Friday, August 21, 2020

Bill Ponsford 266, against England at The Oval.

Saving the best till last when on August 19th, 1934 Bill Ponsford bowed out of Test cricket with his best score, 266, against England at The Oval. He was out when he turned his back on a short ball from Gubby Allen and as he swung round his bat clipped his stumps. 
He started Test cricket with a century too, in 1924-5. He may have retired in 1934 because he didn't want to serve under Bradman, but that is disputed. Like Hammond, he would have been a super-hero in any other era. Not spectacular to watch, but hey he could accumulate runs. He seems to have fallen out of love for the game as much as anything, with Bodyline a souring factor. As a run accumulator, he was outstanding but in terms of elegance and appeal he could not really hold a candle up to someone like Hammond.
Bill Ponsford bowed out of Test cricket with his best score, 266, against England at The Oval.

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