Commemorative Bat for Tied Test, December 1960

The Tied Test - December 1960 Full-sized commemorative bat (from a limited edition of 500) created to commemorate the tied test between Australia and West Indes, December 1960 in Brisbane. The bat features the original signatures of Australian Team members including Richie Benaud (Captain), Bob Simpson, Neil Harvey and 5 others as well as West Indians Wes Hall, Frank Worrell (Captain), Garry Sobers and 4 others. Attractively mounted in presentation case. 112 x 37 cm. Accompanied by framed details of the teams, the match summary and facsimile signatures. (2 items) The last over of the Test Match: Wes Hall was bowling, with the clock showing 5:56. Australia stood at 227-7, needing six runs to win from the 8-ball over (the standard for Tests in Australia at the time) with three wickets in hand. 1st ball: Wally Grout, facing, was hit on the thigh. Benaud called him through for a single to take strike. Five runs were needed to win from seven balls. 2nd ball: Benaud attempted a hook shot but was caught behind by wicket-keeper Gerry Alexander. The score was 228-8. 3rd ball: The new batsman, Ian Meckiff, cut to mid-off. No run. Still five runs to win from five balls. 4th ball: The ball flew down leg-side without making contact with Meckiff's bat. Grout called him through for a bye. Alexander threw the ball to the bowler's end to try to run out Meckiff, but his throw missed and Meckiff made his ground. Four runs to win from four balls. 5th ball: Grout fended a bouncer to square leg, where Rohan Kanhai was ready to take the catch. Hall also attempted to take the catch in his follow-through, resulting in a fielding mix-up which allowed Meckiff and Grout take a single and the catch was not taken. Three runs to win from three balls. 6th ball: Meckiff swung desperately and sent the ball towards the boundary. The batsmen ran two runs as Conrad Hunte scooped the ball up just inside the fence. The batsmen attempted a third run for victory but Hunte's return was flat and true, straight into the gloves of Alexander, who whipped off the bails before Grout could get home. The teams were tied. Australia were on 232-9, requiring one run to win with one wicket in hand and two balls remaining. 7th ball: The new batsman, Lindsay Kline, pushed the ball to square leg and set off for a single. Joe Solomon scooped up the ball and with one stump to aim for from 12 metres out, threw the ball in and hit the stumps, running Meckiff out by a few inches. Australia were all out for 232 and the match ended in the first tie in 84 years of Test Cricket.