Australian cricket is in mourning following the passing of Bob Cowper, a remarkable player who made a significant impact on the sport before his unexpected retirement at just 28 years of age. Cowper, aged 84, succumbed to cancer on Saturday morning in Melbourne. He is survived by his wife, Dale, and daughters, Olivia and Sera.
Between 1964 and 1968, Cowper participated in 27 Test matches, accumulating an impressive 2,061 runs at an average of 46.84. His most iconic performance occurred during the fifth Test of the Ashes in Melbourne in 1966, where he scored a monumental 307 runs over the course of 12 hours, a feat that helped Australia secure a draw in the series at 1-1. This innings marked the first triple-century achieved on Australian soil, remaining unchallenged until Matthew Hayden’s 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003.
Demonstrating astute business acumen, Cowper made the surprising decision to retire from cricket at the age of 28 to pursue a career in stockbroking and investment banking. His contributions to the game and his remarkable achievements have left a lasting legacy in Australian cricket.