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5 Jan 1971. Garth McKenzie bowled to Geoff Boycott.
The general feeling among the players was it was a part of a joke.
However became part of epoch-making history.
The first ever ODI had kicked off.. .
#cricket #onthisday
5 Jan 1971. Garth McKenzie bowled to Geoff Boycott.
The general feeling among the players was it was a part of a joke.
However became part of epoch-making history.
The first ever ODI had kicked off.. .
#cricket #onthisday
It was a weather-driven accident. The first 2 Tests had been drab draws, both captains unwilling to take risks. When the Ashes moved to Melbourne, elements ensured two days had to be called off before play. Even adding a day to the Test match did not help as it kept pouring.
With the Melbourne authorities facing losses of up to £80,000, both boards agreed to arrange an extra Test - the seventh!! The England cricketers were not as delighted as in this pic. They demaded more money. Good old days of Test cricket.
The weather clearing a bit, play was finally possible on the last day of the Test. The organisers punted on some light-hearted entertainment. To be played on the Gillette Cup lines. A 40-over match, eight balls per over. A 53 over 2 ball match in six-ball terms.
Rothmans stepped in at the very last moment to sponsor the match with a £5000 purse, along with a £90 Man of the Match award.
Bradman was roped in to deliver a pre-match speech. He did so standing on a bench.
Bradman was roped in to deliver a pre-match speech. He did so standing on a bench.
What was surprising was the crowd. Considering it was a weekday, about 20000 were expected. 46000 turned up. The sense of history was lost on a lot of players, but not on The Don. After the match, he reminded the cricketers and the crowd of the occasion they had been part of.
England captain Ray Ilingworth had other priorities: “We'd spent so long in the dressing room that we were just grateful for a game."
Alan McGilvray was more openminded "It's different to a Test match or state game … there's more involved. There's more tactical operations, there's more alertness in the field, better running between the wickets Generally, it's a spectacle that I've enjoyed in England very much"
The pitch slow, the outfield sluggish, the shortest boundary at least 85 yards from the bat, did not produce fireworks when England batted. John Edrich shepherded them with 82, England managing 190 from 39.4 overs before being bowled out.
The pitch took turn, Mallett and the occasional spinner Stackpole capturing three wickets each. Just seven boundaries in the innings, four to Edrich.
The Aussie reply was far more enterprising. Ian Chappell hit 60 with the first ever six in an ODI. Doug Walters scored 41. Illingworth picked up three wickets, but was expensive. Having surprisingly left Underwood out on a wet wicket, England was overcome with 42 balls to spare.
Guardian called it a One Day Test.
In The Times John Woodcock prophesised: " I would wager that on the next tour to Australia there will be a series within a series. Three or perhaps four one-day matches between the sides.. in addition to the Test matches."
In The Times John Woodcock prophesised: " I would wager that on the next tour to Australia there will be a series within a series. Three or perhaps four one-day matches between the sides.. in addition to the Test matches."
Wisden, however, thought it beneath its dignity to produce a match report in the Almanack
Well, winds of change took a while to rattle the windows of the archaic Long Rooms, but soon the bluster and bank balance of Kerry Packer ensured that the format was there to stay.
