7. Andy Bichel, Australia
With 140 kmph speed, a smooth action and the ability to do more than enough with the bat, Andy Bichel sure sounds the dream all-rounder for any team. Called the smiling assassin by many, hailing from Queensland, Bichel suffered from the golden age of Australian Cricket in the worst way possible. A perpetual 12th man, Andy Bichel could only play 19 test matches for his country owing to stiff competition in the Australian team from McGrath, Lee and Gillespie. One wonders if Bichel had burst onto the scene 4-5 years later or ahead, things could have been a lot different for him. The selflessness of the man is best exemplified by one such instance as mentioned by Steve Waugh in his autobiography “Out of my comfort Zone”. Waugh recounts that Bangladesh were 150 odd at the fall of 1 wicket in that test. All the bowlers were struggling to find a weakness in the opposition team’s batting. Bichel ran to lee, a bowler he was facing close competition with for that elusive third seamer slot. He observed a technical flaw in the opposition’s batting and made Lee aware of it. Australia went on to win the game comfortably. Such a good person deserved a bit more share of that baggy green.
