Mick Malone (cricketer) - International Career

International Career

After such a strong season Malone had to be included in the Australia touring party to England in 1977. Malone would play in his only test, the fifth, at the Kennington Oval, he had what he called his "golden moment", taking five for 63 in England’s first innings with his medium-fast high action and then scoring 46 as a tailender. The match was drawn, but Australia had lost the series 3–0. The press in Australia and England blamed the hype surrounding Kerry Packer and his proposed World Series Cricket for tension within the Australian side (Malone had already signed a contract), leading to the poor performances. Malone disagrees, "The press said we were a divided side," says Malone, "but that was not the case. There were 13 of the 17 players who had signed for Packer and we all knew each other and got on, Packer and non-Packer players. The reason we lost was because we were outplayed by a better side and because Geoff Boycott was sensational." At the tail end of the tour Malone was picked for two One-Day Internationals. England won both games easily Malone taking two wickets in the first match and going wicketless in the second.

Malone had signed for World Series Cricket so was ineligible to represent Australia while the tournament ran from 1977 to 1979. After a decent season in 1979/80 he was chosen to tour Pakistan, although he did not play in any of the three tests. Malone was picked against the BCCP President's XI and Punjab Governor's XI he struggled on the slow pitches taking just one wicket and bowling few overs, as Australia relied heavlily on the spin of Ray Bright.

He was next picked for the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup, the official spin-off from WSC, against Pakistan and the West Indies in 1981/82. He would play eight times taking 9 wickets at an average of 27.88, he was also Australia's most economical bowler conceding just 3.13 runs per over.