Carl Rackemann, burly and balding, was an unlikley but very effective fast bowler. He played 12 Tests, and had a storming start with 11 wickets to demolish Pakistan on a Perth flyer in 1983-84. Rackemann liked Perth - against New Zealand there in 1989-90 he returned amazing second-innings figures of 31-21-23-1. His career at the top level was limited by injury and the decision to go on the 1985-86 rebel tour of South Africa. He was a useless batsman, making it all the more galling for England fans when his painful 107-minute 9 went a long way to saving the Sydney Test of 1990-91. That was his last Test, but he was a non-playing member of the side that conquered West Indies in the Caribbean four years later. Rackemann later coached Zimbabwe.
