This is cricket for me. I back the Aussies in everything but when any nation delivers class (and form) like Cowdrey, it provides this Yankee with a measure of inspiration and joy that nothing else can. I hate that my country cannot embrace this more, but Test match cricket history grips me with utter completeness. I will never get enough.
I've always been surprised the Americans haven't taken to cricket. You have the best climate for it and I'm sure with your expertise in turf the pitches would be fantastic. Also given your size the US would be there right at the top.
@@ds1868 The Yanks did. in fact, take to cricket decades before Australia was "discovered" by the Poms. During Colonisation there's records of the game being played in the NE colonies as early as 1720. The history of cricket in the USA is a good read.
G'day Michael...there are many other such records of inspiration in the Test arena some being witnessed in the last northern summer when Australia's Nathan Lyon went out to bat essentially on one leg after tearing a calf muscle during his fielding / bowling inning. One very memorable instance came during the 1977 Centenary Ashes Test in Melbourns when opener Rick McCosker went out to face the music with his head bandaged due to a broken jaw received when batting in the earlier innings.
@@flamingfrancis G'day to you! Indeed, it's all about facing the heat when everything stands against you! It's why I "fancied" myself an opener - Bill Brown style. Bat first with an arrow straight bat, face down the monstrous aggression with pure courage and blunt that attack. Imagine being Brian Close if you have to, but let the quicks know you are NOT AFRAID. THEY NEED TO BE. I might be an American, but always noticed lots of people stopping to watch me bat. (I did manage a golden duck to a master swing bowler in a match I organized! haha!) I'm still hungry for time at the crease!!! Cheers, mate!
I was at that Perth test as a kid. It really was quite something. The excitement around Lillee and Thompson was huge but I think everyone recognised Cowdrey's immense courage.
He had nothing to prove, which was the amazing thing. I think he loved a challenge, and had huge enthusiasm for the game, and played the game in the best spirit. At 42, he was probably a lot less mobile than younger colleagues, but he showed pure class here. He may not have been the best captain, but along with Boycott, Sutcliffe, Hobbs, May, Stewart and Thorpe, one of the best players of pace England ever produced.
Nice of Thommo to say that about Cowdrey. It tough out in the middle but there was genuine respect and like for fellow players. That’s how cricket should be played both on and off the pitch.
He did say though, he thought “Not that it’s going to do you any good,” probably meaning that he still meant to pepper him with the short stuff But otherwise, yes. Being rivals doesn’t mean that fans and sportsmen are obliged to behave like @r$€ h07€$ towards each other. That’s kind of how I ended up losing interest in football.
@@jacktattis Nowhere did I say that Cowdrey was afraid of him. I just shared what Jeff Thompson said when he gave a recollection of the incident when I saw a programme about this series, many years later.
Cowdrey had a huge amount of pride and would never give in to this sort of intimidation. Andy Roberts knocked him over his stumps and nearly killed him in a county game against Hampshire the previous season (1974) and even that didn't put him off having a go against Thomson and Lillee. What a legend he was.
I can’t even imagine facing Thommo fully padded up with a helmet in.. Cowdry was 42… but if thin foam taped to his chest and an MCC felt cap on his head.. LEGEND
Listening to Ritchie talk about cricket just reminds us of how much he loved people and their personalities,and how he didn't want robots playing the game. RIP Legend .
In the English summer of 1975, the touring Aussies played Kent, and the Aussies declared their 2nd innings to leave Kent needing 354. The great MC Cowdrey got them there by scoring an unbeaten 151. No Thommo in that game, but Lillee and a pretty strong attack played. For a man of 42 to do that against a quality attack in the 4th innings must've been pretty special, and makes you wonder how good he was in his prime. One of England's greats, and a gentleman.
I met him as a schoolboy when Kent played Yorkshire at Gravesend if I remember. Of course we all rushed to the players to get an autogram. Colin Cowdrey gave his and said "are you enjoying the game boys?"...Freddie Trueman refused ...and said more or less "Sod off"....What a difference in those 2 player's characters. Colin Cowdrey was to cricket like Bobby Charlton was to football.
Thank you for sharing this moment! Hard to blame Trueman, he is a Yorkshireman; without that fire he may never have been who he was... I never personally demanded much class from Yorkshire anyway, just aggression😎
I used to go to Kent matches when MCC was captain. I will always remember one innings at Canterbury when he scored about 80 again against the West Indies. He barely moved and yet the ball kept rushing past the fielders to the boundary. It was amazing.
Brilliant versatile batsman in his heyday - batted every position from opener to middle order. - Known for being a magnificent stroke maker but had an awesome defence and could be very difficult to dismiss - I bet the majority of people watching this vid didn't know he scored the slowest hundred ever in terms of balls faced - taking 535 balls (yes you read that right!!) to score a match saving and almost match winning century against 1950's West Indian Mystery spinner Sonny Ramadhin. Scored 22 test match centuries without modern day protective gear and all on uncovered pitches. Finished his test career with over 7600 test runs averaging over 44 and a top score of 182. A true great.
He came in for the final four balls and stood at the non-striker's end while David Allen played out the rest of the over. I was glued to the TV hoping for a single and he to hit the winning runs. England only needed about four and the West Indians just the last wicket so all four results were possible.
That's as courageous and patriotic as a man can get. Cowdrey knew he was in for a pasting - in fact, would be targeted by - by the brutish Aussie bowlers, yet he embraced national duty. Cowdrey deserves a medal for this. And I don't mean a bland MCCowdrey Spirit lecture by ex players, but something substantial. Yeas of course he is Baron Cowdrey but to unquestioningly put your life and health in harm's way takes a lot of character. As good as a military General descending to the front line to do battle. Michael Colin, you fought the good fight, you ran the race and you stayed true to the highest principles. May the good Lord bless and keep you.
Oh please, toughen up princess. "Would be targeted by the brutish Aussie bowlers". Ever hear of a thing called Bodyline, champ? You clowns started the whole targeting batsmen business, and now you're whining about getting some of your own back? Get a grip.
Colin celebrated his 42nd birthday on Christmas Eve 1974 (the 3rd Test started at the MCG on Boxing Day) and I remember reading at the time the England team wished him a happy birthday by singing: ''For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow...for he's a jolly good fellow...and he can go in first!''
My dad was watching this, and I (about 9) paused to watch an over. I thought: these guys are Gladiators! It wasn't so much Thompson and Lillee, but how England faced them that inspired me.
Thanks for sharing this! Indeed, for me, it’s “Who will stand up to these monsters?” I love Lillee and Thommo both, but it’s all about who can face them down, for me💪
@@michaelgpartridge2384 Yes. There were a few like Cowdrey ..... G. Boycott with his "in your eye" attitude, and some other stout turtle--shell types. And V. Richards the West Indian
Actually no, in his last test Thomson didn’t play and Lillee only bowled a few overs before being injured and not bowling again in the innings. And in cowdreys only innings in that test he was out caught behind to walker.
YES that's impressive by any persons interpretation. He faced some awesome bowlers and still averaged about 44 on mostly uncovered wickets. Would be interesting to see what he averaged upon his first retirement. 😁👍🍺
@@libertyordeaf Agreed. But if you're going to make such comments because you want to appear so sophisticated and knowledgeable, at least be accurate. Easy to fix, change the word "test" in the first sentence to "test series".
Should be noted that the great Harold Larwood, famed for the Bodyline series, actually befriended some Aussie opposition after he was critical of Jardine in the series. Harold moved to NSW in 1953 and resided in Randwick where he passed away in 1995. Harold is interred in a Randwick church so it's fair to say he will forever be at the Randwick end of the SCG. He deserves to have a movie made about his great life.
Larwood, after leaving county cricket, moved to the coast to Blackpool. He bought a sweet shop, and on weekends played for Blackpool CC in the Northern Lg. A couple of Aussie journalists interviewed him in Blackpool. The sweet shop was not doing as well as Larwood had hoped. The Aussies suggested emigrating to Oz for a better life, and he took the decision to go Down Under.
As an Aussie, I love & at times hate watching Ashes bc its tough, that's the way it is.. Full respect to Engalnd bc win, lose or draw they always give their best & have given top players in history of cricket. Don't mind razing, esp. when its intelligent, but I loath disrespecting any team that comes over here. Look forward to watching next Ashes, & Aussie's don't mind, we are building a team & if selectors & board don't get in way will do it. Congrats India on its win here, played with heart & guts (tears why I write this🤣😥🤣🤣). We need to shore up our middle order.
I hated the sledging of THOMMOS ERA. and then it continued with McGrath and Co I hated him with a passion Back in Benauds day it was banter with no foul language
My Dad opened the batting with him for the RAF against The Army during the month he did National Service before they " found" Colin Cowdrey Test player had flat feet and except from doing more National Service 😁
I watched the game on TV. Initially I didn't like how slow he was - BUT then I considered WHO in their right mind would deliberately let Tommo hit him rather than get an edge!! That IS GUTS. I watched Tony Grieg say when Colin came in he had 2 broken ribs and that side was completely black. That's courage.
I am currently reading a very enjoyable book by Duncan Hamilton about Harold Larwood which,of course,includes all the bodyline controversy.I am reading it and can't help remembering this and the Lillee,Thommo kill,kill,kill chant mentioned in Fire in Babylon.I must look up if Bradman thought this was cricket.
I was not old enough to remember this - I was just four and Play School age at the time. Colin Cowdrey was born a month after my father and so a contemporary of his.
I remember as a 15yr old thinking Cowdrey was a nut but by the end of the series l understood he had fight and pride, the good sort of pride. After Gower my fave English batsman. I hope we smash the pommies now. 2nd test coming, l can hardly wait.
After the "Good afternoon, my name's Cowdrey." quote Thommo bowled a ball that hit him in the ribcage and allegedly said: "Good afternoon my name's Thomson."
@@stephenreeds3672 The Australian policy towards Randall was to never speak to him whist he was batting. Randall was a chatterbox at the crease so they chose to ignore him.
@@Downpaymentblues On tour in India the team were having caviar on toast for breakfast. He turned to the waiter and said: "this blackcurrant jam tastes like fish."
Was there at the WACA (Sunday from memory) when seating around the ground was packed (a record crowd). When Colin came out, there was a buzz, as everyone was half anticipating Cowdrey being slaughtered. Took a lot of guts.
What ledgend Colin Cowdrey! Seeing (or not) a bouncer hit the sight screen on the full must have been terrifying! Really, has anybody bowled fastef than thommo.? This must have been 170+.
@ANIRUDH SURESH True that. Insane speed. Thanks for that info... Could you provide a link to that comment? Some have suggested it's impossible to calculate on old vision but I have other views on that.
I remember this series. Thommo was at his peak, unbelievable pace. It’s hard to believe they refer to Bumrah as a fast bowler, in that era he’d be fast-medium
Proud English & British are still around but sadly it's unfashionable in these times to display these qualities now or the starmer thought police may get you for unconcious racism amongst other things..
If memory serves the oldest and most successful recalls was David steele of Northants.the young blades and establishes bats couldn't cope with the pace.the"old "man rescued england
Love the irony of the aussies complaining that the windies bowlers were bowling 6 bouncers on the body but here we see Thomson and lillee dishing it out to old CC
The difference is that at the end of a spell Lillee and Thommo would try to get wickets the old fashioned way and the change bowlers did the same. Line and length. The WI attack was an armada of 4-5 quicks bowling bouncers all day long. This resulted in a Bouncers per Over limit and over rate mandates.
Remember, there were no helmets back in those days.. having to face Lillee and Thompson and then the West Indies.. those guys back then had guts. England had Wild man Bob Willis, he was quick as well.
@@scottnewton9370 🤣Makes you wonder who were the real crims, the poor Poms in England who stole a loaf of bread to survive & sent to Aus, or the ruling Poms who raped, pillaged, genocided & stole land the world over ...
At the time they measured Thommo’s speed, he was the fastest in the world. Add Lillee, Pascoe, Hogg and later Alderman into the mix at the mighty WACA and you had an absolute Pommy nightmare… Now the ACB lets cheats into the team, I no longer follow the Baggy Green.
The thing with Bodyline was that they put all the fielders on the leg side, making it very hard to score off short bowling at the body. If you look at the footage, you can see that Jeff Thomson's field is very attacking, with lots of gaps.
Bodyline is fast short-pitched bowling at the body with a packed legside field, not just fast short-pitched bowling. In any case, no chance of Bodyline here because the MCC banned it as soon as it was thrown back at them.
no helmets, no body guards. And I saw several un-edited videos on TH-cam where every single ball bowled by Thompson in the over is a short pitched ball. Some of them way off. One or two which are on target and connect are shown. Not fair at all to the batsmen.
Yes he was brave, but in my mind, stupid. Coming out of an English winter with no games under his belt is just mad. Do not know at that time why England did not have more players with them on the Tour. And I was at that match as I live in Perth. WACA was a very fast pitch.
I think i saw in the members section of the stand someone without a tie 👔 there is one thing we English will not stand for and that is badmanners I'm pretty sure the culprit was band for life after this behaviour was brought up in parliament also the uproar in the house of Lords thankfully hanging was abolished ten years back
Folks Amazing to look back and realise that there were no helmets and whilst he made a foam pad for his body, it was rather ineffective and watching it on TV then, it seemed like he was hit one or two balls and over (8 balls then). The next year Australia welcomed the West Indies and after than series, concern for the safety of players increased. They took until1978 to arrive but I recall the Grade batsmen in Sydney going into battle with Thommo as if they were going to war. Thommo and Len Pascoe opened the bowling for Western Suburbs and often bowled on poorly prepared wickets. Ouch.
Thommo is quoted in Wisdon as admitting that he was more interested in knocking the batsman's head off than getting them out. Miracle no-one died at grade level on those pitches with Thommo/Pascoe, who was equally merciless
Tremendous courage? They're playing cricket. Their choice. No choice for the many men who had to defend these shores in WW2. Find a different word. Not courage.
@@jamiewilson5679 which ‘lot’? There are many waiting in the wings old chap! Watching the poms now playing India. Very impressive simply because they are patient. In Australia though, that luxury is non existent.
Mike Deniss Deniss Amiss scored only against India because we didn’t have fast bowler. They failed against Australia. Gavaskar and Vishwanath were much better than Amiss and Mike Deniss. Gavaskar and Vishwanath played against Lele and Thomson much better than MCC players
In some versions, the exchange went: Cowdrey: "Good morning, my name's Cowdrey, I don't believe we've met?' Thommo: 'What do you think this is, a fucking vicarage tea party?'
By playing Cricket at all, you're saying something good about us Poms, because we invented the damn game, you moron. If we're playing Aussie rules Football, you might have a point. You're playing 'our' Sport. No Poms. No Cricket. Check mate.
This is cricket for me. I back the Aussies in everything but when any nation delivers class (and form) like Cowdrey, it provides this Yankee with a measure of inspiration and joy that nothing else can. I hate that my country cannot embrace this more, but Test match cricket history grips me with utter completeness. I will never get enough.
I've always been surprised the Americans haven't taken to cricket. You have the best climate for it and I'm sure with your expertise in turf the pitches would be fantastic. Also given your size the US would be there right at the top.
Great comment michael. Its an amazing game, youre right
@@ds1868 The Yanks did. in fact, take to cricket decades before Australia was "discovered" by the Poms. During Colonisation there's records of the game being played in the NE colonies as early as 1720. The history of cricket in the USA is a good read.
G'day Michael...there are many other such records of inspiration in the Test arena some being witnessed in the last northern summer when Australia's Nathan Lyon went out to bat essentially on one leg after tearing a calf muscle during his fielding / bowling inning. One very memorable instance came during the 1977 Centenary Ashes Test in Melbourns when opener Rick McCosker went out to face the music with his head bandaged due to a broken jaw received when batting in the earlier innings.
@@flamingfrancis G'day to you! Indeed, it's all about facing the heat when everything stands against you! It's why I "fancied" myself an opener - Bill Brown style. Bat first with an arrow straight bat, face down the monstrous aggression with pure courage and blunt that attack. Imagine being Brian Close if you have to, but let the quicks know you are NOT AFRAID. THEY NEED TO BE. I might be an American, but always noticed lots of people stopping to watch me bat. (I did manage a golden duck to a master swing bowler in a match I organized! haha!) I'm still hungry for time at the crease!!! Cheers, mate!
I was at that Perth test as a kid. It really was quite something. The excitement around Lillee and Thompson was huge but I think everyone recognised Cowdrey's immense courage.
Totally cool! Thanks for sharing!
He had nothing to prove, which was the amazing thing. I think he loved a challenge, and had huge enthusiasm for the game, and played the game in the best spirit. At 42, he was probably a lot less mobile than younger colleagues, but he showed pure class here. He may not have been the best captain, but along with Boycott, Sutcliffe, Hobbs, May, Stewart and Thorpe, one of the best players of pace England ever produced.
No p in Thomson's name.
@@englishciderlover7347 Correct oops.
Nice of Thommo to say that about Cowdrey. It tough out in the middle but there was genuine respect and like for fellow players. That’s how cricket should be played both on and off the pitch.
He did say though, he thought “Not that it’s going to do you any good,” probably meaning that he still meant to pepper him with the short stuff
But otherwise, yes. Being rivals doesn’t mean that fans and sportsmen are obliged to behave like @r$€ h07€$ towards each other. That’s kind of how I ended up losing interest in football.
@@oleggorky906 Cowdrey was never frightened of Thommo he faced some fierce bowlers in his day.
@@jacktattis Nowhere did I say that Cowdrey was afraid of him. I just shared what Jeff Thompson said when he gave a recollection of the incident when I saw a programme about this series, many years later.
@@oleggorky906 Yes I saw one too. Thommo made out that Cowdrey had shaken hands with him and introduced himself out of fear
@@jacktattis I guess he wasn't frightened because he never saw the balls the Thommo unleashed.
Cowdrey had a huge amount of pride and would never give in to this sort of intimidation. Andy Roberts knocked him over his stumps and nearly killed him in a county game against Hampshire the previous season (1974) and even that didn't put him off having a go against Thomson and Lillee. What a legend he was.
Very courageous player. I remember his comeback well.
The baron
Yes that time Andy Roberts used to play from Hampshire
Thank you for sharing this
I can’t even imagine facing Thommo fully padded up with a helmet in.. Cowdry was 42… but if thin foam taped to his chest and an MCC felt cap on his head.. LEGEND
Well played Sir Colin Cowdrey, From an Aussie fan
Nice to see a Richie Benaud again, he’s still my favourite commentator. 👍👍
Listening to Ritchie talk about cricket just reminds us of how much he loved people and their personalities,and how he didn't want robots playing the game. RIP Legend .
Old Ritchie was a legend. Rip bor.💪👊💛💚🏴
In the English summer of 1975, the touring Aussies played Kent, and the Aussies declared their 2nd innings to leave Kent needing 354. The great MC Cowdrey got them there by scoring an unbeaten 151. No Thommo in that game, but Lillee and a pretty strong attack played. For a man of 42 to do that against a quality attack in the 4th innings must've been pretty special, and makes you wonder how good he was in his prime. One of England's greats, and a gentleman.
I met him as a schoolboy when Kent played Yorkshire at Gravesend if I remember. Of course we all rushed to the players to get an autogram. Colin Cowdrey gave his and said "are you enjoying the game boys?"...Freddie Trueman refused ...and said more or less "Sod off"....What a difference in those 2 player's characters. Colin Cowdrey was to cricket like Bobby Charlton was to football.
Well in his prime he scored four hundreds against Australia
Ray Illingworth rated Cowdrey very highly.
Thank you for sharing this moment! Hard to blame Trueman, he is a Yorkshireman; without that fire he may never have been who he was... I never personally demanded much class from Yorkshire anyway, just aggression😎
Don’t confuse manners with lack of bottle. Great player of fast bowling. A nice tribute.
Definitely. Gotta respect him.
Some absolute legends in this video.
In fact all of them.
Thank you for sharing, happy times.
This is gold. What a legend MCC was. You must read his book cricket lovers...
Colin Cowdrey was 43 years old at that time...imagine...what an elegance...
I used to go to Kent matches when MCC was captain. I will always remember one innings at Canterbury when he scored about 80 again against the West Indies. He barely moved and yet the ball kept rushing past the fielders to the boundary. It was amazing.
Brilliant versatile batsman in his heyday - batted every position from opener to middle order. - Known for being a magnificent stroke maker but had an awesome defence and could be very difficult to dismiss - I bet the majority of people watching this vid didn't know he scored the slowest hundred ever in terms of balls faced - taking 535 balls (yes you read that right!!) to score a match saving and almost match winning century against 1950's West Indian Mystery spinner Sonny Ramadhin. Scored 22 test match centuries without modern day protective gear and all on uncovered pitches. Finished his test career with over 7600 test runs averaging over 44 and a top score of 182. A true great.
wow!
Yea I remember him with great respect , being an old Aussie . If I was in a trench in a war I would be very grateful to have him by my side !
Didn't Boycott average about 500 balls faced per century? 😄
Even slower than Boyks?now that is a record 😂
An absolute legend!😁👍🍺
Facing Wes Hall with a broken arm! Anyone remember that. Early 1960's. Phew. Still sends shivers, I was about 12. Bravest of the brave that day Colin.
He came in for the final four balls and stood at the non-striker's end while David Allen played out the rest of the over. I was glued to the TV hoping for a single and he to hit the winning runs. England only needed about four and the West Indians just the last wicket so all four results were possible.
I am a non parochial Australian...Good on yo CC for fine exhibition of courage...
And we all laughed at the poms for playing the old fella, he stood tall against the 2 tearaway quicks
Initials are MCC. Michael Colin Cowdrey.
@roosters boys The Aussies have now learnt to appreciate, having been beaten twice by India at home, has helped.😜.
He had so much time to play the ball! Wonderful player .
I'm from Perth I remember this. I thought at 42 he was ancient. He played well though. Showed a lot of guts.
That's as courageous and patriotic as a man can get. Cowdrey knew he was in for a pasting - in fact, would be targeted by - by the brutish Aussie bowlers, yet he embraced national duty.
Cowdrey deserves a medal for this. And I don't mean a bland MCCowdrey Spirit lecture by ex players, but something substantial. Yeas of course he is Baron Cowdrey but to unquestioningly put your life and health in harm's way takes a lot of character. As good as a military General descending to the front line to do battle.
Michael Colin, you fought the good fight, you ran the race and you stayed true to the highest principles. May the good Lord bless and keep you.
Oh please, toughen up princess. "Would be targeted by the brutish Aussie bowlers". Ever hear of a thing called Bodyline, champ? You clowns started the whole targeting batsmen business, and now you're whining about getting some of your own back? Get a grip.
Colin celebrated his 42nd birthday on Christmas Eve 1974 (the 3rd Test started at the MCG on Boxing Day) and I remember reading at the time the England team wished him a happy birthday by singing: ''For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow...for he's a jolly good fellow...and he can go in first!''
My dad was watching this, and I (about 9) paused to watch an over. I thought: these guys are Gladiators! It wasn't so much Thompson and Lillee, but how England faced them that inspired me.
Thanks for sharing this! Indeed, for me, it’s “Who will stand up to these monsters?” I love Lillee and Thommo both, but it’s all about who can face them down, for me💪
@@michaelgpartridge2384 Yes. There were a few like Cowdrey ..... G. Boycott with his "in your eye" attitude, and some other stout turtle--shell types. And V. Richards the West Indian
Gary Waite
1 year ago
Kim Hughes was once asked 'what was the best way to play Thommo'. His answer, 'at the other end'!
Weird to think that in his first Test, Cowdrey was facing Lindwall, Miller and Benaud and in his last, Lillee and Thomson.
Great comment. Never realised that👍
Actually no, in his last test Thomson didn’t play and Lillee only bowled a few overs before being injured and not bowling again in the innings. And in cowdreys only innings in that test he was out caught behind to walker.
Nevertheless he faced plenty of Lillee and Thomson in that series.
YES that's impressive by any persons interpretation. He faced some awesome bowlers and still averaged about 44 on mostly uncovered wickets. Would be interesting to see what he averaged upon his first retirement. 😁👍🍺
@@libertyordeaf Agreed. But if you're going to make such comments because you want to appear so sophisticated and knowledgeable, at least be accurate. Easy to fix, change the word "test" in the first sentence to "test series".
After this Test, they ended up really good mates.
That's what England vs Australia, is about.
Should be noted that the great Harold Larwood, famed for the Bodyline series, actually befriended some Aussie opposition after he was critical of Jardine in the series. Harold moved to NSW in 1953 and resided in Randwick where he passed away in 1995.
Harold is interred in a Randwick church so it's fair to say he will forever be at the Randwick end of the SCG. He deserves to have a movie made about his great life.
@@flamingfrancis Frank Tyson and Tony Lock also emigrated to Oz and lived there for the rest of their lives.
Larwood, after leaving county cricket, moved to the coast to Blackpool. He bought a sweet shop, and on weekends played for Blackpool CC in the Northern Lg. A couple of Aussie journalists interviewed him in Blackpool. The sweet shop was not doing as well as Larwood had hoped. The Aussies suggested emigrating to Oz for a better life, and he took the decision to go Down Under.
well said lonestar ,cricket is cricket,tough battles on the field ,friends off the field.
Cowdrey had so much time to play the ball! Thompson was bowling seriously quick
As an Aussie, I love & at times hate watching Ashes bc its tough, that's the way it is.. Full respect to Engalnd bc win, lose or draw they always give their best & have given top players in history of cricket. Don't mind razing, esp. when its intelligent, but I loath disrespecting any team that comes over here. Look forward to watching next Ashes, & Aussie's don't mind, we are building a team & if selectors & board don't get in way will do it. Congrats India on its win here, played with heart & guts (tears why I write this🤣😥🤣🤣). We need to shore up our middle order.
Rene Oslizlok great post friend...
B-G series circa 20-21 was iconic
I hated the sledging of THOMMOS ERA. and then it continued with McGrath and Co I hated him with a passion Back in Benauds day it was banter with no foul language
He got plenty of starts in that series (passing 20 in 5 of his 9 innings). In his heyday he would have gone on to score far more substantial innings.
No helmets against Thompson at the wacca when the the wacca was shit lightning...that's some kind of bottle
Good job Thomson wasn't bowling then!
@Lee Turton It's WACA, short for Western Australia Cricket Association, not wacca.
@Mrfairchap huh
My Dad opened the batting with him for the RAF against The Army during the month he did National Service before they " found" Colin Cowdrey Test player had flat feet and except from doing more National Service 😁
How interesting!
I watched the game on TV. Initially I didn't like how slow he was - BUT then I considered WHO in their right mind would deliberately let Tommo hit him rather than get an edge!! That IS GUTS. I watched Tony Grieg say when Colin came in he had 2 broken ribs and that side was completely black. That's courage.
That sounds like Brian Close when we were playing the West Indies about 18 months later. He copped some severe blows from their quicks.
I am currently reading a very enjoyable book by Duncan Hamilton about Harold Larwood which,of course,includes all the bodyline controversy.I am reading it and can't help remembering this and the Lillee,Thommo kill,kill,kill chant mentioned in Fire in Babylon.I must look up if Bradman thought this was cricket.
good hard talented sportsmen, no whinging it stayed on the pitch. respect to all
I was not old enough to remember this - I was just four and Play School age at the time. Colin Cowdrey was born a month after my father and so a contemporary of his.
Fabulous 🎉 ❤ Cricketer, Coming Out Of Retirement And Bat Again Against Lillie And Thommo / Thomson Really Remarkable 🎉 Excellent
I remember as a 15yr old thinking Cowdrey was a nut but by the end of the series l understood he had fight and pride, the good sort of pride.
After Gower my fave English batsman.
I hope we smash the pommies now. 2nd test coming, l can hardly wait.
After the "Good afternoon, my name's Cowdrey." quote Thommo bowled a ball that hit him in the ribcage and allegedly said: "Good afternoon my name's Thomson."
I heard he said 'It's not a fucking garden party' which I think is more likely or was that Rod Marsh to Randall.
@@stephenreeds3672 The Australian policy towards Randall was to never speak to him whist he was batting. Randall was a chatterbox at the crease so they chose to ignore him.
Randall was insane that's why...should have been on the ward😂
@@Downpaymentblues yeah he was mad... talented though which seems to get forgotten with characters like randall
@@Downpaymentblues On tour in India the team were having caviar on toast for breakfast. He turned to the waiter and said: "this blackcurrant jam tastes like fish."
You can call a lot of pommy batsmen weak as piss but by god they have a few with rock solid balls of steel that’s for sure.
Could say the same about some Convicts' too.
Was there at the WACA (Sunday from memory) when seating around the ground was packed (a record crowd). When Colin came out, there was a buzz, as everyone was half anticipating Cowdrey being slaughtered. Took a lot of guts.
Aye, laddie, guts is what it’s all about!🙌
What ledgend Colin Cowdrey! Seeing (or not) a bouncer hit the sight screen on the full must have been terrifying!
Really, has anybody bowled fastef than thommo.? This must have been 170+.
@ANIRUDH SURESH True that. Insane speed. Thanks for that info... Could you provide a link to that comment? Some have suggested it's impossible to calculate on old vision but I have other views on that.
Hit the screen on the first bounce, not the full. Still, that wouldn't inspire any more confidence in the batsman
I remember this series. Thommo was at his peak, unbelievable pace. It’s hard to believe they refer to Bumrah as a fast bowler, in that era he’d be fast-medium
A member of that lost breed of Englishman. And the world's poorer for it.
Suppressed by jimcrack ideologies.
Poorer? Or happier?
Proud English & British are still around but sadly it's unfashionable in these times to display these qualities now or the starmer thought police may get you for unconcious racism amongst other things..
That Perth test was my first test match experience. I was 11 years old and still remember watching Colin Cowdrey getting hit by Thommo.
I remember thinking he was really old. Now I’m 62 it seems he was just a young fella.
Rodney: 'He didn't show any pain at all'.
2:30: Cowdrey shows intense pain.
Brave brave man
No, he just had a bit of an itch. Anyway Thommo's wife was feeding Colin lots of biscuits.😜
Cowdrey was brave and he got in line with the ball.
He didn't back up , Basil D'Oliveira with the MCC
The cricketers of today wouldn't last 5 minutes if they had to play in that era.
What's the point of that? There's absolutely no way of substantiating that claim, so why even say it?
The best ones would. The best players in any sport would be successful in any era. That's what champions are or were like.
Winner of the Pointless BS Comment Award
Goes to.......... little Stevie Nuff Nuff
The 1970s was really one of the great Golden Eras of International Cricket.
RIP Derek Underwood😢 from India.
Those kids at the end..😂
Thompson was the best bowler, period!
Arif SJC
Not really...
Thomson. No p.
Lillee was #1
If memory serves the oldest and most successful recalls was David steele of Northants.the young blades and establishes bats couldn't cope with the pace.the"old "man rescued england
such a gentleman.
Love the irony of the aussies complaining that the windies bowlers were bowling 6 bouncers on the body but here we see Thomson and lillee dishing it out to old CC
The difference is that at the end of a spell Lillee and Thommo would try to get wickets the old fashioned way and the change bowlers did the same. Line and length. The WI attack was an armada of 4-5 quicks bowling bouncers all day long. This resulted in a Bouncers per Over limit and over rate mandates.
Doesn’t mean he was bowling bouncers every ball you fool
Remember, there were no helmets back in those days.. having to face Lillee and Thompson and then the West Indies.. those guys back then had guts. England had Wild man Bob Willis, he was quick as well.
What was that at the end
Colin Cowdry and Peter May were my heroes. Australian bowling was the end of my interest in cricket. Intimidation and not lbw, caught or bowled.
The kids must have been extra fielders. The Australian player nearly tripped over them.
Island of crims they were nicking the ball to sell for vegemite
😜
@@scottnewton9370 🤣Makes you wonder who were the real crims, the poor Poms in England who stole a loaf of bread to survive & sent to Aus, or the ruling Poms who raped, pillaged, genocided & stole land the world over ...
Brave people like Colin cowdry are no more
@Pervaz Malik
Oh be quiet, muppet. There will always be plenty of gutsy tough cricketers regardless of era.
Aaah Lilian Thompson, she was a beast of a girl 😂
At the time they measured Thommo’s speed, he was the fastest in the world. Add Lillee, Pascoe, Hogg and later Alderman into the mix at the mighty WACA and you had an absolute Pommy nightmare…
Now the ACB lets cheats into the team, I no longer follow the Baggy Green.
insane facing Thommo with just a cap on at 42 yo.
lol ...."didn't show any pain at all"? just at the point he says this old Colin was clutching his ribs in agony ...who could blame him?
Richie Benaud reckoned only Frank Tyson was quicker
I miss kids running on to the outfield to try and get the ball before the fielder
Thommo was so dangerous they changed the rules. We thought Cowdrey was going to be killed at any minute, and Thommo hoped so.
No winging pommies back then !!
Whinging?
On a wing and a prayer
Love how the Ozzies were so appalled at body line but seem delighted when they put other batters lives at risk.
The thing with Bodyline was that they put all the fielders on the leg side, making it very hard to score off short bowling at the body. If you look at the footage, you can see that Jeff Thomson's field is very attacking, with lots of gaps.
@Bubbles Devere nah, Bradman started it by being to good
The English drew those battle lines many years earlier......
Bodyline is fast short-pitched bowling at the body with a packed legside field, not just fast short-pitched bowling.
In any case, no chance of Bodyline here because the MCC banned it as soon as it was thrown back at them.
It’s ‘Aussie’ not ‘Ozzie’....
no helmets, no body guards. And I saw several un-edited videos on TH-cam where every single ball bowled by Thompson in the over is a short pitched ball. Some of them way off. One or two which are on target and connect are shown. Not fair at all to the batsmen.
Which is why the 2 short ball per over rule was bought in
Not a great decision Colin, just a tad over it, but you were a fantastic cricketer, in your own right....😀
YES that's correct, but atleast he had the guts to turn up face Thomson and Lillee and not back down despite being struck countless times. 😁👍🍺
Yes he was brave, but in my mind, stupid. Coming out of an English winter with no games under his belt is just mad. Do not know at that time why England did not have more players with them on the Tour. And I was at that match as I live in Perth. WACA was a very fast pitch.
I think i saw in the members section of the stand someone without a tie 👔 there is one thing we English will not stand for and that is badmanners I'm pretty sure the culprit was band for life after this behaviour was brought up in parliament also the uproar in the house of Lords thankfully hanging was abolished ten years back
Folks
Amazing to look back and realise that there were no helmets and whilst he made a foam pad for his body, it was rather ineffective and watching it on TV then, it seemed like he was hit one or two balls and over (8 balls then).
The next year Australia welcomed the West Indies and after than series, concern for the safety of players increased. They took until1978 to arrive but I recall the Grade batsmen in Sydney going into battle with Thommo as if they were going to war. Thommo and Len Pascoe opened the bowling for Western Suburbs and often bowled on poorly prepared wickets. Ouch.
Yeah who would have wanted to be a grade cricketer in those days. I read an article about Thommo in that Sydney comp and he hurt some blokes.
Thommo is quoted in Wisdon as admitting that he was more interested in knocking the batsman's head off than getting them out. Miracle no-one died at grade level on those pitches with Thommo/Pascoe, who was equally merciless
Tremendous courage? They're playing cricket. Their choice. No choice for the many men who had to defend these shores in WW2. Find a different word. Not courage.
I’d go with gutsy, sportsmen aren’t heroes either, champions will do.
@2:48 - Australia cheated with three extra fielders.
I am sure Cowdrey would have done much better against these guys in his prime.
Were was Boycott?..in exile! ..he can never say he faced the fastest. Not Michael Holding Geoff, even he admits he wasnt as fast as Tommo
This was Boycott's 3 year exile dropped out of the England side as he was passed over for the England captaincy and he didn't like Mike Denness
Didn't he face that legendary spell of holding at Babados?...
No talk of Body line then. Of course, they were dishing it out. Bloody hypocrites.
@Adam Touche👍
Let's see how the convicts shape up against wood and archer...cry baby cheat Smith's already had a taste at lord's last time
@@leeturton9254 So you’re talking about when you little short POMS come to Australia we smash the crap out of you next year.
@@chookvalve not so sure about that mate,your lot are a little past their best.
@@jamiewilson5679 which ‘lot’? There are many waiting in the wings old chap!
Watching the poms now playing India. Very impressive simply because they are patient.
In Australia though, that luxury is non existent.
Mike Deniss Deniss Amiss scored only against India because we didn’t have fast bowler. They failed against Australia. Gavaskar and Vishwanath were much better than Amiss and Mike Deniss. Gavaskar and Vishwanath played against Lele and Thomson much better than MCC players
Stiff upper lip old boy
no helmet lol
Not even invented at that point.
@@Wally-H yeh tough
In some versions, the exchange went: Cowdrey: "Good morning, my name's Cowdrey, I don't believe we've met?' Thommo: 'What do you think this is, a fucking vicarage tea party?'
Could be correct? Typical Ozzie!
CC - Ballsy but naive foolishness
Colon Chowder... yyewww!
Ooohhhh Thommo you are awful but I like you ...🤭...🏏
I never knew the English Captain was the love child of Ernie Wise and Ronnie Corbett ...
Norman Wisdom and the Clitheroe Kid!
I just cannot bring MYSELF to say anything that's good about a POM go THOMMO 💯💯 Percent 😴👍🇦🇨
There is one good thing about the poms.....they're on the other side of the world ,!
@@jimmyriddle5246 alas not all of them .
By playing Cricket at all, you're saying something good about us Poms, because we invented the damn game, you moron.
If we're playing Aussie rules Football, you might have a point. You're playing 'our' Sport. No Poms. No Cricket. Check mate.
@@lonestar6709 You forgot about Rugby .
@@lonestar6709 you also invented bucked teeth but that doesn't make it good