The tied Test did so much for Australian cricket: Neil Harvey

CHENNAI: The first-ever tied Test --- played by Australia and West Indies in Brisbane --- turned 60 on December 9. Six decades have passed since that iconic clash --- that's part of the cricketing folklore --- but memories remain fresh for the ardent followers of the game. Be it Sir

Garfield Sobers

' majestic 132 on Day 1 and Wes Hall's 5 for 63 on the final day for the visitors, late Norm O'Neill's 181 or Alan Davidson's all-round show (taking 11 wickets and scoring 144 runs in total) for Australia --- the match saw a host of top-class performances. Chasing 233, Australia slipped to 92 for 6 before Davidson (who hit 80) and skipper Richie Benaud (52) breathed life into the innings with their seventh-wicket stand of 134. Davidson's run out gave West Indies an opening and Hall's final over ensured the honours were even.

Davidson fell short of his crease in the penultimate over of the clash when Australia were just seven away from the finish line. "Richie hit one straight to Joe Solomon and took off. Solomon hit the stumps and I was short by about five yards. Even if I was Usain Bolt, I wouldn't have made it," recalled Davidson, now 91, in a video-conference organized by

Cricket Australia

to celebrate the occasion on Wednesday. Others who were part of the event included

Neil Harvey

,

Peter Lashley

and Lance Gibbs. As 6 runs separated Australia from the finish line, Hall bowled an eventful final over comprising a caught-behind, a dropped chance, missed run-out opportunity and two run-outs. When Solomon's direct hit found Australia's no. 10 Ian Meckiff short of his crease, it brought down curtains on a clash that saw both teams finishing as winners. Lashley, who made his debut in that game, recalled how he moved away from Solomon's line of throw that ended Meckiff's stay. "Otherwise I wouldn't be here," quipped Lashley.

Reliving those final moments, Harvey said, "The tension was so high that us sitting in the dressing room were all instructed not to move. None of us moved in the last seven or eight balls that were bowled in that Test." Harvey, 92, who featured in 79 Tests for Australia, felt that the 1960 series between the two sides did wonders to cricket Down Under. "I don't think you'll get a better Test match than the tied Test match. It did so much for Australian cricket. I don't think a series has done so much for the game in this country than that actual series did," Harvey said.

Gibbs --- the first spinner to get to 300 Test wickets --- was witness to this spectacle as a 12th man. "It was probably the greatest series I've ever been involved with," the 86-year-old recalled.