Andy Bichel

Andrew John Bichel (born 27 August 1970) is a former Australian cricketer, who played 19 Test matches and 67 One Day Internationals for Australia between 1997 and 2004. He was a right-arm medium-fast bowler, but was also a hard-hitting lower-order batsman.

Andy Bichel
Personal information
Full name
Andrew John Bichel
Born (1970-08-27) 27 August 1970
Laidley, Queensland, Australia
NicknameBic
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-fast
RoleAll-rounder
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 371)25 January 1997 v West Indies
Last Test12 December 2003 v India
ODI debut (cap 130)5 January 1997 v West Indies
Last ODI1 February 2004 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1992/93–2007/08Queensland
2001–2004Worcestershire
2005Hampshire
2006–2007Essex
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 19 67 186 235
Runs scored 355 471 5,860 2,491
Batting average 16.90 20.47 26.51 20.58
100s/50s 0/1 0/1 9/23 1/5
Top score 71 64 148 100
Balls bowled 3,337 3,257 37,197 11,433
Wickets 58 78 769 320
Bowling average 32.24 31.57 25.98 26.13
5 wickets in innings 1 2 36 4
10 wickets in match 0 0 7 0
Best bowling 5/60 7/20 9/93 7/20
Catches/stumpings 16/– 19/– 91/– 73/–
Source: Cricinfo, 13 May 2017
Medal record
Representing  Australia
Men's Cricket
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place1998 Kuala LumpurList-A cricket

Bichel represented Queensland in the Australian domestic competitions.[1] He also played for Worcestershire, Hampshire and Essex in English county cricket.

Since retiring from playing, Bichel has been a coach and a selector. He is a cousin of Chris Sabburg.

Personal life

Bichel was born to parents of German ancestry,[2] married Dion in 1997 and they have two children.

Domestic career

As well as Queensland's state team, he has played for the English Counties Essex, Hampshire and Worcestershire,[3] where he had successful sessions on Essex with the bat and ball.[4][5]

International career

Early years

Bichel made his Test debut for the Australian Cricket Team in Adelaide in 1996 in a match against the West Indies, and his One-day International Debut in Brisbane, also against the West Indies.

His rise to prominence coincided with the appearance of a young Brett Lee, with whom he was often in a battle for a third fast-bowler spot in the lineup behind Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie holding the other two positions. As the younger and pacier Lee was often selected ahead of him, Bichel now holds the test match record of being twelfth man for Australia on 19 occasions. He has recently made comments that he believes his bowling suffered during these times, as he missed out on the valuable match practice that he could have earned either playing for Australia or Queensland.

2003 Cricket World Cup

A highlight of Bichel's career was Australia's 2003 World Cup campaign. He was initially back up to Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath. He played his first game against Netherlands making a good impression with the ball and after injury had ended Gillespie's World Cup campaign he took over his position in the side. Bichel retrieved Australia from serious trouble on more than one occasion, most notably his 7–20 against England. This bowling performance rated as the best bowling against England in ODIs, best bowling at St George's Park in ODIs, and his best bowling in World Cups as well.[6]

In the same match, he went on to play a crucial role with Michael Bevan to score an unbeaten 73-run 9th wicket partnership to ease Australia to victory which saw him hit 34 not out. In the Super Six stage, he came in against New Zealand at 84–7. He and Michael Bevan again saved Australia with his highest score of 64 as Australia put up a winning total batting first.[7] In the semi-final against Sri Lanka, he bowled tightly conceding 0–18 in 10 overs but his pressure caused the spectacular run out of Aravinda de Silva as he picked up spun around and threw down the stumps to prevent a tight single off his own bowling. In the final against India, he picked up one wicket bowling Rahul Dravid as Australia won, completing an undefeated campaign.

Injury and retirement

At the start of the 2004–05 Australian summer, Bichel was not offered a contract by the Australian Cricket Board, an indication that the Board did not believe he would represent Australia in that season.[8] His performances in the domestic competition, however, continued to be at the same high standards as before and it was clear that he wanted to make another return to the international scene.[9] Bichel's performances at State level during the 2004–05 domestic season earned him the Domestic Player of the Year award at the 2005 Australian cricket awards.

However, he announced his retirement on 9 February 2009, saying he never fully recovered from his shoulder injury.[10][11]

Post retirement

Chennai Super Kings, the IPL Champions of 2010 season, acquired Andy Bichel's services as a bowling coach for the team's youngsters for IPL 2011 season. He was later the coach of Papua New Guinea.[12] On 11 November 2011, it was announced that Andy Bichel would join the Cricket Australia selection panel.[13][14]

In 2014 it was announced that Bichel had partnered Tangalooma Island Resort to be an official brand ambassador.[15]

Bichel has been well credited for his art in the fast bowling coaching landscape. His mantra of 'FTOO' is preached throughout Queensland Cricket.

References
  1. "Bichel steers Queensland to tight success". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. "Test Cricketers with German Origins". www.footyalmanac.com.au.
  3. "Bichel to return to Essex". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  4. "Bichel stars with six wickets for Essex". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  5. "Bichel strikes back-to-back centuries for Essex". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  6. "37th Match, ICC World Cup at Port Elizabeth, Mar 2 2003". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  7. "5th Super, ICC World Cup at Port Elizabeth, Mar 11 2003". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  8. "Bichel out for the season". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  9. "Bichel to return from shoulder surgery". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  10. "Smiling assassin Bichel calls it a day". ABC online. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  11. "Tough Bichel joins mates in retirement". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  12. "Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea prepare for WCL Division 3". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  13. "Rod Marsh and Andy Bichel to join selection panel". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  14. "Marsh named new chairman of selectors". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  15. "Tangalooma appoints former Aussie cricketer, Andy Bichel as brand ambassador for India". Travelbizmonitor.com. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
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