An old boy of Geelong College, like Lindsay Hassett, Jack Iverson and Paul Sheahan, Ian Redpath began his career as a sweet striker of the ball, but became an opener so obdurate that he did not strike a six until his 66th Test (whereupon he promptly cracked another one). A lanky, long-necked figure without a spare ounce of flesh, he was the last Australian to play as an amateur: in 1963-64 he declined his fee so as not to jeopardise his amateur football career. It didn't do him any harm: he made 97. Two other unusual accomplishments lend colour to his career: no Australian has taken more runs from a first-class over, and no Australian has both carried his bat through a completed Test innings and been no-balled for throwing. Redpath was later awarded an MBE and, upon retirement, resumed a career in antique-dealing and went on to coach Victoria.
Gideon Haigh