68 Facts About Rick Darling

Rick Darling made his debut against Queensland, batting at number 6, being run out for 5.

Rick Darling made 2 and 32 against WA, 1 and 41 against Victoria and 12 against NSW.

Rick Darling made his initial first class century with 107 against Victoria.

Rick Darling made his one-day debut in the Gillette Cup quarter finals but only scored one.

Rick Darling eventually got back into the first eleven and scored runs, playing particularly well against Western Australia, making 45 and 100.

Rick Darling made 101 against Tasmania in a one-day game, which won him the Man of the Match Award nd saw him come into discussions about possibly opening for Australia, especially as the test team had been unable to find a consistent opening combination throughout the summer.

Rick Darling was selected for the Australian side for the fifth test against India and subsequent tour of the West Indies.

Rick Darling later recalled, "I was at the local water ski beach having a ski and first thing I knew was dad came down in the ute in a cloud of dust and was yelling out from the other side of the river 'come over here, get to Adelaide and play in the fifth Test'".

Australia's gamble on Wood and Rick Darling made dividends with the two of them putting on 89 for the first wicket, Australia's best opening partnership of the series.

Rick Darling began the West Indies tour well, scoring 26 and 35 in a tour game against Leeward Islands and 8 in the first ODI.

Rick Darling was picked for the second test but failed twice, making 4 and 8.

Rick Darling made 12 and 36 against the Windward Islands and failed again in the fourth test, making 10 and 6.

Rick Darling was dropped from the Australia team for the fifth test, being replaced by David Ogilvie.

Rick Darling did finish the tour with 75 against Bermuda Counties.

Peter McFarline of The Age felt Rick Darling "hooked himself out of the first test side" with this match.

Rick Darling was omitted for the first test side with Australia using Wood and Gary Cosier as openers.

However they failed to put on a strong opening stand and when Rick Darling scored 85 and 82 against NSW he was recalled for the second test, with Cosier dropped down the order.

Rick Darling then made 19 and 41 for South Australia against England.

Rick Darling made 33 in the first innings and 21 in the second.

Rick Darling was injured in a fielding mishap playing for South Australia against an invitational eleven.

The blow caused Rick Darling's chewing gum to become lodged in his throat, and he collapsed on the pitch, not breathing.

Rick Darling was taken off the field to sent to hospital:.

Rick Darling returned to the crease the following day, but could only make 15 runs.

Rick Darling made 9 in the second innings and Australia fell to a crushing 205-run loss, which allowed England to retain The Ashes.

Rick Darling was dropped from the Australian test team for the sixth test in favour of Andrew Hilditch.

Rick Darling kept his place in the one day side but performed poorly.

Rick Darling made 36 against NSW, 17 and 22 against Queensland, and 1 and 34 against WA.

Australia lost the first test against Pakistan and Rick Darling was recalled for the second test, replacing Graeme Wood.

Rick Darling carried this form into the test match, fielding brilliantly and scoring 75 in the first innings, putting on 96 with Hilditch.

Rick Darling had been unemployed for six months but went to work for Hindmarsh Building Society, sponsors of the South Australian side.

Rick Darling was selected to play for Australia in the 1979 World Cup.

Rick Darling made 60 in a warm up game against New Zealand but failed to impress in the official games, with scores of 25,13 and 13.

Rick Darling was selected for Australia's tour of India in 1979.

Rick Darling fell ill with a stomach ailment early in the tour.

Rick Darling returned to the team for the second test, replacing Dav Whatmore but was dismissed cheaply for 7 in the first innings, and did not bat in the second innings due to illness.

Rick Darling batted down the order and scored a fighting 59.

Rick Darling opened in the second innings and scored only 4.

Rick Darling is a tremendously talented batsman dragged back by acute nervousness.

Rick Darling made 27 and 3 against West Zone and was dismissed cheaply twice in the fourth test, 19 and 7.

Rick Darling was dropped down the order for the fifth and sixth tests.

Rick Darling made 88, which saw him discussed as a possible selection for the first test.

Rick Darling asked to bat down the order he was dismissed for 15.

Rick Darling was selected to play for Australia in the one day side in December 1979, replacing Bruce Laird.

Rick Darling followed this with 134 against Queensland in a Sheffield Shield game, his fifth first class century.

Rick Darling was injured while fielding later in the season.

Rick Darling began the next summer well with 81 against Tasmania.

Rick Darling suffered more injury problems hurting his thigh in a game against Western Australia.

In January 1980 Rick Darling was hit on the temple from a Jeff Thomson delivery in a Shield game against Queensland and had to be taken to hospital.

Rick Darling made 72 against NSW and 88 against the West Indies.

When Graham Yallop fell injured, Darling was recalled to the Australian one day team; he was felt to be suited to one day cricket due to his fast scoring and excellent fielding.

Rick Darling made 41 in an ODI against Pakistan, featuring in another run out with Graeme Wood, but being Australia's second top scorer.

Rick Darling followed this 132 and 58 not out for South Australia against Pakistan.

Rick Darling made a useful 34 against the West Indies, helping Australia to a victory.

Rick Darling made 14 in the next game then was dropped again from the squad in favour of David Hookes.

Rick Darling made a half century in the McDonald's Cup semi final.

Rick Darling's batting was a crucial part of the state's success.

Rick Darling was beginning to find form with 98 against NSW.

Rick Darling suffered bleeding in the eye and lacerations and had to spend several days in hospital.

Rick Darling played one game, making 15 and 4, then declared himself unavailable due to personal commitments.

Rick Darling got one to really rear up, and I got back to hook and it went between the visor and the top part of the helmet and smashed in my eye.

Rick Darling scored 58 against Pakistan but in his next game he clashed with South Australian captain David Hookes who wanted Darling to open in the absence of Wayne Phillips, but Darling wanted to bat down the order.

Hookes responded by making Rick Darling come in at number eight.

Rick Darling was then told he would have to open in the next game.

Rick Darling withdrew for the rest of the season as a result.

Rick Darling scored 100 in a state trial game but was omitted from the initial state squad.

Rick Darling managed to force his way back into the side for several games that summer, making 113 runs at 37 with a highest score of 58.

Rick Darling was renowned for being one of the country's best cover fieldsmen of his time.

In 2014 Rick Darling was working as a gardener at a retirement home.