Scott Andrew Muller, born on April 18, 1971, in Queensland, Australia, is a former professional cricket player known for his substantial talent as a right-arm pace bowler and handy fieldsman. Despite being remembered for the infamous ‘can’t bowl, can’t throw’ incident, Muller’s contributions to the sport should not be overshadowed.
Muller began his cricket journey at a young age and made his first-class debut for Queensland at the age of 19 in the 1990-91 season. However, his passion for the game wavered, and he took a break from cricket until the 1996-97 season when he returned to the Queensland team. Business commitments often took precedence in his life, and this led to moments of absence from the cricketing scene.
In a surprising turn of events, Muller withdrew from the Bulls’ Sheffield Shield final squad and subsequently announced his retirement from the first-class game due to work interests. However, then Queensland coach John Buchanan persuaded him to come back to the sport. Muller faced frustrating battles with injuries that kept him on the sidelines for extended periods, but he managed to deliver outstanding performances in the following two seasons.
His exceptional performance in the 1998-99 season led to a sudden call-up for the Australian national team, replacing an injured Jason Gillespie for the tour of Sri Lanka in September 1999. This opportunity paved the way for Muller’s Test debut two months later against Pakistan in Brisbane. In the first two matches of the series, Muller showcased his impressive skills, taking seven wickets and partnering with Shane Warne in a record-breaking tenth-wicket stand of 86 runs.
Despite his initial success, Muller’s international journey was turbulent. He struggled with erratic length and width in his bowling, leading to his omission from the team. However, the turning point in his career came when an infamous on-field incident occurred. During an Australia-Pakistan Test match in Hobart in 1999-2000, an effects microphone captured a derisive remark, ‘can’t bowl, can’t throw,’ which was widely attributed to Muller. The incident caused a significant fallout and debate across Australia, with speculation that Warne was the source of the comment. However, it was later revealed that Channel Nine cameraman Joe Previtera was responsible.
Following the incident, Muller’s chances of playing at the international level dwindled, and he never represented his country again. Disillusioned by the controversy, Muller retired from the game for good. Despite the ups and downs of his cricketing journey, Muller’s talent as a right-arm pace bowler, fielder, and lower-order batsman should be acknowledged.
Since retiring from cricket, Muller has chosen to stay away from the public eye. While his career may be associated with controversies, his contributions to the sport and moments of brilliance should not be forgotten. Scott Andrew Muller’s resilience and talent have left an indelible mark on Australian cricket.
