Richard Drewer

Richard Harris Drewer (born 12 June 1946) is an Australian cricketer. He played fourteen first-class matches and two List A matches for South Australia between 1974 and 1976.[1]

Nicknamed "Stumpy",[2] Drewer attended Scotch College,[3] and spent many years playing South Australian district cricket for Sturt, Adelaide University and Adelaide cricket clubs,[4] before making his debut for South Australia on 13 December 1974, against Queensland at Adelaide Oval, scoring 90 and eight.[5]

Drewer, who was a DJ who played private parties under the name SWORD (an acronym for "The Swinging World of Rick Drewer"),[6] was known for wearing his shirt unbuttoned to the waist[2] and his uproarious laugh[6] and quickly became a popular member of the South Australian team.[7]

Drewer also received support from influential local sports reporter Alan Shiell, who argued that Drewer was, along with Ashley Woodcock, the best opening batsmen South Australia had.[8] While South Australia won the Sheffield Shield in 1975/76, Drewer played poorly, averaging only 15.70 from five matches, including scores of 0, 0, 0 and five against Western Australia, falling to Dennis Lillee each time.[9]

When South Australian captain Ian Chappell learnt that selectors had dropped Drewer from the squad to play New South Wales and Queensland without consulting Chappell, he threatened strike action.[7]

In 2019 The Advertiser named Drewer as an opener in Scotch College's Greatest Ever Team.[3]