There is quite a bit of writing about Tony Greig in my library, not all of it complimentary, which makes for fascinating reading. Here are bits and pieces.
Not very sportsmanlike and the attitude of a mercenary
Tony Greig bears a fair amount of responsibility for the decline on sportsmanship in the English game. He was the first England player I remember indulging in gamesmanship . He stood very close in at bat-pad position and would appeal for everything. He was the same as a bowler - the object was to pressurise the umpires into making mistakes. When he batted he would stand there and wait for the decision even if he had knocked the cover off the ball. Very South African, whatever his English qualification.
The English lads who played under him thought Greigy was great value and I am afraid that his gamesmanship rubbed off on some of them. When I returned to the England scene after a gap of two and a half years, I noticed how much harder they all played and that included dubious appeals and the verbals if necessary. I hadn't forgotten how Greig had tricked out Eddie Barlow in a John Player league match a year earlier. Eddie played the ball to square leg and set off for a single; Greig went straight across the pitch and ran into Barlow; Eddie couldn't get past him and was run out by a row from square leg.
I wrote in my captain's report that the England skipper had been guilty of I gentlemanly conduct, that he had barged into Eddie deliberately. I thought it was a disgraceful action and told him so. Unfortunately Greig was no strangers to such tricks and his influence soon spread. If the England captain could stand at square leg bad-mouthing off a batsman, why shouldn't the rest follow suit. And what's wrong with pointing to the pavilion after dismissing someone?
Tony Greig's disrespect for the traditions of cricket meant that he was right up Kerry Packer's street and the current captain of England was soon hooked on the idea of WSC. He wouldn't have had the dilemma that Keith Fletcher did in 1982 about the South African offer. Greigy was always one to accommodate the highest bidder.
- England wicket keeper Bob Taylor
Impulsive and headstrong : determined and spirited
Tact and moderation are not words that spring to mind at the mention of his name, and in his early days with England there were signals from high places about his impulsive and occasionally over combative attitude . Wisden noted (on Tony Lewis tour of the sub continent and the West Indies) that his "aggressive band embarrassing mannerisms " and " the doubts caused by his explosiveness when the desire to succeed seemed to overwhelm his judgement" Wisden went on "he was good in creating pressure on others but not always so good in controlling it in himself."
I stood by him ... because malice was never the cause of his impulsiveness and I saw in him a dynamism, which if put to proper use, would be of inestimable value to England. I also thought that he was too intelligent not to learn as he went along.Two of his splendid qualities were his spirit and his determination. The tougher the situation the the stronger his response and added to his considerable ability and flair for the big occasion, a talent for leadership emerged. To me he appeared fully aware of his duty to preserve the best traditions of the game.
What I did not appreciate was the depth of his personal ambition. This was the impulsive, headstrong side of his nature. He found it hard to resist the showman in him at times and played to the gallery. ... he began to point to the pavilion when an opponent was dismissed ... signalling a four when he hit Lillee to the boundary . But the moment I told him to cut the provocative gestures he did so which showed he could take orders - the pre- requisite to giving them.
- Alec Bedser chairman of the committee that appointed him captain
Sharp/devious mind, ruthless streak, instinctive
With tall rangy good looks of the hero of a Western, Tony had presence, an all-round ability and a sharp, sometimes devious, mind. Although he led from the front with the infectious verve of a gay cavalier , he was not always too fussy about how his objectives were achieved. Despite his charm, He had a ruthless streak which was specially noticeable when Ian Chappell was the opposing captain. No prisoners were to be taken.
Tony was inclined to rely on instinct and this led to him making several mistakes both on and off the field which, with a moment's thought, could ave been avoided.
- "grovel" was not the word to use when he announced what he intended to make the Windies do
- his decision to replace Willis after just two overs with the new ball, during which he had removed Gordon Greenidge, with Underwood, doesn't make sense even in retrospect. On that featherbed it could only be termed a tactical and psychological blunder.
Sometimes his ideas worked brilliantly, but inevitably some were failures.
- Trevor Bailey, former England all rounder and cricket writer of renown
..... To be continued