Ian Redpath, a former batter for Australia, passed away at the age of 83. Known as an obdurate opener, Redpath played five ODIs and 66 Test matches throughout his 1964–1976 international career.
When he was dismissed by Joe Partridge for 97 in his Test debut match against South Africa at the MCG, he almost reached a century. I licked my chops after hitting an off-drive for four and saw another one that I believed was in the same location. “It was a beautiful follow-through,” he told Nine tabloids last year.
He didn’t reach his first century until February 1969, when he faced the West Indies at the SCG, scoring 132 in the second innings against an attack that included Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith, Garry Sobers, and Lance Gibbs.
He went on to score seven more hundreds, including a career-high 171 against England in Perth in 1970 and finished his Test career by scoring three runs in four innings against the West Indies in 1975–76. On the initial match at the MCG, Wisden stated: “Although Redpath was at once subjected to plenty of short stuff, he ducked and weaved in his own effective way and went on to complete an important century for Australia and one which underlined the value which he has been to Australia over many years.”
Redpath retired to work full-time for his antique company in Geelong, even though he was obviously still competent enough. An invitation to play World Series Cricket, which he played for two seasons despite missing the most of the first one due to injury, would entice him back to the game a year later.
Gideon Haigh said in an article for the Australian last year: “How can one imagine Redpath given the limited amount of film available? He was difficult to dismiss because, in the days before helmets, he was a swayer and a ducker of bouncers rather than a hooker; he played straight with a short pick-up, often off the back foot; and he understood where his off stump was.
When he declined his match pay in 1963–64 to continue playing amateur Australia Rules Football, he became the final Australian to play as an amateur early in his international career.
He batted alongside Ian Chappell, who was also his vice-captain, when he reached a century in his maiden match against England in 1970–71.
Greg Chappell subsequently commented, “As you might expect, my first innings in Test cricket was a trying experience, but proved to be one of the best cricket lessons of my career, thanks to Ian Redpath.”Thankfully, we were both successful and our partnership placed us in a strong position, but in my opinion, I had learned a great deal about what it meant to bat in a Test match from one of the bravest batters to ever represent Australia.
Redpath, who took 32 runs (four sixes and two fours) off Neil Rosendorff in 1969–70 against Orange Free State, still holds the record for the most runs scored by an Australian in an over. But it wasn’t until his last Test match against the West Indies that he scored his maiden six in international cricket.
Redpath, who would later coach Victoria, received an MBE in 1975. He was inducted into the Cricket Australia Hall of Fame in January 2023. The Geelong Cricket Club renamed its scoreboard in Redpath’s honor in 2024.
“Ian was a much loved and revered figure and everyone in Australian cricket will be enormously saddened by his passing,” Mike Baird, the chairman of the CA, said. “As a superb opening batsman, Ian was a pillar of the national team during one of the greatest periods in Australian cricket history.
His immense passion for the game was evident in his significant contributions to both first-class and community cricket.
“The thoughts of everyone at Cricket Australia are with Ian’s family and many friends at this sad time.”
Ross Hepburn, chair of Cricket Victoria, shared those feelings.
“This is enormously sad news as we farewell one of the greats of our game and a very proud Victorian in Ian Redpath,” Hepburn stated. “I would like to express our deepest sympathies to Ian’s family on behalf of Cricket Victoria, especially to his four children and numerous friends and teammates from a cricket generation.
“Ian leaves a remarkable legacy to the game at the national, state, and local levels. His leadership and skill on the field allowed him to contribute to one of the great eras of Australian cricket.”
Our beloved “Redders” was a talented storyteller with a delightfully wry sense of humor. Many in our cricket community will miss his friendship and presence.
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