Canterbury, United Kingdom--Kent are set to concede a huge first-innings lead in their tour match against Australia, but 40 years ago this week on the same Canterbury ground, Colin Cowdrey produced a remarkable innings as they recovered to beat the feared 1975 Australians.
For generations of cricket lovers, Cowdrey was the epitome of classical elegance at the crease.
But in 1975, at the age of 42, the batting great was coming to the end of his career, having been summoned as a late replacement for a record-equalling sixth tour of Australia in 1974/75 as England were overwhelmed by the ferocity and guile of fast-bowling pair Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.
A few months later, Cowdrey found himself up against the Australians again but this time at his beloved St Lawrence ground in Canterbury.
Desperate for one more big innings against the old foe, his unbeaten 151 out of a second innings score of 354 saw Kent, more than 200 runs behind on first innings, win by four wickets as they beat Australia for the first time since 1899.
For Graham Johnson, who opened for Kent in that match, the memory of the game and Cowdrey's innings in particular remains bright four decades on.
AFP
