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Remembering the 1977 Centenary Test

Roar Guru
31st October, 2009
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Roar Guru
31st October, 2009
8
3589 Reads

The 1977 Centenary Test played at the MCG between old rivals Australia and England is regarded as one of the all-time great test matches in cricket history.

Australia had come off a 2-0 away series win over New Zealand, while England, under Tony Greig, did the unthinkable by winning a series in India, 3-1.

More than 30 years later, memories of the match come flooding back:

– More than 200 legends of Ashes cricket – from Bradman to Larwood, from Benaud to Compton were present at the game

– Australia was all out for 138.

– Rick McCosker being hit on the jaw by a bouncer from England’s Bob Willis.

– England being dismissed for 95, Lillee taking 6 wickets.

– The late David Hookes hitting Tony Greig for five fours off one over, which turned the match on its head.

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– Rod Marsh scoring 100 in the second innings.

– The courageous reappearance of Rick McCosker, head swathed in bandages, and the crowd singing ‘Waltzing McCosker’.

– England’s Derek Randall scoring 174 that almost won the game for England.

– Marsh recalling Randall who was thought to be out on 161, when Marsh indicated to the umpire that he didn’t catch the ball.

– The gripping battle between Lillee and Randall.

– England’s Alan Knott being judged lbw to Lillee, which saw the match end in Australia’s favour by 45 runs – the same result as in the first test in 1877.

It was one of the great test matches of all time.

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Little did people know when they left the MCG after the last day’s play that a revolution was on the horizon that would change cricket forever.

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