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

1961/62 – International XI World Tour Cowdrey played in the final two matches of the International World Tour of international class cricketers organised by Ron Roberts. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 340. International XI v Cricket Club of India President’s XI, Brabourne Stadium, Bombay, March 31, April 1, 2, 3 (Match drawn) c G.S.Ramchand b B.P.Gupte 21 518 - - - - 472 1 c G.S.Ramchand b B.P.Gupte 9 253 3 0 12 0 214-6d 341. International XI v Board of Control for Pakistan XI, National Stadium, Karachi, April 6, 7, 8, 9 (International XI won by nine wickets) b Mahmood Hussain 83 420-5d 310-8d not out 33 152-1 259 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Other Matches 2 4 1 146 83 48.66 - 1 1 Career 341 573 46 21789 250 41.34 54 119 282 Bowling O M R W BB Ave Other Matches (6-ball) 3 0 12 0 - - Career (6-ball) 645.5 85 } 2644 52 4-22 50.84 (8-ball) 13.3 0 1962 Another period of ill-health played a critical part in Cowdrey’s career in this season. He began well with 542 runs including two hundreds in his first five matches. A 159, back as opener, followed in the Test at Edgbaston. With May retired, the choice fell between Dexter and Cowdrey as his successor with the upcoming Ashes tour on the near horizon. Dexter captained in the first two Tests with Cowdrey pencilled in for the next two. An ill-timed illness prevented his captaining in the second of those and with Dexter restored, the opportunity of the tour captaincy was lost. In full health at The Oval, Cowdrey hit an impressive 182, his highest Test score. He again led the Kent batting and his early season form returned as he ended the summer with 465 runs in his final three matches. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 342. Kent v Northamptonshire, Northampton, May 3, 5, 6 (Match drawn) * c B.L.Reynolds b P.J.Watts 52 314-6d 316-7d c M.E.J.C.Norman b J.D.F.Larter 76 191-5d 101-3 343. Kent v Lancashire, Old Trafford, May 9, 10, 11 (Match drawn) * c J.F.Blackledge b K.Higgs 10 152 299-6d c G.Clayton b K.Higgs 47 242-9 344. Kent v Warwickshire, Courtaulds Ground, Coventry, May 12, 14, 15 (Warwickshire won by five wickets) * b D.J.Brown 80 194 161 c J.D.Bannister b T.W.Cartwright 29 265-4d 299-5 345. Kent v Gloucestershire, Dartford, May 16, 17, 18 (Match drawn) * c C.A.Milton b A.S.Brown 2 154 331 1 lbw b A.S.Brown 103 375-9d 113-8 1 346. Kent v Worcestershire, Worcester, May 19, 21, 22 (Worcestershire won by nine wickets) * b J.A.Flavell 30 116 235 1 b D.N.F.Slade 113 229 112-1 347. Kent v Derbyshire, Gravesend, May 26, 28, 29 (Match drawn) * not out 7 108-5d 263-8d 38