31 Facts About Graham McKenzie

Graham McKenzie succeeded Alan Davidson as Australia's premier fast bowler and was in turn succeeded by Dennis Lillee, playing with both at either end of his career.

Graham McKenzie attended John Curtin High School, where he performed well with both bat and ball in the school's first XI.

Graham McKenzie finished the season with 515 runs at an average of 39.46 and 49 wickets at an average of 11.21.

Graham McKenzie's efforts were rewarded when the state selectors handed him a debut for the penultimate match of the Sheffield Shield season against Victoria in Melbourne.

At season's end, his captain Ken Meuleman advised Graham McKenzie to concentrate on his fast bowling.

Graham McKenzie held his end for 32 runs while Davidson's powerful hitting saw 98 added for Australia's highest tenth wicket partnership on English soil.

The youngest member of the touring party, Graham McKenzie was one of eight bowlers to take at least fifty wickets.

Graham McKenzie was noted for his ability to contain the opposition by bowling long spells.

Graham McKenzie was Australia's leading bowler with 16 wickets at 43.06.

Graham McKenzie led the attack as Australia retained the Ashes.

Graham McKenzie took 21 wickets when Australia visited India and Pakistan on the return journey to Australia.

Graham McKenzie was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1965, the first Western Australian born recipient.

In 1968, Graham McKenzie became a full-time cricketer, believing that it would offer him the best chance of financial security.

Graham McKenzie joined Leicestershire, captained until 1968 by the Western Australian skipper and former England Test stalwart Tony Lock.

Graham McKenzie took over four hundred wickets for the county and was instrumental in its four One Day Cricket trophies in the early 1970s and winning their first County Championship in 1975.

Graham McKenzie recovered sufficiently to break Geoff Boycott's forearm in a tour match just before the vital Seventh Test, but was not recalled and was left stranded on 246 Test wickets, two short of Richie Benaud's Australian record.

Graham McKenzie led the attack as Australia retained the Ashes.

Graham McKenzie took 21 wickets when Australia visited India and Pakistan on the return journey to Australia.

Graham McKenzie was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1965, the first Western Australian born recipient.

Graham McKenzie did little in the Third Test, which Australia lost by an innings, and was one of the five men dropped for the Fourth Test.

Fortunately Peter Allan was injured and Graham McKenzie was brought back into the team.

The Adelaide Oval was notoriously flat, but Graham McKenzie was an expert on getting batsmen out on dull wickets and used the humid atmosphere and fresh pitch to bowl Bob Barber for a duck and have John Edrich caught by the ever-reliable Simpson at slip.

Thereafter Graham McKenzie became one of the most consistent opening bowlers in the world.

In 1968, Graham McKenzie became a full-time cricketer, believing that it would offer him the best chance of financial security.

Graham McKenzie joined Leicestershire, captained until 1968 by the Western Australian skipper and former England Test stalwart Tony Lock.

Graham McKenzie took over four hundred wickets for the county and was instrumental in its four One Day Cricket trophies in the early 1970s and winning their first County Championship in 1975.

Graham McKenzie recovered sufficiently to break Geoff Boycott's forearm in a tour match just before the vital Seventh Test, but was not recalled and was left stranded on 246 Test wickets, two short of Richie Benaud's Australian record.

Graham McKenzie continued to play for Western Australia until 1974.

Graham McKenzie came out of retirement in 1977 to play in Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket.

Graham McKenzie has the record for taking the most dismissals, hit wicket, in Test match history.

In 2010, Graham McKenzie was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.