The Ashes regained and the first World Cup Ian Chappell

ian chappell s test career batting performance. red bars indicate runs scored in innings, blue line indicating batting average in last ten innings. blue dots indicate innings remained not out.

the highlight of chappell s career australia s 4–1 win on england in 1974–75 reclaimed ashes. strengthened new fast bowling partnership of dennis lillee , jeff thomson, australians played aggressive cricket , received criticism amount of short-pitched bowling employed. chappell scored 90 on unreliable pitch on first day of opening test @ brisbane. finished 6 tests 387 runs @ 35.18 average, , took 11 catches in slips. test matches attracted big crowds , record gate takings, enabling chappell negotiate bonus players australian cricket board (acb). although more doubled players pay, remuneration amounted 4.5% of revenue generated series.

within months, chappell in england leading australia in inaugural world cup. dislike of defensive nature of limited-over cricket led australians placing full slips cordon new ball , employing test-match style tactics in tournament. despite apparent unsuitability of approach, chappell guided team final lost memorable match west indies.

the workload of captaincy telling on chappell , four-test ashes series followed world cup dampened appetite game. after winning completed match of series, first test @ birmingham, australia s retention of ashes anti-climactic: third test @ leeds abandoned due vandalism of pitch during night before last day s play. in last test @ oval, chappell scored 192 367 balls set apparent victory. however, england managed bat 15 hours grind out draw , chappell announced resignation captaincy on final day of match. in 30 tests captain, scored 2,550 runs @ average of 50, 7 centuries.