Rick Darling

Personal information

Full name

Warrick Maxwell Darling

Born

1 May 1957 (age 59)
Waikerie, Australia

Batting style

Right-handed

Role

Batsman

Relations

J Darling (great-uncle)

International information

National side

Australia

Test debut (cap 292)

28 January 1978 v India

Last Test

3 November 1979 v India

ODI debut (cap 41)

22 February 1978 v West Indies

Last ODI

23 January 1982 v West Indies

Domestic team information

Years

Team

1975–1986

South Australia

Career statistics

Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	14	18	98	31
Runs scored	697	363	5554	758
Batting average	26.80	21.35	35.83	27.07
100s/50s	0/6	0/1	9/32	1/3
Top score	91	74	134	101*
Balls bowled	–	–	32	–
Wickets	–	–	0	–
Bowling average	–	–	–	–
5 wickets in innings	–	–	–	–
10 wickets in match	–	–	–	–
Best bowling	–	–	–	–
Catches/stumpings	5/–	6/–	31/–	8/–

Source: CricketArchive, 15 April 2010

Warwick Maxwell "Rick" Darling (born 1 May 1957) is a former Australian Test cricketer.

His tendency to play the cut and hook shots provided much entertainment, but also meant that he was inconsistent and error-prone. It has been said that the introduction of the batting helmet saved Darling's life several times, but also gave him extra confidence to play his favoured shots. Darling's early Test career was also characterised by his opening partnerships with Graeme Wood, the pair christened the "Kamikaze Kids" due to their often disastrous running between the wickets, which saw one of the pair dismissed run out in one innings of each of their four Tests together.

Darling is the great-nephew of Joe Darling, and learnt to play cricket at his family's home at Ramco on the Murray River. He started playing for the Salisbury Cricket Club in the Adelaide district competition in 1970–71.

He was picked for South Australia Colts in 1974-75, scoring 67 against Victoria, 105 against Victoria, 48 against the West Indies and 45 against WA.

Darling started his first-class career in 1975–76 with South Australia. He made his debut against Queensland, batting at number 6, being run out for 5. (Darling would later become notorious for being involved in run outs throughout his career.) He then made 26 and 48 against Victoria, helping South Australia win the game. He scored 2 against the touring West Indians. A second innings of 29 helped guide South Australia to victory against Western Australia. He also made 2 and 32 against WA, 1 and 41 against Victoria and 12 against NSW. South Australia won the Sheffield Shield that year.

Darling's Sheffield Shield scores for the 1976-77 season were 2 and 14, 0 and 25, 3 and 64. He made his initial first class century with 107 against Victoria. Then made 1 and 39, 22 and 4 and 7.

Darling made his one-day debut in the Gillette Cup quarter finals but only scored one.

Darling was given his chance in the Australian Test team through the defection of several players to World Series Cricket in 1977.

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