He was a left arm spin bowler and right handed lower order batsman who captained Victoria for a number of seasons.
Gideon Haigh once wrote that "for a time, Ray Bright was colloquially and rather meanly known for having made almost as many tours as he had played Tests.
"[1] Bright was selected on a large number of Australian touring squads, including ones to New Zealand (1973–74, 1976–77, 1978, 1981–82 and 1985–86), England (1977, 1980 and 1981), the West Indies (1978–79), Pakistan (1979–80 and 1982–83), Sri Lanka (1980–81), Sharjah (1986) and India (1986–87).
A left-arm orthodox spin bowler and useful lower order right-handed batsman, Bright made his club debut for Footscray in 1969/70.
He was a "bolter" selection on the 1973–74 tour of New Zealand, replacing Terry Jenner as the third spin option after Ashley Mallett and Kerry O'Keefe.
[17] He was the youngest Australian sent abroad since the selectors sent Ian Craig and Ron Archer (18) to England in 1953, Bright made his debut for Australia in a one-day game against Wellington taking 2–15.
[23] He added, "You're obviously expected to bat in the top four, and if you don't get some runs or get some wickets, particularly if the side's not doing very well, the locals do tend to let you know very quickly that you've been the worst pro the club's ever had.
Bright was considered a strong prospect for the 1975 tour of England but found things tougher going at home over the following summer, taking took 10 wickets at 68.6 with a best result of 3–67.
[25] Australian selectors preferred Terry Jenner and Ashley Mallett as spinners in the test team that summer, and Jim Higgs was picked to go to England in 1975.
Bright attributed his poor form in part to his league stint in England, saying "the wickets were so slow that I ended up bowling a lot quicker.
Bright attributed this success in part to captain Richie Robinson giving him "more responsibility by allowing me to bowl for longer periods.
"[25] Bright's claim for national selection was helped by retirements of Ashley Mallett and Terry Jenner as well as the poor batting and fielding of rivals David Hourn and Jim Higgs.
[28] Kim Hughes was meant to be 12th man for the third test against Pakistan, but when he fell injured Ray Bright stepped in.
[32] Bright was selected in the 12 for the first test[33] but was made 12th man when the Australian selectors decided to keep faith in Gary Gilmour.
A draw in the first test saw Greg Chappell consider dropping a batsman to make way for Bright[34] but he eventually decided against it.
[62][63] Bright only bowled four overs in the rain-shortened, low scoring 4th test, which Australia lost against the World XI.
[95][96][97] For the third Supertest against the West Indies XI, Kerry O'Keefe was drafted into the squad as a possible support for Bright[98] but he ultimately did not play.
Bright had a brilliant game taking 6–52 and 1–12, helping Australia to a rare (ten wicket) victory and winning the Man of the Match Award.
[105] In the first Supertest, Bright was one of the more successful bowlers, taking 2–20 and 2–108; his second innings of 47 not out was Australia's highest.in the game as they crashed to defeat by 369 runs.
[109][110][111] Australia won a thrilling third Supertest by 27 runs; however it was Ian Chappell (3–35), not Bright, who bowled them to victory at the end.
[116] He struggled with the ball in the final Supertest, taking 1–60, but took part in a crucial second innings partnership with Rod Marsh which helped secure a draw – Bright was not out on 56.
[121] Victoria had won the Sheffield Shield in 1978–79 but Bright went straight back into the state squad along with fellow WSC players Richie Robinson and Max Walker.
[157] He was selected over Bruce Yardley who had more wickets for a lesser average and had been playing tests for Australia; Bob Holland and Peter Sleep also had better figures than Bright.
[178] Captain Kim Hughes said "the spinning combination of Ray Bright and Bruce Yardley, the left- and right-arm orthodox bowlers, gives us a better balance [than on the 1980 tour] and makes me optimistic of winning the series.
"[179] Bright took four wickets in a tour game[180] and was picked for the first test against Pakistan, playing in tandem with Yardley.
Bright was picked in the Australian side for the second test against New Zealand at the spin-friendly SCG, replacing an unfit Geoff Lawson as a third spin option (alongside Bob Holland and Greg Matthews).
[188][189] Bright had not been expected to play – most observers thought Murray Bennett, who was in strong form and had toured England in 1985 would get the nod.
According to one report, "Bright has played in 16 Tests after making his debut... His gritty outlook and stubborn tactics has not always endeared him, particularly as the Victorian leader.
[248] Ray has recently taken up the senior assistant coaching role with the Vermont South Cricket Club in the Box Hill Reporter league where his son Matt opens the bowling and batting in the 1st XI.
Ray can usually be found in the newly constructed social rooms enjoying a quiet drink and entertaining many with tales of yesteryear.