Andy Bichel

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Andrew Bichel Australia (Aus)
Batting style	Right hand bat
Bowling type	Right arm medium fast
	Tests	ODIs
Matches	19	67
Runs scored	355	471
Batting average	16.90	20.47
100s/50s	0/1	0/1
Top score	71	64
Overs bowled	556	542.5
Wickets	58	78
Bowling average	32.24	31.57
5 wickets in innings	1	2
10 wickets in match	0	N/A
Best bowling	5-60	7-20
Catches/stumpings	16/0	19/0
As of 25 April 2005 Source: Cricinfo.com

Andrew John Bichel (born August 27, 1970 in Laidley, Queensland) is an Australian cricket player. Primarily a seam bowler, his style is right arm medium fast. However, Bichel is not averse to giving the ball a good thump, and he bats right handed. He is also known as the 'nice guy' in Australian cricket for his down to earth attitude and great work ethic.

Representing Queensland in the Australian domestic competitions, Bichel has earned a reputation as a hard worker, capable of bowling many overs into a strong wind.

[edit] Background

He made his Test debut for the Australian Cricket Team in Adelaide in 1996 in a match against the West Indies, and his One-day International Debut in Brisbane, also against the West Indies. He has played for Queensland's state team, Worcestershire (England), and the Australian team.

Unfortunately for him, his rise to prominence coincided with the appearance of the younger New South Wales fast bowler Brett Lee, with whom he was often in a battle for a third fast-bowler spot in the lineup (with Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie holding the other two positions). Lee's startling pace and youth often proved the deciding factor, and Bichel now holds the record of being Twelfth Man on 19 occasions. He has recently made comments that he believes his bowling suffered during these times, as he missed out on the valuable match practice that he could have earned either playing for Australia or Queensland. A marvellous bowler, Bichel has the ability to make the batsmen play and if he had been allowed to play more, he would have been famous.

A highlight of Bichel's career was Australia's 2003 World Cup campaign. Bichel came to Australia's rescue when things were looking shaky on more than one occasion, most notably his 7 wickets for 20 runs smashing against England, then he went on with Michael Bevan to score a 73 run 9th wicket partnership to ease Australia to victory.

At the start of the 2004/2005 Australian summer, Bichel was not offered a contract by the Australian Cricket Board, an indication that the Board did not believe he would represent Australia in that season. His performances in the domestic competition, however, have continued at the same high standards as before and it is clear that he wants to make another return to the international scene. Bichel's performances at State level during the 2004/05 domestic season earned him the Domestic Player of the Year award at the 2005 Australian cricket awards. Bichel's absence from the international arena has earned him 'cult' status with some fans in Australia. Fans often come to games with banners calling for Bichel to be brought back into the Australian team, and a 'Bring Back Bichel' campaign has also occured.

	Australia squad - 2003 Cricket World Cup
1 Ponting | 2 Gilchrist | 3 Bevan | 4 Bichel | 5 Bracken | 6 Gillespie | 7 Harvey | 8 Hauritz | 9 Hayden | 10 Hogg | 11 Lee | 12 Lehmann | 13 Maher | 14 Martyn | 15 McGrath | 16 Symonds | 17 Warne | 18 Watson | Coach: Buchanan