Famous Cricketers No 72 - Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge, C.B.E.

176. ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA, New Wanderers, Johannesburg, December 24, 26, 27, 28, 29 (England won by 131 runs) c T.L.Goddard b P.S.Heine 59 268 215 3 c T.L.Goddard b N.A.T.Adcock 6 150 72 177. ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA, Cape Town, January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (England won by 312 runs) lbw b N.A.T.Adcock 101 369 205 1 c J.H.B.Waite b H.J.Tayfield 61 220-6d 72 1 178. M.C.C. v Border, Jan Smuts (Recreation) Ground, East London, January 11, 12 (M.C.C. won by an innings and 218 runs) c R.I.Geach b W.R.Chalmers 62 400-8d 78 2 104 2 179. M.C.C. v Natal, City Oval, Pietermaritzburg, January 18, 19, 21, 22 (Match drawn) lbw b V.I.Smith 76 293 163 did not bat - 122-6d 185-5 180. ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA, Durban, January 25, 26, 28, 29, 30 (Match drawn) lbw b T.L.Goddard 6 218 283 1 lbw b P.S.Heine 24 254 142-6 1 181. M.C.C. v Griqualand West, De Beers Stadium , Kimberley, February 8, 9, 11 (M.C.C. won by an innings and 47 runs) b J.E.Waddington 52 310 76 1 187 3 182. ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA, New Wanderers, Johannesburg, February 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 (South Africa won by 17 runs) c T.L.Goddard b H.J.Tayfield 8 251 340 1 c and b H.J.Tayfield 55 214 142 2 183. M.C.C. v Western Province, Cape Town, February 22, 23, 25, 26 (Match drawn) c and b H.D.Bromfield 18 335 257 b E.R.H.Fuller 48 186-8d 176-8 184. ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA, Port Elizabeth, March 1, 2, 4, 5 (South Africa won by 58 runs) c J.H.B.Waite b N.A.T.Adcock 3 110 164 c C.B.van Ryneveld b H.J.Tayfield 8 130 134 185. M.C.C. v Combined Universities, Cape Town, March 9, 11, 12 (M.C.C. won by an innings and 28 runs) b P. L.van der Merwe 72 335 142 2 165 2 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Test Matches 5 10 0 331 101 33.10 1 3 10 Other Matches 13 17 1 704 173 44.00 1 5 18 Tour 18 27 1 1035 173 39.80 2 8 28 Career 185 321 22 11110 204* 37.15 21 66 125 1957 Cowdrey was appointed Kent captain and the Kent Annual Report was encouraged by the result. “He instilled a more determined and confident attitude into the county team”. An opinion shared by The Cricketer. “His example either when batting or in the field was inspiring and he gave the other players just the right kind of guidance and encouragement.” His appointment was marked by a splendid innings victory at Lord’s although no other positive result followed for two months. The home crowds finally saw him in prime form for the Test matches beginning in the first game at Edgbaston. His first home Test century (154) in the world record partnership of 411 (in 8 hours 20 minutes) with Peter May was a triumph of technique against the threat of Ramadhin. Followed by 152 at Lord’s he scored 708 runs in all matches against the West Indian tourists. He was less impressive for Kent. He played only one innings of any note, a magnificent 165 at Trent Bridge. 25