The Best of Tests: When Australia and West Indies played first-ever tied Test

Test cricket mirrors life. The ebbs and flows of the format have given birth to some of the most breath-taking cricketing epics. A Cricket World Series, The Best of Tests, highlights the finest of these spectacles.

Match Summary

WI 453/10, 284/10 (92.6)

AUS 505/10, 232/10 (68.7)

Result- Match tied

It was 1960 and Test matches were played over six days. West Indies were touring Australia and were bowled out for 453 in the first innings.

The top scorer was Sir Gary Sobers who scored a magnificent 132 off 174 deliveries. Pacer Alan Davidson, who picked up a 5-wicket haul, rates the knock from Sobers as "one of the top five innings he has ever seen".

Despite the big first innings score, Australia were successful in taking a first innings lead of 52 runs on the back of 181 from Norm O'Neill.

 

West Indies suffered a collapse in the 3rd innings and inspite of half-centuries from Sir Frank Worrell and Rohan Kanhai, the team was bowled out for just 284 as their last 6 wickets fell for just 74 runs.

Chasing 233 in the last innings, Australia were reduced to 92 for 6 and a loss for them looked imminent. Bowler Alan Davidson was then joined by Richie Benaud at the crease and the duo took an aggressive route.

The equation was reduced to Australia requiring six off the final over. Bear in mind that the overs consisted of eight balls back then.

While Davidson was run-out, Benaud was caught behind of the second ball of the last over bowled by Wes Hall. The Australian tail-enders did their bit but there were back-to-back run outs on the 6th and 7th deliveries as the match rendered itself immortal, becoming the first tied Test match in 84 years of cricket history. 

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