Greg Chappell AO MBE (b. 1948), cricketer, captained the Australian team from 1975 to 1977 and again from 1979 to 1983, playing in Kerry Packer's breakaway World Series team in between. Having made his first-class debut for South Australia in 1966, he played two seasons of English county cricket for Somerset before making his Test debut against England in the 1970-1971 series, scoring a century in his first innings at the first-ever match at the WACA. He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1973, the year he moved to play for Queensland. Although Chappell was soon acknowledged as the best batsman of his day - Richie Benaud rates one of his innings against England as close to flawless - he was a fine all-rounder and on his retirement held the world record for most Test catches. Unfortunately, his very greatest feats at the crease were 'off-the-record' with the World Series Cricket team in the Caribbean in 1979. His brother, Ian, played in the Australian team at the same time as Greg, and as brothers they set several records; later their younger sibling, Trevor, played for Australia as well (Trevor, at Greg's direction, bowled the notorious underarm ball to New Zealand batsman Brian McKechnie in 1981.) Throughout his career Greg was dogged by throat and other infections; since retiring, he has become a vegan, thrown off his ailments, and written several books on healthy eating. He was included in Australia's Test Team of the Century in 2000, inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2001 and named Australia's all-time fourth-best cricketer in 2003. From 2005 to 2007 he coached the Indian team; he turned down a request to coach Pakistan in February 2010. Chappell has a range of business interests including Greg Chappell Cricket Centre stores, and has also worked as a commentator.
