Robin Bailhache
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Robin Carl Bailhache, (born 4 May 1937 in Adelaide, South Australia), was an Australian Test cricket match umpire.
He umpired 27 Test matches between 1974 and 1988. His first match was between Australia and England at Brisbane on 29 November to 4 December 1974, won by Australia by 166 runs with Jeff Thomson taking 9 wickets. His partner was Tom Brooks and together they umpired all six Test matches in that series.
Bailhache’s last Test match was between Australia and the West Indies at Perth on 2 December to 6 December 1988, won by the visitors by 169 runs, in spite of Merv Hughes taking 5/130 and 8/87, including a hat-trick spread over two innings and three overs. Bailhache’s colleague was Terry Prue.
Bailhache also umpired 27 One Day International (ODI) matches between 1975 and 1989. He umpired one women’s Test match in 1991 and one women’s ODI in 1988.
He umpired 95 first-class matches in his career between 1967 and 1992.
Bailhache is remembered in particular for the controversial no-balling of New Zealand fast bowler Lance Cairns for bowling a bouncer to Australian tailender Jim Higgs.
The Kiwis thought they had Higgs, the last batsman, caught behind off the short ball, which would have broken an annoying partnership with Doug Walters. They were furious when Bailhache called no ball for intimidatory bowling, allowing Walters to go on and make a century. However, Bailhache revealed subsequently that Higgs never hit the ball.
Bailhache was elected a Life Member of the Victorian Cricket Association Umpires and Scorers' Association (VCAUSA). Off the field he is an insurance broker.
