61 tests Batting average 29.74 132 wickets at 29.21 |
Bailey is credited with the slowest 50 in First Class cricket and is most celebrated for his epic back- to- the- wall innings against Australia in 1953. But, as he revealed in a recent interview in CricInfo, he wasn't exclusively a blocker:
At Brisbane in 1954-55, I stepped in with England on 25 for 4, chasing Australia's 601. I stonewalled for 38 in 160 minutes. That evening I came to know that an Australian businessman had placed a $100 bet on the first Englishman to clear the fence. The next morning I duly hit Ian Johnson for only the second six of my Test career, and immediately returned to my shell. I spent the money throwing a party at the hotel, which somewhat lessened the pain of a heavy defeat.Missed by Barnacles everywhere. RIP
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