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Brief profile of Michael Di Venuto
by Matthew Reed


Player:MJ Di Venuto

DateLine: 8th December 2005

 

There are few louder noises in cricket than that of a Michael Di Venuto square cut meeting a wide and short delivery, and it is one of many shots he has unfurled for both Derbyshire and Tasmania. The mid-late 1990’s saw his career really blossom, with a number of boundary laden, pinch hitter type innings followed by a fantastic limited-overs 129* against South Australia in February 1997. Within 6 weeks, he had made a deserved ODI debut (with a fourteen ball 23), and an 89 against Donald and Pollock at The New Wanderers confirmed him as a real talent. However, a relatively poor quadrangular series in Australia in December 1997 cost him his place in the team. Shortly afterwards, Adam Gilchrist was promoted to open, and Di Venuto never represented Australia again, save for a successful A team tour to Scotland and Ireland in 1998. Shortly before that tour he had shown his aptitude for the big occasion with a commanding 189 in the penultimate Sheffield Shield final, although this was a match which Tasmania still went on to lose. Apart from the odd blip, he has consistently averaged 40 or thereabouts throughout his Tasmanian career, and with 16 First-class centuries and an average nearly 50 he has had to carry a Derbyshire side which has struggled since his first season with them, although he has remained loyal to the East Midlanders despite offers from other English counties. His bowling is of the occasional variety, and is alternated between leg breaks and medium pacers, although it has been curiously effective in English Twenty20 cricket. His career highlight with the ball in hand was undoubtedly his maiden First-class wicket, where he had the pleasure of snaring fellow Tasmanian Jamie Cox lbw. His bowling is unlikely to feature much more, as after serious back surgery ruled him out of the entire 2004 English season he has to be careful with the strain he puts on it. Di Venuto has been on the losing side in Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup finals three times now, although consolation came with a winners medal in the final of the 2004/5 ING Cup. It was also consolation for the fact that in many other era’s, or for most other Test playing countries, Di Venuto would have had an international career which lasted years rather than months.

 

December 2005

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)

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