Bill Ponsford

William Harold Ponsford (born 19 October, 1900, North Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) was an Australian cricketer. At 90 years and 169 days, he was the oldest living Test cricketer at the time of his death on April 6, 1991.

Related Topics:
19 October - 1900 - Australian - Cricket - April 6 - 1991

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Ponsford made his first-class debut in 1922, and soon became noted for his capacity to play high-scoring innings. He was one of the greatest players of spin bowling, but was less at home against express pace. In his fourth innings, he scored 429 runs for Victoria against Tasmania, which was the highest ever innings in first class cricket until he bettered it with 437 runs five years later. Until Brian Lara scored 400* against England in 2004, Ponsford was the only man to have played two first-class innings of 400 or over. He remains one of only three men to have scored four triple-centuries, along with Walter Hammond (also four) and Don Bradman (six). He holds the Australian record partnership for the first wicket (456 with Edgar Mayne), and his average of 65.18 is the fourth highest of any player with 10000 runs.

Related Topics:
First-class - 1922 - Victoria - Tasmania - Brian Lara - England - 2004 - Walter Hammond - Don Bradman - Edgar Mayne

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In test matches, Ponsford formed a notable opening partnership with Bill Woodfull, but his most famous achivement occurred in partnership with Don Bradman. Though these two, the two heaviest scorers in Australian cricket, had played together in Tests for six years they hardly had any major stands together. They remedied this at Leeds in 1934 by adding 388 for the fourth wicket, then a record for any wicket. In the next Test at Oval, they went one better adding 451 for the second wicket. This partnership was a world record until 1991, and remains the Australian record. Curiously Ponsford was out hitwicket in both these innings. These were Ponsford's last two Tests as he retired after the series.

Related Topics:
Test matches - Bill Woodfull - Leeds - 1934 - Oval

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Ponsford scored centuries in his first two and last two test matches. He was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1935.

Related Topics:
Wisden Cricketer of the Year - 1935

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