SK Flashback: Bruce Reid, a potential Australian legend, if not for his injuries

“My biggest ‘if only’ is Bruce Reid”

After his playing career, Reid worked as a bowling coach

Post his retirement, Reid became a bowling coach and worked with international teams like India and Zimbabwe.

With his coaching, he can contribute to try and change the future of budding fast bowlers. What he cannot change is the past or his playing career.

Reid’s long-time national coach, Bob Simpson, had spoken in regret of the Australian fast bowler’s career and said, “My biggest 'if only' is Bruce Reid. If he had stayed fit, there is no doubt at all that Australia would have been recognised as world champions two or three years before we were able to claim that position, simply because he was a great bowler, one of the finest bowlers I have ever seen."

But much like in other spheres of life, there is no space for the words “if only” in cricket.