'I wish I'd faced these poor modern Test teams'

Neil Harvey, the world’s oldest living Test cricketer, on the decline in standards and the failure of Bazball

- Tanya Aldred

Twenty-five kilometres north of the SCG, the world’s oldest living Test cricketer is sitting in his La-Z-Boy armchair and watching the Test.

Neil Harvey was once the youngest of Bradman’s Invincibles; now he’s 97, his old cricketing buddies gone. His body is a little worn around the edges, but mentally he’s astute.

Harvey was Australia’s sweetheart, a dashing left-hander who stalked the covers and hunted at slip. During a 15-year Test career, he cut and shimmied to more than 6,000 runs at an average of 48, making his mark with 153 in his second Test. He was a regular at the SCG, attending every Test from 1949 up until four years ago.

“I had such a good time here,” he says over the phone. “Probably the most satisfying moment was 92 not out against Frank Tyson in 1954. We would have won that game, but no one else could stay in with me. [Australia needed 223 to win, no one else made more than 16.] Tyson was as quick as you’ll get, he and Wes Hall were the two fastest bowlers I ever played against. They didn’t let up on you.”