Dodemaide returns ... as chief executive at the WACA

Tony Dodemaide has returned to the scene of one of his biggest triumphs - the WACA in Perth - to start work as the association's chief executive.

Dodemaide, the former Australian Test allrounder, has spent the past five years in London as MCC's head of cricket at Lord's. He replaces Kath White, who retired as the WACA's chief executive officer in February.

It was at the WACA, against Sri Lanka in 1987-88, that Dodemaide took 5 for 21 off 7.2 overs on his one-day international debut. Those remained the best debut figures in ODI history until Fidel Edwards captured 6 for 22 against Zimbabwe last year.

And yet incredibly Dodemaide, who was only belatedly invited to join the Australian team, was not named Man of the Match in that game - Steve Waugh took the honours for his 35 not out and 3 for 34.

Dodemaide recently tried to play down his starring first-up performance as beginner's luck. "I took three quick wickets early," he told Inside Edge magazine. "Then, as the match was winding down and it was clear we were going to win, I came back and took the last two - Guy de Alwis and Graeme Labrooy - with successive balls.

"de Alwis was teeing off with some success but slogged my loosener down Geoff Marsh's throat. Labrooy kindly walked across his stumps next ball and that was that. I'm happy to tell everyone they were all jaffas."

Only three days earlier Dodemaide had completed an equally impressive, and far more memorable, Test debut against New Zealand at Melbourne. He compiled a workmanlike 50 in his first innings with the bat then took 6 for 58 in his second innings with the ball.

Originally from Victoria, he played 10 Tests in an understated career, accumulating 34 wickets at 28.02 and 202 runs at 22.44.