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

1968 Cowdrey’s season started well with successive centuries at Gravesend and Romford, but this could not be maintained with parallel consistency in the Tests. A poor start derided by Wisden as “supine” again raised issues about his captaincy. However at Edgbaston in his 100th Test, he celebrated the unique achievement with an equally unique hundred, a vintage innings of cover drives despite being crippled by a pulled leg muscle. His captaincy reputation was restored at The Oval with a “magisterial” ( Wisden ) display in a tight finish which levelled the series. For Kent he finished top of the batting averages as the county maintained its runners-up position. Cowdrey was reappointed captain for the winter tour of South Africa, before the intervention of the D’Oliveira Affair led to its cancellation. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 527. Kent v Lancashire, Canterbury, May 4, 5, 6 (Kent won by six wickets) * c K.Higgs b K.Shuttleworth 3 83 69 1 c K.Higgs b D.P.Hughes 28 162-4 175 1 528. Kent v Gloucestershire, Bristol, May (8), 9, (10) (Match drawn) * 42-0 529. Kent v Derbyshire, Gravesend, May 11, 12, 13 (Match drawn) * c and b E.Smith 5 179-9d 163 94-6 1 530. Kent v Somerset, Gravesend, May 15, 16, 17 (Kent won by nine wickets) * not out 127 383-6d 134-9d did not bat - 54-1 299 531. Kent v Essex, Romford, May 19, 20, 21 (Match drawn) * c B.Taylor b K.D.Boyce 129 338-8d 283-4d did not bat - 109-4d 143-8 532. Kent v Leicestershire, Leicester, May 22, 23, 24 (Kent won by 165 runs) * lbw b C.T.Spencer 54 157 53 2 b R.J.Barratt 25 213-7d 152 533. Kent v Hampshire, Southampton, June 1, 2, 3 (Match drawn) * lbw b D.W.White 28 148 230 b D.Shackleton 48 342-8 534. ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA, Old Trafford, June 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 (Australia won by 159 runs) * c W.M.Lawry b G.D.McKenzie 4 165 357 1 c B.N.Jarman b G.D.McKenzie 11 253 220 535. Kent v Worcestershire, Worcester, June 15, 16, 17 (Kent won by an innings and 64 runs) * c R.Booth b V.A.Holder 44 337 187 2 86 536. ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA, Lord’s, June 20, 21, 22, 24, 25 (Match drawn) * c R.M.Cowper b G.D.Mckenzie 45 351-7d 78 3 127-4 537. Kent v Middlesex, Tunbridge Wells, June 26, (27), (28) (Match drawn) * c and b R.W.Hooker 54 281-6 538. Kent v Glamorgan, Swansea, June 29, 30, July 1 (Kent won by an innings and 36 runs) * c R.C.Davis b O.S.Wheatley 4 249 75-9d 138 2 539. Kent v Hampshire, Gillingham, July 6, 7, 8 (Kent won by 120 runs) * c A.T.Castell b D.W.White 0 223 136 1 c R.V.Lewis b D.Shackleton 8 91-9d 58 1 540. ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA, Edgbaston, July (11), 12, 13, 15, 16 (Match drawn) * b E.W.Freeman 104 409 222 did not bat - 142-3d 68-1 541. Kent v Surrey, Kennington Oval, August 14, 15, 16 (Match drawn) * c K.F.Barrington b G.R.J.Roope 109 300 190 42-2 54