Gary Cosier
Encyclopedia
Gary John Cosier is a former Australia
n test cricket
er who played in 18 Tests
and 9 ODIs from 1975 to 1979. Cosier's star shone very briefly following a sensational test debut, when he became only the ninth Australian to post a century in his first Test.
against the West Indies in 1975–76, and a 168 against Pakistan the following season. Test bowlers were quick to exploit his technical deficiencies, in particular a very short backlift and abbreviated footwork. Cosier was all brute force with little finesse, but he did try to modify his technique somewhat during the 1978–79 Ashes
series, when he was incongruously used as an opener.
He could back his batting with slow medium-pacers that swung alarmingly when the conditions favoured him. On the 1977 tour of England he showed in an ODI at Edgbaston
that he could have been well suited to the burgeoning genre of one-day cricket when he snared five for 18. However, Cosier’s bowling was not really used in Tests and his first Test wicket did not come until his 13th match. He was also an excellent close-in fielder and secure slipper.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Cosier made a first-class
debut aged 18 for Victoria, but he relocated to South Australia to play regular first class cricket. Coming under the influence of SA skipper Ian Chappell
, Cosier pursued his positive approach to batting and seemed to be headed for the top, although Chappell doubted his commitment to the game. Ultimately, Cosier was one of two batsman who toured England in 1977 who was not offered a contract to join the break away professional troupe World Series Cricket
(WSC). This was a direct result of Chappell’s opinion.
With the WSC players absent, Cosier’s form during 1977–78 was mediocre, but he moved to Queensland
the following year in a lucrative deal reported to be worth $50,000 per year. Yet by mid summer, the opening experiment having failed miserably, he was out of the Australian team, never to return. The readmission of WSC players in 1979–80 curtailed his opportunities at state level. He eventually returned to his native Melbourne where his first class career ended with two outings for Victoria in 1980–81.
. The North African nation boasts an eight-team national league, and proudly claims an indigenous-participation rate of 95%, and Cosier manages the national team, which is an ICC affiliate member.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n test cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played in 18 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and 9 ODIs from 1975 to 1979. Cosier's star shone very briefly following a sensational test debut, when he became only the ninth Australian to post a century in his first Test.
Cricket career
The stocky, redheaded Cosier was a middle-order batsman who often attacked the bowling when a more judicious method was the order of the day. Given an extended trial at international level over four seasons, he never really established himself as a Test batsman, although he was vice-captain of Australia for a brief period. He had two major highlights at Test level – a hundred on his Test debut at MelbourneMcG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
against the West Indies in 1975–76, and a 168 against Pakistan the following season. Test bowlers were quick to exploit his technical deficiencies, in particular a very short backlift and abbreviated footwork. Cosier was all brute force with little finesse, but he did try to modify his technique somewhat during the 1978–79 Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series, when he was incongruously used as an opener.
He could back his batting with slow medium-pacers that swung alarmingly when the conditions favoured him. On the 1977 tour of England he showed in an ODI at Edgbaston
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
that he could have been well suited to the burgeoning genre of one-day cricket when he snared five for 18. However, Cosier’s bowling was not really used in Tests and his first Test wicket did not come until his 13th match. He was also an excellent close-in fielder and secure slipper.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Cosier made a first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut aged 18 for Victoria, but he relocated to South Australia to play regular first class cricket. Coming under the influence of SA skipper Ian Chappell
Ian Chappell
Ian Michael Chappell is a former cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. He captained Australia between 1971 and 1975 before taking a central role in the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation...
, Cosier pursued his positive approach to batting and seemed to be headed for the top, although Chappell doubted his commitment to the game. Ultimately, Cosier was one of two batsman who toured England in 1977 who was not offered a contract to join the break away professional troupe World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket
World Series Cricket was a break away professional cricket competition staged between 1977 and 1979 and organised by Kerry Packer for his Australian television network, Nine Network. The matches ran in opposition to established international cricket...
(WSC). This was a direct result of Chappell’s opinion.
With the WSC players absent, Cosier’s form during 1977–78 was mediocre, but he moved to Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
the following year in a lucrative deal reported to be worth $50,000 per year. Yet by mid summer, the opening experiment having failed miserably, he was out of the Australian team, never to return. The readmission of WSC players in 1979–80 curtailed his opportunities at state level. He eventually returned to his native Melbourne where his first class career ended with two outings for Victoria in 1980–81.
Post-playing career
Cosier now manages Abdur Rahman Bukhatir's cricket and golf interests in Tangiers, MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. The North African nation boasts an eight-team national league, and proudly claims an indigenous-participation rate of 95%, and Cosier manages the national team, which is an ICC affiliate member.