Alan Hurst

The strapping Victorian fast bowler Alan Hurst's injury problems looked set to sentence him to one-cap-wonder status until he made a successful return in the late 1970s. Hurst made his debut in 1973-74, against New Zealand at Adelaide, but was dropped after a modest performance. Four years later he returned to a Packer-gutted side, and in 1978-79 he had a storming season. In six Ashes Tests he grabbed 25 wickets, even though a depleted Australia were hammered 5-1, and then blew Pakistan away with nine wickets at Perth. But that was Hurst's last Test in Australia - two wicketless Tests in India the following season were his last, and he had to return home with a serious back injury. He was also a terrible batsman, who made 10 ducks in 20 Test innings.
Rob Smyth