The latest memorabilia being flogged by Channel 9 is a picture frame containing photos and brief pen-portraits of the six Australian batsmen to have scored 300 runs in an innings of a Test match. It’s a shame the process is so tacky.
In descending order from highest score, the batsmen are Matt Hayden (380), Don Bradman (334), Mark Taylor (334*), Michael Clarke (329*), Bob Simpson (311), and Bob Cowper (307). Bradman is the only Australian to hit two 300s, with another score of 304 to round out this exclusive club.
Here is my brief pen-portrait on each player. The last two – Simpson and Cowper – may be lesser known to current-day fans, so I have described these two in slightly more detail.
Matt Hayden (b. 1971, LB): 380 versus Zimbabwe 2003, 1st Test at WACA, Perth. Hayden is statistically our best opener, averaging 50.74 from 103 tests. A huge man who played huge shots in a generally entertaining manner. Enjoyed a wonderful opening partnership career with Justin Langer.
Don Bradman (b.1908, RB): 334 versus England 1930, 3rd Test at Headingley, Leeds. Also 304 versus England 1934, 4th Test at same ground. Our best batsman, and also the world’s supreme batting machine, averaging a whopping 99.94 from just 52 tests. The scary thing is his average is almost that of Viv Richards (50.23) and Allan Border (50.56) combined!
Mark Taylor (b.1964, LB): 334* versus Pakistan 1998, second Test at Arbab Niaz, Peshawar. Averaged 43.49 from 104 tests. One of our most acclaimed Test captains, and an outstanding slip fieldsman as well. Current Channel 9 commentator.
Michael Clarke (b.1981, RB/SLA): 329* versus India 2011/12, second Test SCG, Sydney. Current Australian captain who is making every post a winner to date. Averaging 48.39 from 79 Tests after the recent match at the WACA. Also a useful slow left-arm orthodox spinner, with 24 wickets at 36.83.
Bob Simpson (b.1936, RB/LBG): 311 versus England 1964, 4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester. The incredible thing about this innings is that it was Simpson’s maiden Test century. Yes, his first ever Test century, in his 30th Test.
A heavy scorer in first-class cricket, it is a wonder Simpson took so long to register his first Test ton. But he quickly made up for it, thereafter averaging a century in just over every three Tests. He finished his career with an average of 46.82 from 62 Tests.
Simpson was also probably our finest first slip, and a more than useful leg-spinner, capturing 71 wickets at 42.27. On announcing he would be touring England in 1968 as a journalist rather than player (allowing him to earn about five times more), he was promptly dropped. He returned as Test captain 10 years later.
He is also credited with helping get Australia back to the top of the cricketing tree as head coach from 1986 through to 1995.
Bob Cowper (b.1940, LB/OB): 307 versus England 1965/66, 5th Test MCG, Melbourne. Perhaps the least known, but in some ways the most interesting player on the list. Cowper played just 27 Tests, averaging an excellent 46.84. He was also a rapidly improving off-spinner, with 36 wickets at 31.64 each.
Of trivial interest, Cowper was the son of 1930s Wallaby centre Dave Cowper, and was nicknamed ‘Wallaby’ when he came into the Test team.
Cowper retired from Test cricket in 1968 aged only 27. This was the semi-professional era, and he wished to pursue a career in banking. Cowper became a multi-millionaire, living for a long time in Monaco, where he represented Australia on the ICC.
Ian Chappell credits a lot of his early development, both as a player and leader, to Cowper, who was one of the first cricketers to argue extensively for better wages and conditions for players.
It’s interesting to speculate what would have happened to the captaincy succession if first Simpson and then Cowper both extended their careers. Lawry might never have captained at all, while Chappell’s tenure would have been pushed back.
In any case, this is a wonderful collection of Australian batsmen. If only Channel 9 could manage the supposed tribute to them with more taste.
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