Hick and Fairbrother were the second most successful ODI batting pair of the 1990s

[mr_mister]

Sorry to make a new thread for this but oh well I think it's worthy. I was trying to find youtube clips of both of their ODI successes and realised they almost always came, for both of them, with the other man at the opposite end.


Partnership records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com


Going by average runs scored by partnership, with a 20 partnership minimum, Hick and Fairbrother were the second most successful batting pair of the 1990s. If England played more matches, they might have been able to crack an aggregate list too.


Partnership records | One-Day Internationals | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com


Of all time, they sit 17th. Still the second best for England. Their two biggest partnerships, 213 in 1991 and an unbeaten 154 in 1999(coincidentally the first and last years of their time batting together) resulted in both their highest individual scores. Fairbrother got 113 back in '91 and Hick scored 126* in '99.



Ajay Jadeja and Sachin sit 1st for the 90s. For all time, Twose and Astle sit 2nd. Raina and Kohli also make the top 20 for all time.So while ODI specialists feature a lot on these lists, Hick and Fairbrother are the only pair where both batsmen had far more success in the ODI arena than in tests. Jadeja had bloody Sachin to aid him, and Astle was a very well regarded partner for Twose. Kohli obviously helped Raina a lot in making this list too.


So here are 2 blokes. Fairbrother was essentially unwanted in tests and was putrid in his few chances, averaging 15(though a HS of 83 in his penultimate test makes me think a corner could have been turned). Hick, despite many chances to cement a spot in the test side and brief flashes of competency, was largely considered the biggest example of a tremendous FC bat who couldn't step up to the international stage, of all time. Him or Ramps anyway.


Yet in ODIs, together, they created magic. Unlikely heroes. A toast to Hick and Fairbrother.

 

[fredfertang]

Fairbrother was really unlucky in Tests - on debut on his home ground he went in just before the end of a rain shortened first day - really should have had a nightwatchman but skipper Gatting was the idiot who got out, and poor old Harv followed without, as they say, troubling the scorers

 

[mr_mister]

Interesting. Fred, was Fairbrother one of your favourites in your younger years? Are you from Lancashire or did I completely imagine that. Either way I think it was you that loves the guy.

What was your thoughts after he was dropped soon after his breakthrough 83 in 1993 in India?

 

[fredfertang]

Always been a Lancs fan and Fairbrother was indeed a great favourite, but he had a few chances at Test level and didn't take them, unlike in ODIs, so I seem to recall most people accepted there was a flaw in his temperament

 

[ankitj]

Is anyone old enough here to remember how Tendulkar and Jadeja were on a dream run as an opening pair until things started falling apart during 96 world cup, starting from the game against WI?

 

[mr_mister]

Is anyone old enough here to remember how Tendulkar and Jadeja were on a dream run as an opening pair until things started falling apart during 96 world cup, starting from the game against WI?

Interesting. It seems after only 2 failures up top Jadeja was sent down to 6, but from there smashed two consecutive 40s striking at nearly 200 including in the QF

I mainly remember him as a kid for his massive partnership with Robin Singh against us in the '99 WC, salvaging a train wreck of a situation from 4-17

I was born in '91 so that's where my memories begin of most cricketers, have vivid memories of Hick and Fairbrother killing it in the 98/99 tri series though

 

[mr_mister]

Always been a Lancs fan and Fairbrother was indeed a great favourite, but he had a few chances at Test level and didn't take them, unlike in ODIs, so I seem to recall most people accepted there was a flaw in his temperament

Weird he didn't have the temperament for test cricket, considering he possesed an FC best of 366

 

[ankitj]

Yes, Jadeja was moved to middle order after 2 horrid failures against WI and Aus. He made the middle order spot his own and then Ganguly emerged about 18 months later as Tendulkar's able opening partner. Jadeja could well have been a fine ODI opening batsman, who knows.

 

[fredfertang]

Weird he didn't have the temperament for test cricket, considering he possesed an FC best of 366

I meant in terms of a fear/expectation of failure rather than an inability to bat for a long time - although that 366 was on an absolute road - even Greig Minor managed almost 300 on it

 

[mr_mister]

I meant in terms of a fear/expectation of failure rather than an inability to bat for a long time - although that 366 was on an absolute road - even Greig Minor managed almost 300 on it

Ah I see. I was gonna say that I feel most 350+ scores are done on roads, but reading about it I see he scored 311 runs in a single day, that is some feat - and leads me to believe it must have been extra roadie road. Must have played like the autobahn

 

[h_hurricane]

Is anyone old enough here to remember how Tendulkar and Jadeja were on a dream run as an opening pair until things started falling apart during 96 world cup, starting from the game against WI?

Do remember that period clearly. They were on a vintage run from the Wills series in 1994 and the WI ODI series. That partnership started in NZ earlier than year though.

Jadeja was a bit slow to get off the blocks but was very consistent as an opener and very hard to dismiss in that period. Had a poor period as an opener in 1996 world cup and subsequently dropped down the order, went on to play that much celebrated innings against Pak in QF.

 

[h_hurricane]

England had some good ODI players in that period from late 80s to late 90s. Lamb was the stand out, but Hick and Fairbrother were very good. Knight and Thorpe were also very consistent. Gough was pretty good as an ODI bowler and there were several other good line and length bowlers. Makes one wonder why they were not more successful as a team in that period.

 

[a massive zebra]

Hick, despite many chances to cement a spot in the test side and brief flashes of competency, was largely considered the biggest example of a tremendous FC bat who couldn't step up to the international stage, of all time. Him or Ramps anyway.

I think 2,284 runs @ 46.61 in 30 Tests over a three year period in which he averaged over 40 against Australia, India, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa is more than a brief flash of competency. Only four batsmen scored more runs at a better average over this period and none of them were English. Statistically, Hick was one of the world's leading Test batsman for several years.

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

 

[mr_mister]

Okay, well I guess it means he was extra crap from 96-00 to have his overall average close to 30

 

[a massive zebra]

Okay, well I guess it means he was extra crap from 96-00 to have his overall average close to 30

Yes, the rest of his career was hopeless.

35 Tests, 1,099 runs @ 18.62

Absolutely pants!

 

[stephen]

England through the 90s were not as bad of a side as people think. They just couldn't keep their best bowlers on the park at the same time and didn't really seem to gel as a team. But they were never truly embarrassed through the era.

 

[mr_mister]

This XI might have been quite effective

Knight
Stewart+
Hick
Robin Smith
Fairbrother
Thorpe
Adam Hollioake *
Ealham
Defreitas
Gough
Mullally



This could have been put on the park around 1996-7. All played either at the 96 or 99 WC

No spinner needed really. Both Tufnell and Croft achieved little in the format. I know Flintoff did debut in the 90s but he's really more of an 00s player

Hollioake there as a Brearley type captain. Ten overs out of him is asking a bit though I know.