Before we proceed I would like to share the amazing stats of David Steel's career. Taken out of the blue by England captain he was sent in to face the marauding Aussie pacemen, Lillee and Thommo for the second test. His scores with the bowlers faced :-
- Lords - 50 and 45 (Lillee, Thomson, Walker and Mallet)
- Headinley - 73 and 92 (Lillee, Thomson, Walker, Gilmour)
- The Oval - 39 and 66 (Lillee, Thomson, Walker, Mallet)
England drew all three tests after having lost the first by an innings before Steele came in!!
Then came West Indies and he scored :-
- Trentbridge - 106 and 6 (Roberts, Julien, Holder, daniell)
- Lord's - 7 and 64 (Roberts, Holding, Julien, Holder)
- Old Trafford 20 and 15 (Roberts, Holding, Daniel)
- The Oval - 44 and 42 (Roberts, Holding, Holder, Daniel)
They asked him to open in the 4th test at Headingley and he failed with 4 and 0. England drew the first two tests and lost the last three when Steele failed to come off.
That was his entire career of 8 tests. An average of 42 and a bit.which would have been 49 if you took away the test in which he was made to open.
Steele was made of steel.