Jack Finglton, the Australian batsman of the 1930s and one of the most entertaining writers on the game, devoted a book to it and entitled it “The Greatest Test of All”.
It is 50 years ago since the Australian left-arm swinger Alan Davidson delivered the first ball of the first Test to West Indies opener Conrad Hunte at the old ‘Gabba ground in Brisbane.
Six days later, in the late afternoon of December 14, 1960 – or, as it was the Caribbean, the wee hours of the morning as we followed the unfolding events through the crakling ABC commentary on our Rediffusion sets – Joe Solomon’s direct hit of the stumps from square-leg secured the fourth run out of Australia’s second innings and completed the first tie in the history of Test cricket.
Only one ball remained of the final, frenetic, eight-ball over, delivered by the highly strung, supremely fit and very fast West Indies pacer, Wes Hall, in which three wickets fell.
At the end, few, on or off the field, seemed to be sure of the result. According to Hall, his cricket upbringing was confined to three results – a win, a loss or a draw.
“A tie never came into my consideration,” he said later. So, it seemed, did the duty announcer in the Barbados Rediffusion studio who sent his listeners to bed with the assurance that the West Indies had won by one run.
Hall thought the only one on the field who was sure was Frank Worrell, a venerable icon in his first Test as the West Indies’ first black captain who was a model of calm amidst the chaos of the moment.
There have been a few strong claimants to Fingleton’s accolade for the Brisbane match in the intervening half-century. There has even been a second tied Test, between Australia and India at Madras in September, 1986.
Yet for its statistical exactness, its pulsating climax, the riveting quality of its cricket, the excitement it triggered for the remainder of the series, its impact on the game globally and, more especially, its significance to the West Indies, Brisbane must remain “the greatest”.
When Solomon hit the one stump at which he had to aim from square-leg to run out Ian Meckiff and end Australia’s innings with scores equal, there was just one ball of the match left. Over the five days’ play, 3,142 were delivered. They yielded 1,474 runs and all 40 wickets.
It doesn’t require verification from some mathematical mastermind to know that the odds for such an equation are astronomical.
The lbw decision that completed the Madras tie also came with a single ball left but it featured two Australian declarations, for the fall of 32 of the available 40 wickets, not the full set of Brisbane.
For five days, Brisbane was characterised by brilliant hundreds by two of the most entertaining batsmen of the day, Garry Sobers’ 132 for the West Indies and Norman O’Neill’s 181 for Australia along with Hall’s thrilling speed and Davidson’s guileful swing.
When the last over began, the result was surely Australia’s. They were just five away from the 233 they required for victory with three wickets still at their disposal.
Their captain, Richie Benaud, well set at 52, was one of them. His dismissal to the second ball, edging to wicket-keeper Gerry Alexander off a bouncer Hall had been specifically instructed by Worrell not to even think of, simply heightened the tension.
Hall’s later plea was that he did not so much disobey his captain; he simply forgot. It was the adrenalin that made him do it.
On the dark side of the planet, the distant radio description (those were the days long before television brought the action live into our living rooms) sent West Indian heart rates – well, at least that of one 20-year-old I can personally vouch for – suddenly racing to dangerous levels.
Even now, the available video and dvd footage of that last over, taken by a single camera on black and white film, captures the differing emotions of those on the field.
It was Hall’s 47th eight-ball over of the match in Brisbane’s sapping humidity. Benaud was his fifth wicket of the innings, his ninth overall. Yet he kept bounding in off his 30 paces, ball after ball.
It was a Herculean effort but his missed run out from little more than a bat’s length from the bowler’s stumps and his charge to square-leg where he dropped a dolly catch that was properly Rohan Kanhai’s in that closing over reveal the uncontainable rush of blood that led to his earlier bouncer.
Fortunately for the West Indies, a couple of others kept their heads while the last Australians didn’t.
Off the sixth ball, Hunte, from close to the mid-wicket boundary’s edge, despatched a throw to Alexander of such power and accuracy that it beat the spreadeagled Wally Grout’s dive for home as he attempted a third, and what would have been winning, run.
Next ball, as Ian Meckiff hesitated for a nano-second on last man Lindsay Kline’s push into the leg-side, the unflappable Solomon swept on the ball and found his target with Meckiff well short of his ground.
It was a repeat of his similar spot-on aim in the previous over that removed Davidson for 80, ended what appeared to be his match-winning stand of 134 with Benaud and set the incredible last over sequence in motion
The solitary action picture of the decisive dismissal (which was preceded by Worrell’s warning to Hall not to bowl a no-ball or he would never be allowed back into Barbados) remains one of the most viewed images in the game.
The outcome caught the public’s imagination. Far from descending into anti-climax, the remaining Tests held it.
It reached its crescendo as 90,800 packed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Saturday of the fifth and final match. As Worrell and his men prepared to leave for home a few days later, an estimated 50,000 turned out in the streets of Melbourne to hail them for the entertainment they had provided.
The first figure remains a record in Australia, even with the advent of all-action limited-overs cricket under lights. Australians have not snce given any team such a farewell.
Australia had gone ahead in the second Test at the MCG by seven wickets, the West Indies responded with conclusive victory in the third by 222 runs in Sydney.
With an hour and a half remaining and nine Australian wickets in the bag in the fourth in Adelaide, the West Indies seemed sure to go 2-1 up, only for last man, Lindsay Kline, and Ken “Slasher” Mackay, the obstinate No.6, to deny them by holding out for the last hour and 40 minutes.
In the return at the MCG, Australia were seven down with still 10 to win when we heard that Wally Grout’s off-bail was somehow on the ground following a delivery from Alf Valentine. In the confusion, they ran two before the umpires rejected the West Indies appeal.
Grout fell to Alf Valentine soon afterwards but then Australia required just two to clinch the series. Not that it seemed to matter that much either way to players or public.
There was a significant background to what was the second West Indies’ tour of Australia, nine years after the first.
The elevation to the captaincy of Worrell, aged 36, followed a concerted campaign led by C.L.R.James, the noted Trinidadian author, to finally stop the policy of deciding the captain by race and social standing.
Worrell’s batting credentials as one of the celebrated Three Ws and his leadership qualities as skipper of an earlier Commonwealth team to India had already been established.
Yet he carried a heavy responsibility. His failure would have been a serious setback to the case that the captaincy should be based strictly on merit. There were inevitably those waiting to say “I told you so”.
As it was, Worrell proved himself to be the right man at the right time – and much more besides.
The players were never more united than they were under him, ensuring an environment in which a group of richly talented youngsters could thrive.
Nor was he captain alone. He averaged 37 in the five Tests, contributing 65 in each innings at Brisbane, and claiming 10 wickets from his 134 eight-ball, medium-pace overs.
It was helpful as well that the time coincided with the short-lived West Indies Federation whose flag flew at the ‘Gabba throughout the tied Test and for several subsequent series.
The roles of his lieutenants were also valuable.
His deputy was wicket-keeper Gerry Alexander, who transformed himself from useful low-order batsman to head the averages with a hundred and five 50s. His manager was Gerry Gomez, a perceptive past cricketer and understanding administrator.
Worrell’s stated promise on arriving in Australia was that his team would play entertaining cricket. In that, he had two influential allies – his rival captain, Richie Benaud, and Australia’s most revered cricketer, Sir Donald Bradman, then chairman of selectors.
Test cricket had passed through depressing times in the last half of the previous decade. It was typified by boring draws, the thorny problem of throwing and crowd riots in India and the Caribbean.
In the Ashes series two years earlier, England had meandered along at two runs per six balls. In Brisbane, England’s Trevor Bailey poked for seven hours, 38 minutes and 427 balls for 68. Yes, it’s worth reading again.
According to Sobers, already holder of Test cricket’s highest score and a superstar in the making, Worrell was true to his word.
“He told us that a half-volley was a half-volley, even in church, and should be punished as such,” he recalled recently.
Benaud relates Bradman’s assertion that the selectors would “look kindly” on players with attacking instincts. Bradman told them as much when he sought, and got, Benaud’s permission to address the team prior to the series.
It was a philosophy adopted by both teams. The effect was immediate.
It demonstrated that Test matches were to be enjoyed and not regarded as wars of attrition.
It also established Australia’s deep admiration for West Indies cricket that has remained strong ever since. It was galvanised during the heady days of World Series Cricket and the subsequent decade under Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards and is still evident, even in recent dismal times.
The 50th anniversary of such origins deserves to be remembered and celebrated. Yet it has passed with little recognition. Perhaps it is a sign of the times – but times were never better for West Indies cricket that in Australia 50 years ago.
his death.
Joseph “Joe” Solomon, right-hand batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler. (Guyana). 27 Tests (1959-1965), 1326 runs, average 34.00. One hundred. 4 wickets, average 67.
Age 80. Former Guyana Cricket Board official and West Indies selector.
Patrick “Peter” Lashley, left-hand batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler. (Barbados). 4 Tests (1960-66). 159 runs, average 22.71. One wicket.
Age 73. Resident in Barbados. Former Barbados Cricket Association official. Retired telecommunications company employee.
Franz “Gerry” Alexander, right-hand batsman, wicket-keeper. (Jamaica). 25 Tests, 18 as captain (1957-1961). 961 runs, average 30.03. One hundred. 85 catches, 5 stumpings.
Age 82. Resident in Jamaica. Manager of West Indies team to India, Pakistan, 1974-75. Retired chief government veterinarian.
Sonny Ramadhin, right-hand batsman, right-arm spin bowler. (Trinidad) 43 Tests, 1950-1961. 361 runs, average 8.20. 158 wickets, average 28.98.
Age 81. Resident in England. Retired publican.
Wesley “Wes” Hall, right-hand batsman, right-arm fast bowler. (Barbados). 48 Tests, 818 runs, average 15.73. 192 wickets, average 26.38.
Age 73, Resident in Barbados. Practicising evangelical pastor. Retired politician (former Barbados MP and government minister). Former president of West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), team manager and selector.
Alfred “Alf” Valentine. Right-hand batsman, left-arm spin bowler. (Jamaica). 36 Tests, 1950-1962. 141 runs, average 4.70. 139 wickets, average 30.32.
Died Orlando Florida, May 11, 2004. Aged 74. One-time Jamaican coach.
AUSTRALIA
Colin McDonald, Right-hand batsman. (Victoria). 47 Tests. 1952-1961. 3,107 runs, average 39.22. Five hundreds.
Aged. 82. Resident in Victoria. Retired. Former ABC radio commentator. Executive director of Australian Lawn Tennis Association.
Robert “Bob” Simpson. Right-hand batsman, leg-spin bowler (Western Australia).
62 Tests, 1957-1978. 39 as captain. 19 4,869 runs, average 46.81. Ten hundreds. 71 wickets, average 42.26.
Age 74. Resident in Sydney. Coached Australia, 1986-96, in the second tied Test, against India n Madras, 1986, and to its first World Cup in 1987. Still involved with one-on-one basis with some players, notably Simon Katich.
Neil Harvey. Left-hand batsman. (New South Wales). 79 Tests, 1948-1963. 6,149 runs, average 48.41. 21 hundreds.
Age 82. Resident in Sydney. Retired. Former newspaper columnist and commentator.
Norman O’Neill. Right-hand batsman, leg-spin bowler. (New South Wales). 42 Tests, 1958-1965. 2,799 runs, average 45.55. Six hundreds. 17 wickets, average 39.23.
Died March 3, 2008, aged 71. Retired as tobacco company salesman and long-time ABC radio cricket commentator.
Leslie “Les” Favell. Right-hand batsman (South Australia). 19 Tests, 1954-61. 757 runs, average 27.04. One hundred.
Died June 15, 1987, aged 57. Captain of South Australia for record 95 matches, newspaper columnist and radio commentator.
Ken “Slasher” Mackay. Left-hand batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler. (Queensland). 37 Tests, 1957-63. 1,507 runs, average 33.48. 50 wickets, average 34.42.
Died June 13, 1982, aged 56. Queensland coach and selector after his retirement as player.
Alan Davidson. Left-hand batsman, left-arm fast swing bowler. (New South Wales). 44 Tests, 1963-63. 1,328 runs, average 24.59. 186 wickets, average 20.53.
Age 81. Resident in Sydney. Retired banker. President of New South Wales Cricket Association, 1970-2003 and retired director of several diverse organisations.
Richard “Richie” Benaud, Captain. Right-hand batsman, leg-spin bowler. 63 Tests, 1952-64. 28 as captain. 2,201 runs, average 24.45. Three hundreds. 248 wickets, average 27.03.
Age 80. Resident in Sydney and France. Former Sydney crime reporter. Writer of several books on the game and its longest-serving television commentator.
Wallace “Wally” Grout. Wicket-keeper. Right-hand batsman. 51 Tests, 1957-1966. 890 runs, average 15.06, 163 catches, 24 stumpings.
Died November 9, 1968, of a heart attack, aged 41, less than three years after his final Test.
Ian Meckiff. Left-hand batsman, left-arm fast bowler. (Victoria). 18 Tests, 1957-63. 154 runs, average 11.83. 45 wickets, average 31.62.
Age 75. Resident in Melbourne. Career wrecked by widespread censure of his action and eventual no-balling in a Test against South Africa in 1963. Retired as senior advertising executive and radio commentator.
Lindsay Kline. Left-hand batsman, left-arm spin bowler. (Victoria). 13 Tests, 1957-61. 58 runs, average 8.28, 34 wickets, average 22.82.
Age 76. Resident in Melbourne. Faced the last ball in the tied Test and, as last man, held on for 100 minutes with Mackay to earn a draw for Australia.
