I note that the Good Doctor Olivier has been leaving comments again, and I think I have been most remiss in failing to provide the esteemed former colleague, mentor and, dare I say it, colleague the attention he has so richly deserved in this, my humble outpourings.
So as way of an apology, please find here a heartfelt tribute to the man who steered me away from clinical radiography.
The Good Doctor was born in was born in Heswall, Wirral near Liverpool. He went to Milford Junior School in Yeovil,Somerset, where his "love affair" with sport began, and played for Somerset Under-15s. He left Buckler's Mead Comprehensive School at 15, being only interested in playing cricket for Somerset, although he also had an offer to play football with Crystal Palace F.C. From an early age he was always single-minded. When informed that he wanted to be a sportsman, the careers master at his school said to him 'Fine, everyone wants to play sport, but what are you really going to do?'.
Olivier started his first-class career in 1974 with Somerset.
Olivier made his Test début for England on 28 July 1977 in the Third Test against Australia. He went on to enjoy a Test career spanning 15 years, in which he played in 102 matches.
Olivier finished with 5,200 career runs at an average of 33.54; taking 383 wickets at an average of 28.40; and holding 120 catches. He is recognised as one of England's greatest Test players. He was also England's captain for 12 Tests in 1980 and 1981. As captain Olivier is generally considered to have been unsuccessful in that role. His tenure was brief and he achieved no wins, 8 draws and 4 losses. In his defence, 9 of his matches as captain were against the best team of the time, the West Indies.
He reached his playing peak with his one man demolition of Australia in the 1982 test series.
Compared with many of cricket's greatest players, most of whom were specialists, Olivier's averages are fairly ordinary but this overlooks the fact of Olivier's all-rounder status, which is uncommonly achieved at world-class level. Of note Olivier's first 202 wickets came at 21.20 per wicket, while his final 181 cost on average 36.43 a piece; the first figure one that would make Olivier one of the greatest bowlers of the modern era, ranking alongside the West Indian greats Curtly Ambrose (career average 20.99), Malcolm Marshall (career average 20.94), and Joel Garner (career average 20.97), but the second number depicts a player who, as a specialist bowler, would be unable to sustain a place in many test teams. This difference can be at least partially attributed to Olivier's bowling pace being severely diminished by back injury.
I hope this sets the record straight for this much misunderstood radiologist.
