The first 'tied' Cricket Test West Indies vs Australia in 1960

by A.C. De Silva

CRICKET: The 500th game of Test cricket between Australia and the West Indies was played at Brisbane, Australia in December 1960. The West Indies was touring Australia that year and this was the first encounter of the series.

For a decade before, creeking nationalism ensured that if a team could not win, it played for a dreary draw. Both Richie Benaud the Australian captain and Frank Worrell changed that. They approached the series with a positive attitude and brought back adventure into the game. In this, they were fully supported by their players.

It was the 9th of December 1960 and the venue "the gabba" in Bristane and both teams evenly matched.

West Indies batted first and made 453 with Garfield Sobers scoring a sparkling 132 with his usual panache. He was ably supported by a stylish 65 by Frank Worrell while Joe Solomon also made 65, Alexander hammered 60 while Wes Hall contributed 50. In bowling, Alan Davidson of Australia took 5 for 135 that helped him on to have a fine match. Then it was the turn of Australia to bat and they made a mammoth 505 with Norman O' Neill leading the way making 181 - his highest test score. McDonald and Bob Simpson gave Australia a flying start by putting on 84. Bob Simpson made 93. Australia made 505 - a lead of 52 runs.

For the West Indies Wesley Hall took four wickets.

Useful knocks from Kanhai, Worrell and Solomons helped West Indies reach 284,with Franka Worrell batting steadily in making 65. Australia were left to get 233 to win.

Then the drama began with the West Indies asking Australia a run-rate of 45 runs per hour but the Aussies soon lost 5 wickets for 57 runs. Wesley Hall was fiery and caused the batsmen much discomfort. The sixth Australian wicket fell at 92 before Davidson (80) and Benaud (52) stemmed the slide with a partnership of 134 before Davidson was run out. Benaud was caught behind off a Hall's bouncer and then three batsmen were run out in a dramatic manner. It was 226 for 7 wickets and Australia was in a winning position before the drama unfolded. Hunte and Solomon distinguished themselves on the field with their fine fielding. It boiled down to the last over and Australia 6 runs to win with three wickets left. West Indian Hall was to bowl the most dramatic over ever to Grout. The first ball a leg bye. The wickets fell and the scores became level with two balls to go and the last man in. Lindsay Kline and Ian Mechift were together with Kline on Strike. He played the seventh ball to leg and the batsmen attempted what was to be the winning run. Joe Solomon threw down the wicket and Mechift was run out and the match ended in a historic tie.

Wisden - the cricketer's almanac says: "Quite apart from gaining a nicke in cricket history as the first Test to end in a tie, this match will always be remembered with enthusiasm because of it's excellent cricket. It was played in a most sporting spirit, with the climax coming in a tremendously exciting finish as three wickets fell in the final over."

SCOREBOARD

WEST INDIES – 1ST INNINGS
C.Hunte c Benaud b Davidson	 		24
C. Smith c Grout b Davidson	  		07
R. Kanhai c Grout b Davidson	 		15
G. Sobers c Kline b Meckiff		       132
F. Worrell c Grout b Davidson	 		65
G. Solomon hit wkt b Simpson	 		65
Washley c Grout b Klire	 			19
G. Alexander c Davidson b Kline	 		60
S. Ramadhin c Harvey b Davidson	 		12
W. Hall St. Grout b Kline	 		50
A. Valentine not out	  			00
Extras: (lb 3, w 1)	  			04
Total					       453

Bowling: Alan Davidson 30-2-135-5
	 I. Meckiff 18-0-129-1
	 Ken Mackay 3-0-15-0
	 R. Benaud 24-3-93-0
	 R. Simpson 8-0-25-1
	 L. Kline 17.6-6-52-3

AUSTRALIA – 1ST INNINGS
C. McDonald c Hunte b Sobers	 		57
R. Simpson b Ramadhin	 			92
N. Harvey b Valentine	 			15
N. O’Neill c Valentine b Hall		       181
L. Favell run out	 			45
K. Mackay b Sobers	 			35
A. Davidson c Alexander b Hall	 		44
R. Benaud lbw b Hall	 			10
W. Grout lbw b Hall	  			04
I. Mekiff run out	  			04
L. Kline not out	  			03
Extras: (B-2, LB8, W1, NB 4)	 		15
Total					       505

Bowling: W. Hall 29.3-1-140-4
	 F. Wonell 30-0-93-0
	 G. Sovbers 32-0-115-2
	 A. Valentine 26-6-82-1
	 S. Ramadhin 15-1-60-1	 

WEST INDIES – 2ND INNINGS
C. Hunte c Simpson b Mackay	 		39
C. Smith c O’Neill b Davidson	  		06
R. Kanhai c Grout b Davidson	 		54
G. Sobers b Davindson	 			14
F. Worrell c Grout b Davidson	 		65
G. Solomon lbw b Simpson	 		47
Washley b Davidson	  			00
G. Alexander b Benaud	  			05
S. Ramadhin c Harvey b Simpson	  		06	
W. Hall b Davidson	 			18
A. Valentine not out	  			07
Extras: (B 14, LB 7, W 2)	 		23
Total					       284

AUSTRALIA – 2ND INNINGS
C. McDonald b Worrell	 			16
R. Simpson c Sub b Nall	  			00
N. Harvey c Sobers b Hall	  		05
N. O’Neill c Alexander b Hall	 		26
L. Favell c Solomon b Hall	  		07
K. Mackay b Ramadhin	 			28
A. Davidson Roun out	 			80
R. Benaud c Alexander b Hall	 		52
W. Grout Run out	  			02
I. Mekiff run out	  			02
L. Kline not out	  			00
Extras: (B-2, LB9, NB 3)	 		14
Total					       232

Bowling: W. Hall 17.7-3-63-5
	 F. Wonell 16-3-41-1
	 G. Sobers 8-0-30-0
	 A. Valentine 10-4-27-0
	 S. Ramadhin 17-3-57-1