Career
1980/81
Ritchie made his first class debut in 1980-81, playing for Queensland against Victoria.[2] He impressed in a tour game against New Zealand[3] and scored 74 against South Australia.[4] An innings of 75 against the touring Indians saw him discussed as a potential future test player.[5] He followed this up with his debut first class century, 140 against Victoria.[6]
1981-82
Ritchie impressed again during the 1981-82 season with 55 and 71 against the touring West Indies, then the best team in the world.[7][8] 126 against South Australia saw him discussed again as a test candidate.[9]
Towards the end of the summer he was placed on stand by for Kim Hughes in Australia's one day team.[10] He did not play in the end.
Ritchie was overlooked for the Australian tour to New Zealand in early 1982. However a century against Tasmania[11] helped ensure his selection on the 1982 tour to Pakistan.
1982 Tour of Pakistan
The leading batsmen on the tour were Kim Hughes, Alan Border, Bruce Laird, John Dyson and Graeme Wood. Ritchie and Wayne Phillips were the two young batsmen. "They will be given every opportunity for the tests," said Hughes.[12]
A half century against the Pakistan Cricket Board XI impressed and Ritchie was picked to make his test debut.[13][14] He scored 4.[15] During the game he threw a stone at an umpire to demonstrate what was being thrown at him from the crowd.[16]
Ritchie kept his spot in the side for the second test, although there was some talk he would be replaced by Peter Sleep.[17] His maiden test century was the one bright spot of Australia's defeat.[18] However he failed twice in the third test.
Ritchie was hit by projectiles while fielding at third man during the 3rd ODI, which was abandoned.[19]
1982-83
Ritchie kept his place in the Australian team to play England in the first test.[20] However also in the twelve was David Hookes who was in very good form. Despite 67 and 46 against Tasmania, Ritchie was made 12th man for the first test.[21] Ritchie was picked in the side for the second test but was again made twelfth man.[22] He was not picked in the squad for the remainder of the summer.[23]
That summer was a disappointing one for Ritchie, despite 55 against Victoria.[24] He was unable to force his way into the Australian test or one day sides, and was overlooked for selection on the tour to Sri Lanka. However he was picked in a Young Australian side to tour Ziababwe.[25]
1983 Tour of Zimbabwe
Ritchie played well on the Zimbabwe tour, scoring 69 against Zimbabwe.[26]
1983-84
Ritchie undertook a fitness campaign over the winter and lost several kilos. He began the 1983-84 summer brilliantly scoring 196 for Queensland against the touring Pakistan side.[27] He followed this with four half centuries, and at one stage his first class run tally was 451 at an average of 112.[28] He then scored centuries against Victoria[29] and NSW.[30]
"My motto now is runs first; and lunch later," Ritchie said. "I think my winter fitness campaign is paying off. I'm more confident and I think my approach to the game is more mature... Now I put more value on my wicket and try to make the bowlers work hard for it."[31]
He was selected in the Prime Ministers XI and got back in the Australian one day team. He was also selected for the 1984 tour of the West Indies.[32] Ritchie was injured towards the end of the summer and there was some doubt he might make the tour but he recovered in time.[33]
1984 West Indies Tour
Ritchie played in all five tests. His best performance came in the first when he scored 78.[34]
One notable incident on the tour had Ritchie and Wayne Phillips miss the beginning of a tour game because they slept in.[35] He scored 99 against Barbados.[36]
1984 Tour of India
Ritchie was selected on the short one-day-international tour of India.[37] He made 59 in the last game, the only one Ritchie played.[38]
1984-85
Ritchie started the 1985-85 summer with a century against Victoria for Queensland.[39] However he was overlooked for the first two tests against the West Indies.[40] He was put on stand-by for the third test as a possible back up for Alan Border, who was injured - but in the end he managed to play.[41]
Ritchie replaced Kim Hughes for the fifth test.[42] He was injured while batting but managed to complete his innings of 37.[43][44]
Ritchie was picked in the Australian one day team.[45] He was also selected to tour England in 1985.[46]
1985 Ashes
Ritchie began the Ashes well with 72 in the first tour game.[47]
He was picked in the first test. He scored 46 but dropped Tim Robinson when the latter was on 22; Robinson went on to score a century.[48] "Ritchie is Australia's greatest liability in the field, whether in a catching position or in the deep," said one reporter.[49]
Ritchie redeemed himself in the second test, his first innings score of 94 helping lay the platform for an Australian victory.[50] He went on to score a century in the third test.[51] He took part in an partnership with Border in the 4th test that helped secure a draw.[52]
Australia went on to lose the last two tests disastrously. However Ritchie was one of the few Australians to show fight in the last test.[53]
At the end of the tour, Alan Border said that Ritchie and Craig McDermott were the only players who could be really happy with their performances.[54]
1985-86
Ritchie started the 1985-86 season well with 86 against Victoria[55] and kept his place for the first test against New Zealand. He failed twice in Australia's defeat, but was kept on for the second test. Ritchie's batting in the first innings was crucial for a rare Australian win.[56] He scored a fighting 44 in the third test, which Australia lost.[57]
Ritchie scored his first test century on Australian soil with 128 against India in Adelaide.[58] However he injured himself moving timber at his Brisbane home and was unable to play in the second test; his place was taken by Steve Waugh.[59]
Ritchie was initially picked in Australia's one day squad over the summer and scored a match winning 68 against New Zealand.[60] However his form faded away and he was omitted from the squad after suffering a groin injury.[61] Nonetheless he kept his place in the Australian team for the tour to New Zealand.[62]
1986 Tour of New Zealand
Ritchie arrived in New Zealand with the Australian squad in February 1986.[63] He was injured during training after being hit on the toe from a ball by Craig McDermott.[64] However he scored 66 not out in Australia's victory over Auckland.[65]
Ritchie batted well in the first test, scoring 92 and taking part in a 213 run partnership with Greg Matthews.[66][67]
He failed in the second test and scored 80 in a tour game.[68] Ritchie scored 56 in the third test but failed in the second innings as Australia crashed to another defeat.[69]
In the one day series that followed, Ritchie took part in a 90-ball 100 run partnership with Greg Matthews in the final game.[70]
1986 Tour to Sharjah
Ritchie then went to Sharjah for a short tour by an Australian team led by Ray Bright.[71]
1986 Tour to India
Ritchie was selected in the squad to tour India.[72] He made a duck in the first game but scored 125 off 124 balls against Bombay[73] and 95 against Young India.[74]
In the third one day international, Ritchie scored 75 off 53 balls.[75]
1986-87 Ashes
Ritchie was picked in the Australian side for the first test of the Ashes that summer.[76] He scored 41 and 45.[77]
He made 141 against Victoria[78] and made 33 and 24 in the second test.[79] The third test saw Ritchie make 46 not out in the second innings.[80]
Ritchie was then left out of the Australian one day side[81] and was made 12th man for the fourth test so Australia could play an extra bowler.[82] (Alan Border later said he wanted Ritchie to play but was ovrruled by the selectors.[83])
Ritchie was picked in the squad for the fifth test and asked Alan Border if he could open with Geoff Marsh.[84] Border agreed but Ritchie only scored 8 and 13.[85]
Ritchie was not picked in the Australian one day squad.[86] He made 96 against Tasmania and was back in the squad.[87] He earned selection on the tour to Sharjah.[88] However he was omitted from the World Cup squad.[89]
Later Seasons
Ritchie was unable to force his way back into the Australian team. He broke a long century drought in January 1988 with 100 against New South Wales.[90] That summer he also undertook a promotional walk while injured[91] and was involved in an incident on a domestic flight when then-Queensland-teammate Ian Botham assaulted a fellow passenger.[92] He was summonsed to appear in front of a Perth Magistrate for offensive behaviour.[93] Botham pled guilty to a similar change but Ritchie pleaded not guilty.[94] The charge was then dismissed.[95]
In 1988-89 Ritchie was appointed Queensland vice captain, and led the side on a number of occasions.[96]
