By Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
Greatest Sporting Moments - Bradman Museum
In December 1960 a tied match occurred for the first time in 87 years of Test history. The probability of both teams total runs perfectly aligning after two innings each over five days of torrid match play is infinitesimal.
Sir Donald Bradman & Alan Davidson (1963) by Holman Fairfax Collection, Bradman Museum.Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
'Wanted: Entertaining Cricket'
Cricket languished during the 1958-59 Ashes series, the first to be televised in Australia.
When batting Peter May’s Englishmen were ponderous and both sides over rates slow. In the first Test Englishman Trevor Bailey took nearly 6 hours to score 50 runs, his 68 made at only 9 runs per hour, notoriously the slowest innings in Test history. This, coupled with repeated media speculation on whether the fast bowlers arms were occasionally bent, blighted the series. Worse for Australia, England won 4-0.
Image of Sir Donald Bradman and Australian Test cricketer Alan Davidson. 1963. Holman Fairfax Collection, Bradman Museum.
Frank Worrell (1960/1961) by Holman Fairfax Collection, Bradman Museum.Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
The arrival of the 1960-61 Frank Worrell’s West Indian side raised public expectation. Team Selector, Sir Donald Bradman took the highly unusual step of directly addressing the Australians before the first Test imploring them to play ‘bright and attractive cricket’. Similar messaging was sent to the West Indian camp.
Garry Sobers by News Ltd.Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
The West Indies batted first making 453 runs with Garry Sobers striking an imperious 132. Australia bettered that challenge with a first innings total of 505, Test debutant Norm O’Neill striking 181 runs.
Alan Davidson, Tied Test (1960) by Holman Fairfax Collection, Bradman Museum.Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
In the West Indian second innings Australia's Alan Davidson bowled magnificently taking 6-87, bringing his tally to 11 wickets for the match. The West Indies were all-out for 284.
Meckiff nearly run out. Tied Test (1960) by Holman Fairfax Collection, Bradman Museum.Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
The Last Over
Chasing 233 runs, Australia was in trouble when menacing West Indian fast bowler Wes Hall took the top four batsmen's wickets of Harvey, Simpson, Favell and O’Neill.
Davidson and captain Richie Benaud steadied the side taking the score from 92 to 226 until Davidson was run out. When Benaud was caught behind off Hall soon after for 52, only five runs were required for victory. By this stage, intensity at the ground was fever pitch and both teams were making nervous errors.
The fourth ball (pictured left) of the last over went down the leg side with Meckiff missing it and Grout calling him through for a bye. The ball was thrown to the bowlers end trying to run Meckiff out, but missed the stumps. Meckiff made it safely into his crease. The image shows the ball missing the stumps with Meckiff well short of his crease and a big smile on his face.
Rarely seen photograph of the near miss, from the Bradman Museum’s Holman Fairfax Collection.
Sir Leslie Wilson Pavilion (1960) by Marge Tremlett donation - Bradman Museum CollectionBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
At the end of the match confusion over the result was widespread. Crowds gathered in front of the Sir Leslie Wilson Pavilion, Brisbane, seeking information.
Original photograph donated by Marge Tremlett, Bradman Museum Collection.
Tied Test Scoreboard (1960) by Marge Tremlett donation - Bradman Museum CollectionBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
The sun sets on the first Tied Test: scoreboard of the Test's conclusion showing the Australia 2nd innings and West Indian bowling figures. 'The Gabba' Queensland, 1960.
Original photograph donated by Marge Tremlett, Bradman Museum Collection.
Tied Test play resumes at The Gabba (1960) by Marge Tremlett donation - Bradman Museum CollectionBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
This image, taken from a private donor's slide collection, shows 'The Gabba' Queensland, as it was during the Tied Test in 1960.
Original photograph donated by Marge Tremlett, Bradman Museum Collection.
Famous last wicket run out at the Tied Test (1960) by Ron Lovitt. Holman Fairfax Collection, Bradman Museum.Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
The Last Ball
Nervous batting saw Wally Grout run out, bringing the last batsman Lindsay Kline to the crease with only one run required for victory. Kline pushed the ball to the leg side for a quick single. With one only stump to aim at, Joe Solomon picked the ball up and threw down the stumps running Ian Meckiff out by a few inches.
This image of the Tied Test, at 'The Gabba' in Brisbane, is possibly the most famous of all cricket photos of the 20th Century.
Richie Benaud and Frank Worrell, MCG. Tied Test (1961) by Herald and Weekly Times.Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
Captains Richie Benaud and Frank Worrell show the Frank Worrell Trophy to the crowd at the conclusion of the 5th Test MCG. Image Herald and Weekly Times.
Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board, Sir Donald Bradman poses with captains Frank Worrell and Richie Benaud at the conclusion of the 1960-61 series and the unveiling of the Frank Worrell Trophy.
Image Herald and Weekly Times
Such was the spirit of the game at the conclusion of the series, that Richie Benaud approached Sir Donald Bradman, then Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), about creating a trophy. Bradman and the ACB agreed to create a perpetual trophy to mark the seminal series, ensuring Frank Worrell's name would be always remembered in future Tests between Australia and the West Indies.
Sir Donald Bradman and the Australian Cricket Board of Control commissioned Ernie McCormack, former Test cricketer and professional jeweller, to create the trophy. The design incorporates the ball used in the Tied Test.
Shane Warne & Brian Lara, Frank Worrell Trophy (1999) by Viv Jenkins, Bradman Museum CollectionBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
The Frank Worrell Trophy is still contested for between West Indies and Australia in all Test series.
Shane Warne and Brian Lara with the Frank Worrell Trophy in 1999. Photo by Viv Jenkins, Bradman Museum Collection.
Gary Sobers and Mike Coward (2016) by Mike CowardBradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame
"The 1960-61 series was the greatest I played in." Sir Garfield Sobers
In December 2016, historian and author Mike Coward interviewed Sir Garfield Sobers in Brisbane, Queensland on behalf of the Bradman Museum.
The interview is one of over 150 oral histories conducted by the Bradman Museum since 2009. Each captures the recollections, attitudes and values of the world's most significant cricketers, umpires, coaches and administrators. Every one is accessible to the museum’s visitors via its ‘Interview Lounge’ in the main exhibition hall. In combination, the interviews are an unparalleled resource unique to The Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame, and a significant archive documenting cricket's history since the mid 20th century.
Author: David Wells, Bradman Museum
Art Direction: Monica Donoso, Bradman Museum
© Bradman Museum 2019.
Image credits:
Tied Test, Slides donation Ms Margery Tremlett. BM 2018.002 - 004
Newspix / News Ltd
Fairfax Media, Bradman Museum Fairfax Collection. BM 1996.141
Ron Lovitt/Holman Fairfax Collection. Bradman Museum Collection.
Herald and Weekly Times. BM 1998.180
Viv Jenkins Collection, Bradman Museum. BM 2010.355
Booklet - Alan McGilvrey Recalls the Tied Test. Bradman Museum Collection. BM 2004.127
Videos:
Richie Benaud bowls to Gary Sobers.
Bradman Museum Collection.
First Tied Test :: The Last Over.
Bradman Museum Collection.
Mike Coward Interviews :: Gary Sobers 2016, Alan Davidson 2009, Ian Meckiff 2014. Bradman Museum Collection.
Archive footage authorised for use by Bradman Museum for non-commercial gain.
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