Somerset’s only victory against the Australian cricket team

The match started on Wednesday May 18 and took place in good weather. Beating first in front of a packed house on the beautiful city center ground, Australia lost an early wicket when debutant Garner claimed a wicket with his fifth ball.

The match scorecard.

Somerset old boy Greg Chappell then stepped in and by lunch was 99 not out, having hit three 6s and fourteen fours as he topped a third wicket of 124.

However, Graham Burgess, who had played at Bath on many occasions, exploited the conditions and, along with Garner, took the last eight wickets for 55 runs as the Australians were all out for 232.

Burgess finished with numbers of 9.2 overs, two maidens, five for 25, while Garner finished with four for 66 of his 20, eight of which were maidens.

In response, Somerset openers Brian Rose and Peter Denning put in 81 before the latter was out for 39. Rose continued to bat patiently as three more wickets fell at the opposite end, before Ian Botham ne heads into the middle and heads for 59 which included six 4s and three 6s as he helped add 82 for the fifth wicket.

Ian Botham in action in the match.

Phil Slocombe then joined Rose and the pair shared an unbroken stand of 112 before skipper Brian Close, in his final season before retiring, declared 340 for five, a total that included 15 pitcher-less pitchers. opening act Jeff Thomson. Rose went unbeaten on 110, which included 15 fours while Slocombe was unbeaten on 55.

Australia lost two early wickets early in their second innings before David Hookes rushed in for 85 in 90 minutes as the Tourists finished day two on 127 for four. The next morning, Hookes was finally beaten by Burgess for 108, including 15 fours and four sixes.

The Tourists were all out for 289, Botham finishing with four for 98 from 22 overs, six maidens, while Garner claimed two for 71 of 23 with six maidens.

Needing 182 to win in three hours and 45 minutes, Somerset openers Rose and Denning got off to a strong start with 50, before Denning was out for 34.

Rose stayed in the crease for two hours patiently battling for his 27 while Richards hit a quick 53, with 11 fours, after which Botham finished things off with an unbeaten 39 to see the Cidermen go home with one hour left. to loose.

Joel Garner made his acting debut.

Recalling that game 45 years ago, Budgie Burgess, the five-wicket hero who was born and raised in Glastonbury, said: “The ball spun prodigiously which was good for me and I’ve always loved go bowling in Bath. David Hookes had a brilliant century and I came to bowl against him from the Pavilion End and the first ball went back a bit and knocked his stump off.

“It was a good game and I have lots of wonderful memories of playing at Bath. I’ve always enjoyed playing on the outside pitches. Growing up at Glastonbury, the only time I saw county cricket, c was when it came to my hometown.

Rose recalls: “It was a great occasion, there was a huge crowd there for the three days, so there was a real atmosphere around the place.

“I remember going up against Thomson and Dymock who opened the bowling alley and noticed Douggie Walters lining up a thin leg at both ends. I then found out that Douggie had been out the night before and came back late, which their captain Greg Chappell wasn’t happy about, so he made him play thin leg as a penalty!

Rose continued: “I was batting really well and I wasn’t out then Closey (Brian Close) said. When I came back into the dressing room I really let him know what I thought – I had never been in such a state of mind – 110 not against Australia and he said.

Brian Rose shoots.

“It was also Joel Garner’s debut and seeing him play for the first time was a jaw-dropping experience – Dasher (Peter Denning) and I stared at each other at the first ball he played – the ball trajectory and the effect it had on the batter was just amazing.You could see he was going to be a great bowler and we were so lucky to have him.

Before the match, the two captains Chappell and Close had planted two silver birch trees to the left of the pavilion to mark the occasion.

However, Rose recalled an incident involving the Somerset skipper which happened after the game was over.

“Bath City Council gave a civic reception to both teams in the Roman Baths, at the end of which ‘Closey’ disappeared and after a few minutes he appeared in shorts and dove into the Roman Baths – and then he did not go up a few minutes.

“Now one of his many talents was that he could hold his breath for a long time, so I knew what was going on, but the longer he stayed under the roof, the more worried everyone became, so much so that lifeguards stepped in to save him – only for Closey to emerge from the water, laughing out loud.

“Unfortunately the lifeguards didn’t see the funny side and he was ordered out so he left – much to the amusement of all of us!”

Somerset have beaten Australia once since and that was in 2005, but that’s another story!