Paul Sheahan

Andrew Paul Sheahan AM (born 30 September 1946) is a former Australian Test cricketer who played 31 Tests and three One Day Internationals as an opening and middle order batsman between 1967 and 1973.

Paul Sheahan

Personal information
Full name	Andrew Paul Sheahan
Born	30 September 1946 Werribee, Victoria, Australia
Batting	Right-handed
Relations	William Cooper (great-grandfather)[1]
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut	23 December 1967 v India
Last Test	5 January 1974 v New Zealand
ODI debut	24 August 1972 v England
Last ODI	28 August 1972 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1965–1974	Victoria
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODIs FC LA Matches 31 3 133 11 Runs scored 1,594 75 7,987 176 Batting average 33.91 25.00 46.16 22.00 100s/50s 2/7 0/1 19/39 0/1 Top score 127 50 202 50 Balls bowled 0 0 138 0 Wickets – – 1 – Bowling average – – 66.00 – 5 wickets in innings – – 0 – 10 wickets in match – – 0 – Best bowling – – 1/19 – Catches/stumpings 17/– 0/– 89/– 4/–
Source: CricketArchive, 23 October 2010

He made his first-class debut in 1965 for the Victorian Sheffield Shield team against New South Wales scoring 62 and 5. An elegant stroke maker and fine cover fieldsman, his highest first-class score was 202 for Victoria against South Australia in 1966.

He made his Test debut the following year against the touring Indian side, scoring 81 and 35 in Adelaide batting at number three. His first Test century was a chanceless 114 against India in Kanpur in 1969 as a middle order batsmen. He toured England twice (1968 and 1972) and India and South Africa in 1969–70.

His form faltered after returning from the South African tour and he was dropped from the Australian team after the 2nd Test against the touring English side in 1970–71. However it was as an opening batsman that marked his return as an established Test cricketer, and he scored 127 against Pakistan in the Melbourne Test of 1972–73. Seemingly on the verge of becoming Australia's regular Test opening batsman, he retired from Test cricket at 26 to concentrate on his teaching career. He played one further season of interstate cricket, scoring 783 runs at 52.20 to help Victoria to victory in the Sheffield Shield in 1973–74.

He is a cousin of football journalist Mike Sheahan.

Education

Sheahan was educated at The Geelong College and the University of Melbourne, where he resided at Ormond College, and obtained a Bachelor of Science and Diploma of Education.

Career

Sheahan was Headmaster of Melbourne Grammar School from 1995 to 2009, having been Principal of his old school Geelong College from 1986 to 1995, Second Master of St Peter's College, Adelaide from 1984 to 1985, and Housemaster of Manifold House, Geelong Grammar School from 1979 to 1983. Before working in Geelong, he taught at Westminster School in England.

He held the post of Vice President of the Melbourne Cricket Club from 2003 until he was elected President on 17 February 2011. Sheahan currently plays regional club cricket in Geelong, for local team Newtown & Chilwell, alongside family members.

Honours

In the January 2014, Australia Day Honours List Sheahan was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "For significant service to secondary education as a teacher, and through roles with sporting, charitable and community organisations."[2]

He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

In 1983, Sheahan suggested that the annual World Series Cup limited overs series may be fixed, stating that "Mr Packer (the owner of the television station which broadcast the matches) has a fair hand in - or Mr Packer's organisation has a fair hand -saying who actually plays off in the final.[3]

References

1. "The original Indian hero". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
2. "Australia Day honours list 2014: in full". Daily Telegraph. News Ltd. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
3. Sheahan, P. "Cricket at the Crossroads", Cathedral End, Australian Cricket Society, Adelaide Braanch, Adelaide, p. 33.