Old greats gather for famous tied Test reunion
Older, wiser and still enthused about the game, survivors of cricket's greatest Test series gathered on Monday for a reunion to mark the 40th anniversary of the first tied Test.
Twenty-one of the Australian and West Indies players who were in the historic game have come together again to swap stories.
All will be special guests in the opening match of this summer's series between Australia and the Windies, which begins in Brisbane on Thursday.
Gerry Alexander, the Windies vice-captain in 1960-61, said the positive attitude of the respective captains, the late Sir Frank Worrell and Australia's Richie Benaud, made for an exciting series.
Benaud said he had mixed emotions about Australia failing to win that opening Test at the Gabba after three run-outs in its second innings.
But he said the then Australian chairman of selectors Sir Donald Bradman told him at the time the result was great for cricket.
Chasing 233 to win the match, Australia recovered from 96 for six to 226 for six when dead-eyed Joe Solomon ran out Alan Davidson for 80 to turn the game.
After losing two more quick wickets, Australia needed one run to win when Lindsay Kline fended off a delivery from big paceman Wes Hall to square leg and Ian Meckiff scrambled for the single.
Solomon again was on the prowl from square leg and, with one stump to aim at, hit the target and ran out Meckiff to complete the tie.
Benaud said there was some confusion straight afterwards about the result, but he walked off the field with Worrell, both of them realising that history had been made.
"When I walked into the dressing room Sir Donald Bradman said to me that is the greatest thing that's ever happened to the game of cricket," Benaud told a news conference on Monday.
"I said I'll need some convincing on that, we've just thrown away a match.
"No, No, he said, you'll come to realise that that was the greatest thing that's ever happened to the game."
Benaud said Frank Worrell had told him the Tests in 1960-61 would be a "lot of fun" and that proved to be the case with record crowds attending the series, including 92,000 during one day's play in the Melbourne Test.
Australia won the series 2-1 with one Test drawn and the tied Test.
Mail Cricket Editor
