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The Gabba - Australia v West Indies Tied Test in 1960

Sheldon Stackpoole | June 07, 2023

As my dad rummaged through his study recently, we came across the scorebook he maintained as a young 14-year old. As a cricket tragic you could imagine my surprise and delight to find one of the games in the scorebook was the tied test match between Australia and the West Indies at the Gabba in 1960-61.

Dads dad, my grandad, Jack Stackpoole was on the executive for Toombul Cricket Club and he had received passes to the game. Dad, John Stackpoole sat in the delegate’s area next to the Queensland Cricketers' Club, a fine vantage point at the Gabba and watched the game diligently - taking score each over.

Over the years dad has mentioned the two big names written about before the game was Garfield Sobers and Rohan Kanhai of the West Indies.

In the Australian team was Norm O'Neill who many at the time considered him to be "The Next Bradman".

Recently I presented a sneak peek of "what might’ve have been" with the Virtual Queensland Premier Cricket Grand Final between the University of Queensland and Ipswich Hornets so I thought it’d be a bit of fun to capture dads scorecards of the tied test and summarise the game.

The tied test played between Australia and the West Indies from December 9-14, 1960.

West Indies batted first and the opening pair of Hunte and Smith lead the charge. The first dismissal of Smith fell to the bowling of Alan Davidson and was caught by keeper Grout. West Indies were 1-23. Hunte was soon out for 24 with Captain Richie Benaud taking a catch, once again off the bowling of Davidson. Rohan Kanhai managed 15 before Davidson made another breakthrough. West Indies were now 3/65. With Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrell at the crease, the Windies amassed 174 for their 4th wicket – Sobers scoring a brilliant 132 in front of the Gabba crowd. Worrell was out four runs later with Davidson and Grout once again combining. West Indies total was now 5/243. Lashley scored 19 before Grout gloved another off the bowling of Kline. Solomon and Alexander teamed up for a quality seventh-wicket partnership of 64 to take the Windies total to 7/347. Ramadhin scored 12 before Davidson snared his fifth wicket. The 9th wicket of 86 between Alexander and Hall allowed the Windies to work their way over 50 and when Hall was dismissed by Kline, the Windies were 9/452. Alexander was next out to Kline and the Windies had amassed an impressive score of 453.

Davidson’s bowling of 5/135 was well balanced by Kline who picked up 3/52.

Australia’s McDonald and Simpson were off to a fine start, picking up 84 runs for their first wicket – McDonald out off the bowling of Sobers for 57. Harvey only managed 15 before he was bowled by Valentine. Simpson fell just short of his century, scoring 92 when he was bowled by Ramadhin – Australia were now 3/194.

O’Neill and Favell combined well for an 84 run 4th wicket partnership. On 45, Favell was run out. The fifth-wicket partnership between O’Neill and Mackay was just as impressive with the two putting together 103. Mackay was bowled by Sobers for 35. Davidson 44 was a handy knock and when he fell, Australia was 6/469. Benaud (10), Grout (4), Meckiff (3) and Kline 3 not out all hung around for O’Neill to amass a scintillating score of 181 when he was the final wicket out off the bowling of Hall. Australia’s tally of 505, giving them a first-innings lead of 52.

The most impressive of the Windies bowlers was Hall with 4/140, while Sobers picked up 2/115.

The Windies second innings wasn’t off to a good start with first-innings destroyer, Davidson, snaring Smith for 6 to have the Windies 1/13. Hunte and Kanhai combined well for a second-wicket partnership of 75 before Hunte was dismissed by Mackay with a catch to Simpson. Sobers only managed 14 in his second dig and the Windies were 3/114. Kanhai was soon out for 54 off the bowling of Davidson – West Indies 4/127. Worrell and Solomon steadied the ship and took their team to 5/210 before Davidson once again made a breakthrough and Grout taking another catch behind the wickets. Lashley didn’t last long – out for a duck. Alexander (5), Ramadhin (6) didn’t last long either and eventually, Solomon was out for 47 – West Indies 9/253. Hall and Valentine combined for a handy 10th wicket partnership before

Davidson bowled Hall for 18. West Indies had amassed 284 and Australia needed 233 to win the game. Simpson was out straightaway for a duck to have Australia reeling at 1/1. Harvey too only managed 5 – Australia 2/7. O’Neill scored 26 and McDonald 16 – Australia was struggling in their run chase and were now 4/49. Favell only managed seven and Hall had now picked up four of the first five wickets to have Australia precariously at 5/57. Ramadhin had Mackay clean bowled for 28 and the game was swinging strongly towards a West Indies win. The seventh-wicket partnership between Davidson and Benaud was outstanding – an impressive 134 between the two. All was going smoothly until Davidson was run out for 80 – Australia 7/226. Benaud only lasted another two runs and Australia were now 8/228 – still needing five runs to win. Unbelievably Grout (2) and Meckiff (2) were both run out – Australia had crumbled as the win look likely and were all out for 232.

The first tied test between Australia and West Indies is now part of cricket folklore.

Here’s a replica of dad’s scorecards: