00:00Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy was more than just safe hands behind the stumps.
00:05He was a reliable low-order best man who often rescued his team in tough spots.
00:11One of his finest innings came in the first tests against the West Indies at Bridgetown
00:16in 1995.
00:17On a testing pitch and against a fiery West Indies attack, Ian Healy stood firm.
00:22He played a fighting knockoff 74-not-out of 121 deliveries, spending three solid hours
00:28at the threes.
00:29His inning was laced with seven crisp boundaries and two towering sixes, one of which was a
00:34glorious whip over the left side of Courtney Walsh, a shot that's still a delight to watch.
00:39Ian Healy's cool-headed batting helped Australia pile up a strong total on the board, giving
00:44them the upper hand.
00:46His effort played a big part in setting up a 10-wicket win for Australia against the once
00:51dominant West Indies.
00:52Let's rewind the clock and relive this brilliant knock from Ian Healy, calm, composed and right
00:57on target when his team needed him the most.
01:00Little wonder that it's Ambrose that has done the damage, has been the nemesis of the Australians
01:10in recent years and when finally employed today by Richie Richardson, he's done the job yet
01:14again for his captain.
01:15Healy just leans forward.
01:16Five for 194.
01:17Healy just leans forward.
01:21Five for 194.
01:22Well, it's so difficult.
01:23It's not required to offer.
01:28That's lunch as Kampai Venkatarikhaven symbolically removes the bales.
01:35Wait!
01:36Correct the wait.
01:37Wait!
01:38Correct the wait.
01:39Let's see.
01:40It's not required to offer.
01:41That's lunch as Kampai Venkatarikhaven symbolically removes the bales.
01:56white crack the way that's a superb show
02:13all right for 205
02:19well reaching out somewhat for it gets boundary down behind square
02:23not entirely convincing but for all the same
02:28yes it just went wide enough of gully not to give him any chance to see sliced off the outside of the
02:39space
02:51lovely shot through the onside very special place for Ian Healy mid-wicket
02:58the spinners there in the air but also his unusual grip he's able to force the ball through the onside like that
03:05come on Rob
03:07come on Rob
03:09and there's another run picked up
03:13ready to do it very expertly
03:20just dabbed on the onside and really in the end
03:25no gamble
03:29just a good quick run
03:32no danger for them whatever
03:35just a good quick run
03:38no danger for them whatever
03:46it's over his head
03:51Healy doing very much like what Hooper did yesterday
03:54taking on the spin
03:56good shot that by Ian Healy the ball was well up to him
04:03of course Paul Hooper not a very big spin on the ball and he just played through the line
04:13so this is a very useful 50 partnership between the two coming up
04:17with Melpot on 49
04:19at a crucial time in the innings
04:216 for 230 you still felt the match was on an even keel
04:34now it's certainly tilting again towards Australia
04:38the West Indian captain has a few problems now
04:53this lead for Australia's slowly building
04:57still have four wickets in hand Brendan Julian
05:00perhaps was considered a part of the tail
05:02has been batting quite well with Ian Healy
05:06very good partnership
05:0892 runs already the lead
05:15it's a very characteristic
05:22very characteristic of Healy
05:24uncharacteristic of Walsh
05:27and that's four
05:28there he goes again
05:42Ambrose has a chance
05:44just couldn't get to it
05:46not even with his reach
05:48he's shaking his head
05:53might have just got the tip of his fingers to it
05:56even with his reach
05:58he's cursing himself
06:00now too sure that Kirtley really judged this properly
06:04just touched his left hand
06:06and running back towards the Kinsden stand like that
06:11I'm sure he wasn't exactly too sure of where he was
06:14of where he was
06:22running into shadow too
06:27Michael which is awkward there he is in
06:30yes and whenever you're running towards the Kinsden stand
06:33I just noticed there it's a small wall that you're running towards
06:36and if you are not sure how close you are to that wall
06:39it's always very difficult keeping your eyes on the ball
06:41obviously you can't be too sure of how close you are
06:50just picks that one up
06:52places it perfectly
06:54between the two outfieldsmen
06:56Ambrose wants to cross
06:58and that's four
07:04every run is precious Michael
07:05definitely so
07:07Ian Healy really struck that one beautifully
07:10two men out on the onside on the boundary behind Sker
07:14and a straight mid-wicket
07:16he's done this is over the top
07:20that is six
07:23this is very loose balling by Hooper
07:25very controlled hitting by Healy
07:31and another 50
07:37for Healy
07:41waving of the flag
07:44he's always one who's inspired by the flag
07:47inspired by the baggy green
07:49the 16th hundred 50
07:52and test match cricket
07:54of course he's got two hundreds
07:56yep
07:58yes
08:00got it
08:03good work by Sherwin Campbell
08:04good work by Sherwin Campbell
08:22glorious drive from Healy
08:24he doesn't have to run for that
08:25he knows that
08:27down amongst the shooters
08:31match four
08:33as it's been pointed out quite emphatically
08:35by the Australian supporters
08:38well in Healy certainly is in very good form
08:41that was a good drive
08:43ball right up left foot coming forward
08:45full flow of the back through the line of the ball
08:48nothing wrong with that at all
08:50straight back down the wicks
08:51down the wicks
08:57up in the air
08:58that's safe
08:59over Richardson's head
09:02no no no no no
09:03thinking of three
09:04they'll need to hurry
09:06no they won't
09:09as Richardson went after it
09:10nearly apologetically
09:12no attempt to return
09:14to try and pressure the Australians
09:16batsmen
09:17just rolled it back
09:19which would suggest that his right shoulder
09:20is not in
09:22sufficient order for him to throw
09:24perhaps Healy assessed that
09:27it's characteristic of Healy
09:29he gathers a lot of runs in that area
09:33just watch Richardson
09:34has no ability with the back to go and that certainly was a pretty good shot
09:48has no ability with the back to go and that certainly was a pretty good shot
09:58all over the place
10:11this is
10:13the part of a cricket match that a lot of people just don't understand
10:18there's a team with a big first innings advantage
10:21really giving away runs
10:25but of course they're doing it with a purpose
10:33in the air
10:35over the head of the fielder
10:37gone
10:39magnificent stroke
10:40terrific shot by Ian Healy
10:41just drifting into him on his pads
10:51and flicked it away
10:53getting on the up
10:55smaller grounds in the
10:57some place in the West Indies
10:59it's easier to hit the fixers
11:01they don't want to be giving him this opportunity
11:04these are vital and valuable runs that have been got
11:06being gone
11:16somehow he managed to get that away
11:17gets it before
11:19Walsh looking to keep him on the strike
11:21well he's done that
11:22but he certainly didn't want to give away the boundary
11:27the kids who know this game so well
11:30what a difference to tail
11:32Ian Healy was known primarily for his world-class wicket-keeping
11:35but with the bat he was a tough
11:38resilient lawyer order best man who never gave his wicket away easily
11:42he batted right-handed and had a compact technique that made him reliable in pressure situations
11:47Ian Healy was not a flamboyant stroke maker
11:50but his strength lay in his temperament and ability to grind out crucial runs
11:55when the top order faltered
11:57he often used soft hands to defend
11:59was quick on the pull and cut
12:00and was not afraid to play aggressive shots when the situation demanded
12:05his innings were usually built on patience, grit and a deep understanding of match situation
12:10whether nudging single, flicking through the left side or launching the occasional sick
12:15Ian Healy brought balance and depth to Australian batting
12:18in test cricket
12:20Ian Healy played 119 matches
12:22scoring 4,356 runs
12:25at an average of 27.39
12:27he registered 4 centuries and 22 half centuries
12:30with the highest score of 161 not out
12:33these numbers are highly respectable
12:35especially considering he batted predominantly at number 7 or 8
12:39and often with the tail
12:41in first-class cricket
12:43Ian Healy featured in 231 matches
12:45amassing 11,501 runs
12:48at an average of 30.39
12:50his first-class career included 10 centuries and 62 50s
12:54reflecting his consistent contributions over a long period
12:58he often played gritty innings for Queensland in the domestic circuit
13:02helping stabilize innings and guiding young players
13:05while his glove work remained his most celebrated assets
13:08Ian Healy batting was the kind that often turns game quietly
13:13through resilience, discipline and a bit of Aussie's fighting spirit
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13:20thanks for watching
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