by The Professor » Tue Feb 16, 2016 11:29 am
On this day in 1966 the Ashes tournament finished with another draw.
In a year best known for the England football team's successes in the Summer, it is often forgotten that the England cricket team travelled to Australia to contest the Ashes. It is a not oft remembered tournament however as three of the five tests, including the one that finished 50 years ago today, ended in a draw. When it is remembered though, it is remembered for this day.
The previous day had been a wash out and had frozen the Australian first innings at 333/3 with the impressive Bob Cowper on 159. Australia were chasing, a now arbitrary, 485. Cowper had only just been recalled into the squad for this last game and with nothing to play for Cowper was able to hit for fun - and hit for fun he did. His first 100 occupied five hours, ten minutes, his second three and three-quarter hours, and altogether he batted seven minutes over twelve hours for 307, a monumental innings where he hit twenty 4's and no 6s. He was last man out off the bowling of Barry Knight. Despite the fact that scores were meaningless with one session left in the day, Australia had a lead of 58.
The second innings for England did not go their way either. The day, and therefore the series, was wound up at 69-3. All 3 wickets were taken by Graham McKenzie who ended with figures of 3-16.
Hindsight Watch- Cowper's 307 was the first Test triple century to be made in Australia and at 727 minutes the longest. It was his highest Test and First Class score and remains the highest and longest Ashes century down under though Matthew Hayden's 380 against Zimbabwe in 2002-03 is now the highest Test century.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."