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Courage under fire Colin Cowdrey was the most fluent bat of his generation
LONDON (Reuters) -- Former England captain Colin Cowdrey, the most graceful batsman of his generation, was also memorably courageous. Cowdrey, who died on Tuesday aged 67, repulsed in turn Australians Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller, South Africans Neil Adcock and Peter Heine and the giant West Indians' Wesley Hall and Charlie Griffiths over the course of a decade. His encounter with Hall in the memorable 1963 Lord's test was a profile in courage. Hall broke a bone in Cowdrey's left arm as England chased victory in the second innings, forcing him to retire. As the wickets tumbled on a breathless last afternoon with Hall still in full cry, Cowdrey, his wrist in plaster, practised batting left-handed in the dressing room. He finally went to the crease with two balls left in the match, both bowled by Hall, but did not have to face a delivery as David Allen calmly played out time. Cowdrey's exemplary technique against fierce pace was the primary reason for an unexpected recall to the England colours in 1974 in his 42nd year. Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, two of the more hostile fast bowlers in history, were in full cry on uncertain pitches when Cowdrey was flown from the depths of an English winter to high summer in Australia. He was promptly put in the England side for the second test at Perth, batting at number three, and, calmly moving into line, negotiated a spell of Thomson at his fiercest. Several versions of the first meeting between Colin Cowdrey of Oxford and England and Jeff Thomson of Queensland, Australia, have been recounted over the years. According to one, Cowdrey at last got down to the bowler's end and offered Thomson his hand. "The name is Cowdrey," he said. "I don't believe we've met."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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