Tony Greig: England's Controversial but Inspirational Captain
Tony Greig captained England in 14 Tests and scored 3,599 Test runs at 40.43, but his legacy was defined by joining Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket in 1977 — a decision that split world cricket and changed it permanently.
Tony Greig was one of England cricket's most charismatic and influential figures of the 1970s — a tall (198 cm), aggressive South Africa-born allrounder who captained England with inspirational authority before his controversial involvement with Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket destroyed his official relationship with English cricket. He played 58 Tests for England between 1972 and 1977, scoring 3,599 runs at 40.43 and taking 141 wickets at 32.20 — making him one of England's most effective allrounders of the 20th century.
Captaincy and Controversy
Greig captained England in 14 Tests from 1975 to 1977, winning 3 and losing 5. His captaincy was undermined when it emerged he had secretly recruited players — including many of his own England teammates — for Kerry Packer's rival competition World Series Cricket. When this became public in 1977, Greig was stripped of the England captaincy and was widely vilified in England, though he defended his actions by arguing players deserved better pay and conditions. His role in WSC was later acknowledged to have improved player payments and conditions across world cricket significantly.
Life After England
Greig settled in Australia, where he became a beloved commentator for Kerry Packer's Channel Nine cricket coverage alongside Richie Benaud, Ian Chappell and Bill Lawry. He remained one of Australian television cricket's most prominent voices until his death from cancer in 2012. Despite his controversial departure from England cricket, he is remembered fondly across the cricket world for his personality, his courage and his role in improving cricketers' pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tony Greig's Test batting average?
Tony Greig averaged 40.43 in 58 Tests, scoring 3,599 runs with 8 centuries. He also took 141 wickets at 32.20, making him one of England's most effective genuine allrounders.
Why was Tony Greig stripped of the England captaincy?
Greig was stripped of the England captaincy in 1977 after it emerged he had secretly recruited England players and others for Kerry Packer's rival World Series Cricket competition without the knowledge of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
What did Tony Greig do after his playing career?
Greig settled in Australia and became a prominent television commentator for Channel Nine, working alongside Richie Benaud in what became one of cricket broadcasting's most celebrated commentary teams. He remained a commentator until his death from cancer in December 2012.