Mohammad Ilyas

Mohammad Ilyas was an opening batsman and googly bowler who played ten Tests for Pakistan in the 1960s, only showing glimpses of being of international quality. He was called up for the tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1964-65 despite showing solid rather than spectacular domestic form, and although a middle-order batsman, he was converted to an opener. In the warm-up match against Queensland he made 46 and 115 and that was enough to win him his debut in the one-off Test against Australia. He made 6 and 3, but bounced back with a career-best 154 against South Australia. He retained his place for the three Tests in New Zealand, dropping into the middle order for the second and third with some success. Restored as opener for the return tour later that season, he made 56 in the first Test and then 126, his only Test hundred, as Pakistan won the third match, being stumped as he went for the winning hit - he hit four consecutive fours when in the nervous nineties. Pakistan had to wait two years before they played again and in that time Ilyas did little, but retained his place for the England tour. He struggled with the conditions as well as a foot injury and only played in the last Test where he failed. He played twice when England toured in 1968-69 making 42 runs in four innings. Early on his second tour to Australia he was struck in the face and he was also accused of indiscipline. Rather than fly home, he applied for Australian citizenship and ended the season playing grade cricket for Waverley in Sydney. He made his last appearance in Pakistan in the BCCP Trophy final in 1971-72 when he helped PIA to victory.
Martin Williamson