It is clear that Andy Bichel treasures every match he plays at international level. The enthusiastic, hard-working Queensland paceman seems to have been Australia's perennial 12th man in recent years, but he has gained a reputation for making match-winning contributions when he is given the opportunity.
Something of a late developer, he has become a wonderfully effective bowler in recent years with his combination of superb line and length and the ability to produce tight, accurate spells over sustained periods. Bichel's stock ball is an outswinger that moves appreciably away from right-handers but he bowls with brilliant variation, altering his pace and length surreptitiously. His batting is also far superior in quality to that of most tailenders, featuring a straight defence, attractive drives and cuts and a determined, level-headed approach.

Bichel's all-round talents proved invaluable in Australia's triumphant 2003 World Cup campaign. In Australia's group match against England he claimed 7 for 20 with a scintillating display of bowling, before sharing a 73-run ninth-wicket partnership with Michael Bevan to nurse Australia to victory. Bichel, who also top scored for Australia with a vital half-century against New Zealand, finished the tournament with 16 wickets (av 12.31) and 117 runs to his name.

Among the other highlights of his international career are a five-wicket haul against West Indies at Melbourne in 2000-01 and involvement in Australia's crushing Frank Worrell Trophy-clinching win over the same opponent in the fourth Test of the teams' 1996-97 series.

Bichel has also had a central role in Queensland's success in recent years, not the least of these coming in 1999-2000 as his return of 6 for 47 against Victoria powered the Bulls to the first of three successive first-class titles. He has scored centuries for both his state and county side Worcestershire.