Bob Cowper

Bob Cowper, the Australian cricketer celebrated for scoring the first triple century on Australian soil, has passed away at 84. Representing Australia in 27 Test matches, Cowper amassed 2,061 runs, highlighted by his remarkable 307 against England at the MCG in 1966. Post-retirement in 1968, he transitioned to stockbroking and later served as an ICC match referee.

When Nathan Lyon was being carted to all corners of the Brabourne stadium in the warmup game against India `A', fans must have been reminded of the 1997-98 series when Sachin Tendulkar took the attack to Shane Warne and Co. on his way to a double hundred in the pre-Test warmup. That game set the tone for the three Tests to come. It took Warne another eight years and nine Tests before he could end up on the winning side in a series in India.

As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy heads to the MCG, India aim to maintain their unbeaten streak at the venue since 2014. With the series tied 1-1, the Boxing Day Test holds immense significance for the Border Gavaskar Trophy and for both the teams' hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship final.

Rahul Dravid will perhaps understand why this piece had to be hastily revised, the focus shifted from him and India to Matthew Hayden and Australia. A double hundred in Test cricket is a huge achievement, but a triple hundred is a rarity; and a world record is, well, a world record.