbeaten 67. He added another two half-centuries in the subsequent series against India, and made 88, his Test-best, against Pakistan at Melbourne in 1964-65. But his bowling, while being accurate and controlled, lacked a cutting edge as his Test average of over 40 showed.