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Australian cricket commentator Richie Benaud talks to Stuart McGill (left) at the annual cricket legends lunch in Sydney on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. AAP Image/Jenny Evans
The least anticipated Test series in recent decades starts in Brisbane on Thursday. But for a shock or three, Australia should win the Test in four days and rhe Frank Worrell Trophy 3-0.
This brings me to the thrust of this post. Why is the series named The Frank Worrell Trophy and not The Worrell–Benaud Trophy?
After all, both captains had contributed equally to the suspenseful cricket provided every day, practically every session, in the memorable 1960-61 series.
In fact, this series between Australia and the West Indies in Australia revived Test cricket.
Three of the Tests in this spellbinding series were heart-stopping cliff-hangers.
The first Test in Brisbane in 1960 was a tie, the first out of two in Test history. In a throbbing climax, Australia lost their last four wickets for six runs including three run outs in the final over.
The drawn Adelaide Test of January-February 1961 was another thriller (unlike the recent boring Ahmedabad run marathon with seven centuries and 21 wickets in five days) when Australia’s last wicket pair of Ken Mackay and Lindsay Kline survived the final 100 minutes to salvage a draw.
Every ball was potentially the last ball in 25 overs.
With the series dead-locked at one-all, the final Test in Melbourne was played a week later and was watched by almost 250,000 spectators.
The second day attracted 90,800 – a world record attendance for any one day of Test cricket.
Needing 258 to win the Test and the series, Australia lost 8 for 256.
The ninth wicket pair of John Martin and crisis specialist Ken McKay ran for a bye to win the Test by two wickets and the tantalizing series 2-1.
Both the winning Aussies and the gallant Windies were cheered on the ground and in street parades a few days later.
The West Indies skipper Frank Worrell had won over Australians with his sportsmanship.
And it is a worthy honour to him that the Australia–West Indies series is named The Frank Worrell Trophy.
However, my suggestion is to rename the series tghe Worrell–Benaud Trophy as both captains Worrell and Richie Benaud had contributed equally to the outcome of an outstanding series, one of the greatest ever.
The legendary Australian all-rounder Alan Davidson, who had performed brilliantly in the series (including 44 and 80 runs and bowling spells of 5-135 and 6-87 in the Brisbane tied Test) told me recently: “On the eve of the last fluctuating day of the Brisbane Test, Don Bradman asked Richie whether Australia will chase the target of 233 or settle for a draw. And Richie replied firmly, ‘We’re going for a win.'”
Benaud did exactly that, even after Australia were 6 down for 92.
What do Roarers reckon? Should the Trophy be renamed to honour both the heroes, Worrell and Benaud?
After all, the Test series between Australia and India is called the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Australia- Sri Lanka series, the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy.
Also the One-day International series between Australia and New Zealand is named the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.