Full Name

John Russell Watkins

Born

April 16, 1943, Newcastle, New South Wales

Age

80y 348d

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Legbreak Googly

John Watkins was a legspinner from country New South Wales plucked out of obscurity to play his only Test against Pakistan in 1972-73 after only five first-class appearances in which he had taken 11 wickets at 37.18 - his reputation had been established in grade cricket for Newcastle. He struggled with the ball, but a career-best 36 helped the Aussies set up an unlikely victory. Watkins went on the West Indian tour that followed, but wasn't risked in the Tests, and hardly played at all. Keith Stackpole dubbed him "possibly the luckiest player ever to represent Australia", and recalled how in one of the tour games "he almost hit the square-leg umpire with the widest full-toss I've seen." His always-fragile confidence fractured, Watkins never played first-class cricket again.
Martin Williamson

John Watkins Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
Tests121393639.0016623.49000010
FC10158703610.00--00--100

Bowling

FormatMatInnsBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
Tests1148210---3.50-000
FC10--726204/72-36.30---00
John Russell Watkins

Explore Statsguru Analysis

Test

Recent Matches of John Watkins

MatchBatBowlDateGroundFormat
Australia vs Pakistan3* & 360/2106-Jan-1973SydneyTest # 707
NSW vs Victoria0 & 11*0/2 & 0/6729-Dec-1972SydneyFC
NSW vs Victoria04/75 & 2/9223-Dec-1972MelbourneFC
NSW vs West Aust00/3301-Dec-1972SydneyFC
NSW vs South Aust0*0/13 & 0/1524-Nov-1972SydneyFC

Debut/Last Matches of John Watkins

FC Matches

Span
1971/72 - 1972/73