Craig McDermott

Craig John McDermott (born 14 April 1965) is a former Australian cricketer. Between 1984 and 1996 he played 71 Tests for Australia, taking 291 wickets. Following the end of his playing career, he was the bowling coach for the Australian team for two spells between 2011 and 2016.[1]

Craig McDermott
Craig McDermott in Wellington, 1986
Personal information
Full nameCraig John McDermott
Born (1965-04-14) 14 April 1965
Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
NicknameBilly
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm fast
RoleBowler
RelationsAC McDermott (son)
BR McDermott (son)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 328)22 December 1984 v West Indies
Last Test25 January 1996 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 82)6 January 1985 v West Indies
Last ODI23 February 1996 v Kenya
ODI shirt no.15
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1983–1995Queensland
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODIs
Matches 71 138
Runs scored 940 432
Batting average 12.20 7.08
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 42* 37
Balls bowled 16,586 7,461
Wickets 291 203
Bowling average 28.63 24.71
5 wickets in innings 14 1
10 wickets in match 2 0
Best bowling 8/97 5/44
Catches/stumpings 19/0 27/0
Source: Cricinfo, 19 July 2005

International career

McDermott was the spearhead of the Australian attack in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was powerfully built at 191 cm tall. He started his career with Queensland in 1983–84 and made his Test match debut for Australia in 1984–85 whilst still 19 v West Indies (his youth engendering his nickname "Billy" – from Billy the Kid). In his first Ashes tour of 1985, he took 30 wickets. But he was over-bowled and was burnt out. He had an excellent World Cup in 1987, helping Australia win the trophy. He took 18 wickets in the tournament, including 5/44 in the semi-final win over Pakistan.

McDermott was a rhythm bowler, and when this was right, he would have an aggressive approach to the wicket and an excellent sideways-on action, giving him sharp pace and outswing. He always saved his best for England, taking 32 wickets in the last full series that he was able to play before injuries took over. Injuries seemed to hit him at wrong times, and he missed the history-making West Indies tour of 1995, and most of the 1996 World Cup. He also missed most of the 1993 Ashes tour when Shane Warne and Merv Hughes shared the spoils in his absence. His best bowling analysis in Tests is 8/97 against England in 1991. He ended with 291 wickets from 70 Tests and 203 one-day wickets with the best analysis being the 5/44.

In batting, even though McDermott's average was that of a tail-ender, he could still hit the ball with power and could stand his ground against fast bowling. In fact, two of the closest Tests that Australia lost, McDermott played a key role – In 1993, Australia lost the pivotal closest match in Test history by 1 run to West Indies when McDermott, on 18 and batting with stout resistance, was given out controversially when attempting to play a bouncer from Courtney Walsh. In 1994, he was on 29 not out in the Test against South Africa that Australia lost by 5 runs in chasing 117.

Coaching career

On 12 May 2011, it was announced that McDermott had been appointed the new bowling coach for the Australian cricket team replacing Troy Cooley.[2] On 11 May 2012, McDermott announced his resignation as Australia's bowling coach, citing the heavy touring schedule as the reason.[3] Craig McDermott has been appointed as the new bowling coach and consultant for Ireland cricket team.[4] In November 2012, he announced that he would be opening a fast-bowling clinic.[5]

McDermott returned to a coaching role with the Australian cricket team on a two-year contract in May 2014.[6]

Personal life

McDermott's sons, Alister McDermott and Ben McDermott are cricketers, playing for Queensland and Tasmania respectively.

Explicit video controversy

In September 2006, McDermott was caught up in a sex-tape extortion case where he was blackmailed for $65,000 by 38-year-old former employee Peter Josef Vigan in exchange for two sexually explicit videos of McDermott with his wife. Vigan was charged by Queensland Police with eight counts of extortion and one count each of burglary and theft in relation to the earlier theft of the tapes from McDermott's luxury cruiser. He was released on bail at Southport Magistrates Court, and ordered to report to police three times a week and was due to reappear in court in December 2006.[7] Both of the tapes and $30,000 of the money have been since recovered by police; Vigan spent the remainder of the money on the drug ice and throwing wild parties.

On 23 January 2009, Vigan pleaded guilty to the charges in Southport District Court; Judge Julie Dick sentenced him to 4½ years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months, also ordering him to pay McDermott restitution of $35,000.[8]

Bankruptcy

On 6 June 2008, the courts appointed a liquidator to McDermott's company, Maxen Developments.[9] The company was wound up over failure to pay $48,000 owed to the Metropolitan Fire & Emergency Services Board.[10] McDermott/Maxen allegedly owed more than $40,000,000,[11] including $22,000,000 to Bridgecorp, $10,000,000 to City Pacific and $121,000 to architect Lachlan Henderson, while former delivery driver Terrence O'Brien and his wife Janice alleged that McDermott used $625,000 that was invested in the company for "personal purposes".[10] On 12 June, Craig McDermott filed for bankruptcy.[11]

Cricket legend Allan Border and Brisbane Broncos identity Barry Maranta, along with Rod Petricevic of Bridgecorp, have all been associated with McDermott either as directors of Maxen or directors of other entities related to Maxen and its projects at Bargara Beach Estate near Bundaberg and Fraser Waters at Hervey Bay.[12]


Personal life

In September 2007, it was revealed that McDermott's second wife, Suzie Houston, intended to sue him for allegedly refusing to pay child support.[13]

In 2008, it was reported that Craig McDermott drove a black Porsche Carrera and lived in a luxury 1092 cubic metre Gold Coast waterfront home (understood to be owned by McDermott's third wife Ann-Maree) which was put up for sale for offers over $10,000,000.[14]

References
  1. "McDermott leaves pace renaissance behind". Cricinfo. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  2. Brettig, Daniel. "McDermott named Australia's bowling coach". cricinfo.com. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  3. "Craig McDermott quits as national bowling coach". The Australian. 11 May 2012.
  4. "Australian Craig McDermott is new Ireland bowling coach". Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  5. "McDermott to chart his own pace course". Wisden India. 7 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  6. Pierik, Jon (24 October 2015). "Craig McDermott keen to continue as Australian bowling coach". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  8. "Sex tape extortionist jailed Local Gold Coast News | goldcoast.com.au | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia". goldcoast.com.au. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  9. "Maxen Developments Pty Ltd". Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  10. Dodes, Rachel (6 June 2008). "Legal action hits former Test star Craig McDermott | Herald Sun". News.com.au. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  11. Dodes, Rachel (22 June 2008). "From hero ... to zero | Herald Sun". News.com.au. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  12. "Border links to McDermott, Bridgecorp – Business – Business". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  13. Klan, Anthony (5 September 2007). "Ex-wife to sue Craig McDermott for child support". News.com.au. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  14. "McDermott mansion up for sale | The Daily Telegraph". News.com.au. 1 May 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2010.

Bibliography
  • Benaud, Richie (1991). Border & Co: A Tribute To Cricket's World Champions. Hamlyn Australia. ISBN 0-947334-31-9.
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