Wikipedia’s description of a tied Test indicates
that it is a cricket match in which the side
batting second is bowled out in the fourth
innings, with scores level. This is very rare result has only
actually occurred twice in any of the 2,000 Tests that have
been played since 1877. The first was in 1960 and the
second in 1986.
On both occasions, the aggregate scores of both sides
(teams) were equal at the conclusion of play and the side
batting last had completed its final innings: 10 batsmen
had been dismissed or, from the perspective of the side
bowling, 10 wickets had been taken. In other words, after
four completed innings, with each innings ending either by
a declaration or 10 wickets having fallen, the runs for both
teams were exactly the same.
Both tied Tests involved the Australian cricket team. Both
ended in the last possible over of play on the last day with
a ball to spare, meaning that within the space of several
minutes all four normal Test match results were possible:
a win for the batting side, a win for the fielding side, a draw
or a tie.
The following are the match details and summarized scores
of the first-ever Tied Test, which was played between
Australia and the West Indies from the 9-14 December,1960
at the Brisbane, Cricket Ground, known as the “Gabba!”
The standing Umpires were Australia’s Colin Egar and Col
Hoy.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat. In accordance
with Australian cricket’s governing rules each over bowled
was comprised of eight balls.
West Indies Australia
453 (100.5 overs)
Garry Sobers 132
Alan Davidson 5/135 (30 overs)
284 (92.6 overs)
Frank Worrell 65
Alan Davidson 6/87 (24.6 overs)
505 (130.3 overs)
Norm O’Neill 181
Wes Hall 4/140 (29.3 overs)
232 (68.7 overs)
Alan Davidson 80
Wes Hall 5/63 (17.7 overs)
RESULT:
MATCH TIED
Page: 14
HIGHLIGHTS
West Indies 1st innings:
After a disastrous start of 65–3, Garfield Sobers made a rapid 132 in 174 minutes. Alan Davidson took 5–135. West Indies were all out for 453 runs.
Australia 1st innings:
Norm O’Neill made 181 in 401 minutes. Australia were all out for 505, a lead of 52.
West Indies 2nd innings:
Alan Davidson took 6–87 and West Indies made 284, setting Australia a target of 233 runs to win.
Australia 2nd innings:
Davidson and Australian captain Richie Benaud set an Australian 7th-wicket partnership record of 134 in matches against the West Indies.
Last over:
Wes Hall was bowling, with the clock showing 5:56 pm. Australia stood at 227–7, needing six runs to win from the 8-ball over (the standard for tests in Australia at the time) with three wickets in hand.
1ST BALL: Wally Grout, facing, was hit on the thigh. Benaud called him through for a single to take strike. Five runs were needed to win from seven balls.
2ND BALL: Benaud attempted a hook shot but was caught behind by wicket-keeper Gerry Alexander. The score was 228–8.
3RD BALL: The new batsman, Ian Meckiff, cut to mid-off. No run. Still five runs to win from five balls.
4TH BALL: The ball flew down leg-side without making contact with Meckiff’s bat. Grout called him through for a bye. Alexander threw the ball to the bowler’s end to try to run out Meckiff, but his throw missed and Meckiff made his ground. Four runs to win from four balls.
5TH BALL: Grout fended a bouncer to square leg, where Rohan Kanhai was ready to take the catch. Hall also attempted to take the catch in his follow-through, resulting in a fielding mix-up which allowed Meckiff and Grout take a single and the catch was not taken. Three runs to win from three balls.
6TH BALL: Meckiff swung desperately and sent the ball towards the mid-wicket boundary. The batsmen ran two runs as Conrad Hunte scooped the ball up just inside the fence. The batsmen attempted a third run for victory but Hunte’s return was flat and true, straight into the gloves of Alexander, who whipped off the bails before Grout could get home. The teams were tied. Australia were on 232–9, requiring one run to win with one wicket in hand and two balls remaining.
7TH BALL: The new batsman, Lindsay Kline, pushed the ball to square leg and set off for a single. Joe Solomon scooped up the ball and, with one stump to aim for from 12 metres out, threw the ball in and hit the stumps, running Meckiff out by a few inches.
Australia were all out for 232 and the match ended in the first ever tie in 84 years of Test cricket.
Magnificent Memories: Cricket’s First Ever Tied Test!
