Dirk Tazelaar

Tazelaar was a talented sportsman as a child. He played rugby league for the Ipswich Jets. When John Maguire and Carl Rackemann signed to go on the South African rebel tours in 1985, it opened up spots for bowlers in the Queensland team and encouraged Tazelaar to pick cricket over league.{{Cite web|url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/tackling-big-mal-toughest-mission-for-qld-quick/2369464/|title = Tackling Big Mal toughest mission for Queensland quick|date = 29 August 2014}}

He made his first class debut in 1985–86. He took 3–84 in his first game, against NSW.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122423339 |title=SHEFFIELD SHIELD |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=60 |issue=18,381 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=28 January 1986 |access-date=24 February 2018 |page=17 |via=National Library of Australia}} In a game against Tasmania, he and Jeff Thomson put on 56 runs in 27 minutes.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118202339 |title=Trimble terror! |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=60 |issue=18,386 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=2 February 1986 |access-date=24 February 2018 |page=25 |via=National Library of Australia}} He also took several wickets, inspiring captain Kepler Wessels to say "He bowled beautifully. He got good pace, a lot of bounce and with a bit more luck would have had some more wickets."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118202665 |title=Skipper ignores pain on the way to victory Queensland 14 points clear |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=60 |issue=18,388 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=4 February 1986 |access-date=24 February 2018 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Tazelaar played for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final, where NSW managed to escape with a draw, giving them the Shield (because they were top of the table). Tazelaar took 3-48 and 2-57.{{Cite web|url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1980S/1985-86/AUS_LOCAL/SS/NSW_QLD_SS-FINAL_14-18MAR1986.html|title = FINAL: New South Wales v Queensland at Sydney, 14-18 Mar 1986}} He took 13 wickets at 32.15 for the season.

Tazelaar began the following season well, taking 5-94 including the wickets of Ian Botham, Alan Lamb, John Emburey and Phil de Freitas in a Qld vs England game.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118270917 |title=Queensland skittles England |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=61 |issue=18,651 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=25 October 1986 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=12 (POSITIONS VACANT) |via=National Library of Australia}} He bowled well in the summer and was picked in the Prime Ministers XI.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130631789 |title=PM NAMES MS SIDE FOR THE MANUKA MATCH |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=61 |issue=18,686 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=30 November 1986 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}} Queensland were unable to make the Sheffield Shield final. Tazelaar took 33 wickets at 35.78.

Tazelaar had a strong 1987–88 season and was beginning to be discussed as a test prospect.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122416812 |title=Dyer: There's life after Wellham |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=62 |issue=19,067 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=18 December 1987 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}} He took a career best 6–52 against WA. "It feels really good to finally get five wickets in an innings," he said. "I've had a lot of threes and fours but this is my first five bag, or for that matter six... I've had 2'/2 seasons of Shield cricket and next step up from state cricket is to the Test arena. If I did get a chance I'm pretty confident of bowling well."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122416938 |title=Tazelaar the trump: 6-52 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=62 |issue=19,068 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=19 December 1987 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=49 |via=National Library of Australia}}

It was Mike Whitney however who was called up.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122417494 |title=Whitney waits for call back to baggy green |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=62 |issue=19,070 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=21 December 1987 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=28 |via=National Library of Australia}} Later on Merv Hughes was preferred for the Bicentennial Test although his figures were not as good as Tazelaar's.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101972137 |title=Crowe: We could learn a lot |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=62 |issue=19,104 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=25 January 1988 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Tazelaar scored his first 50 with the bat against NSW,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101967130 |title=Tail gets Kerr's men out of jail |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=62 |issue=19,081 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=2 January 1988 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=28 |via=National Library of Australia}} and took 8–86 against Tasmania,{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101969011 |title=Qld's crushing win makes it five out of six |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=62 |issue=19,090 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=11 January 1988 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Queensland made the Sheffield Shield final but lost to WA. Tazelaar gave them a hope of victory taking 3-4 off 11 balls but it was not enough to win the game.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101984069 |title=TIMES Sport |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=62 |issue=19,162 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=23 March 1988 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=40 |via=National Library of Australia}}

He took 46 wickets at 22.52 for the summer and won joint Sheffield Shield player of the year. However he was not picked for Australia.

Highlights of the 1988-89 summer included 10–80 against Victoria.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110613911 |title=Queensland strolls to outright victory |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=63 |issue=19,398 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=15 November 1988 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}} He was dropped for one game in favor of John Maguire.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120910896 |title=Taylor's ton timely |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=63 |issue=19,490 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=16 February 1989 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}}

He took 36 first class wickets for the summer at 24.69. However he was not picked on the 1989 Ashes. Queensland narrowly missed the Sheffield Shield final.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120916387 |title=TIMES Sport |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=63 |issue=19,515 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=14 March 1989 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Tazelaar did play county cricket in England in 1989. He took 10 wickets at 41.7. In one game he was stopped from bowling due to interference.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122259866 |title=Alderman is key man |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=63 |issue=19,568 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=6 May 1989 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=13 (Section D) |via=National Library of Australia}} He was injured during the season and did not play many games.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120886551 |title=Tazelaar confident of making Qld side |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=64 |issue=20,065 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=20 March 1990 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1989-90 Tazelaar took 22 wickets at 31.95. Highlights included 6–48 against Tasmania.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120861121 |title=Qld struggling to put runs on board |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=64 |issue=19,765 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=19 November 1989 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}} In 1990-91 he took 23 wickets at 38.52. A back injury saw him retire from the game.

Tazelaar returned to first class cricket in 1992–93 with a remodelled bowling action.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126953917 |title=Tazelaar comeback gives Qld the edge |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=67 |issue=21,027 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=7 November 1992 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=10 (SECTION 1) |via=National Library of Australia}} He took 22 wickets at 25.63. His back injury did flare up during the season.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126974101 |title=Tas focus on stopping Qld |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=67 |issue=21,116 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=6 February 1993 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=14 (Saturday Magazine) |via=National Library of Australia}}

Tazelaar came back a second time from injury in 1993–94.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134301195 |title=Tasmanian bats fall to Tazelaar |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=68 |issue=21,486 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=12 February 1994 |access-date=26 February 2018 |page=55 |via=National Library of Australia}} He took 11 wickets at 26.63.

In the early 2000s, he was a selector for Queensland.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/125047.html|title=Selection panel announced}}

Tazelaar's son Andrew was a spin bowler who played for the Queensland Under 19 side.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/333806.html|title = Andrew Tazelaar profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos}} Chris Sabburg is his nephew. Tazelaar went to work in the building industry.{{Cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/cricket/remembering-the-invincibulls-queenslands-first-sheffield-shield-champions-20-years-on/news-story/ba6465bd4fb92cf8284403a24030423a|title = Remembering the Invincibulls|date = 7 March 2015}}

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Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian cricketers

Category:Queensland cricketers

Category:Surrey cricketers

Category:Australian expatriate cricketers in England

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen