16 February 1973 - Australian Cricket team tour of the West Indies
Ken Jacobs | February 16, 2023
50 years ago, today the Australian Test Team was not in India but were in the Caribbean to take on the West Indies in a five Test series.
Australia went through the tour undefeated and won the series 2 Nil which was an enormous effort considering the great DKLillee had broken down in the first Test and did not play another match in the series. However, he did play as a batsman in two further tour matches later in the tour against the Windward Islands and in fact he opened the batting with the great Ian Redpath against Tobago, making 9.
This was my father's second tour as Manager of an Australian team which he thoroughly enjoyed, although it was hard work - no support staff at all in those days!
During this tour the Australians came across a young batsman named Vivian Richards playing for the Leeward Islands and a young fast bowler by the name of Michael Holding playing for Jamaica both of whom were not to make their Test debuts until 1974 and 1975 respectively but when they did, they certainly made their mark!!
Test Series
1st Test played at Sabina Park, Kingston
Australia 7 /428 (dec) RMarsh 97 (out hit wicket), D Walters 72, REdwards 63 and 2/260 (dec) KStackpole 142, I Redpath 60
drew with
West Indies 428 MFoster 125 , L Rowe 76 , R Kanhai 84 ,MWalker 6/114 , J Hammond 4/79 and 3/67
2nd Test played at Bridgetown, Barbados
Australia 336 G Chappell 106, I Chappell 72, R Marsh 78 and 2 /300 (dec) I Chappell 106no, G Chappell 102 no, K Stackpole 53
drew with
West indies 391 R Kanhai 105, D Murray 90, R Fredericks 98 , M Walker 5/97, T Jenner 3/65 and 0/36.
3rd Test played at Port of Spain, Trinidad
Australia 332 DWalters 112, I Redpath 66, GChappell 56 and 281 I Chappell 97, I Redpath 44
defeated the
West Indies 280 R Kanhai 56, A Kallicharan 53 T Jenner 4/98 and 289 R Fredericks 76, A Kallicharan 91 M Walker 3/43, K O'Keefe 4/57
4th Test played at Georgetown, Guyana
Australia 341 I Chappell 109, D Walters 81 and 0/135 KStackpole 76no , I Redpath 57 no
defeated the
West Indies 366 C Lloyd 176, R Kanhai 57 , D Walters 5/66, J Hammond 3/110 and 109 J Hammond 4/38, M Walker 4/45 , D Walters 2/23
5th Test played Port of Spain, Trinidad
Australia 8/ 419 (dec) R Edwards 74, D Walters 70, I Chappell 56, R Marsh 56 and 7/218 (dec)
drew with
West Indies 319 R Fredericks 73, C Lloyd 59, M Walker 5/75, T Jenner 5/90 and 5/135 C Lloyd 22no , J Benaud 2/12.
