On this day: Ian and Greg Chappell score tons in same Test innings
A pair of brothers playing for the same team is not a rare phenomenon anymore. However, both scoring a century in the same Test innings is. On 12th August 1972, Australia’s Ian and Greg Chappell became the first pair of brothers to score centuries in the same Test innings.
Australia toured England in 1972 for an Ashes series. England, who had won 1970-71 Ashes, retained the Ashes after taking a 2-1 lead by the end of the 4th Test. The final Test turned out to be a mere formality but Australia had a chance to earn a consolation win and escape a series defeat at least. England were bowled out for 284 after electing to bat first in the Test match hosted by The Oval.
Aussies lost their both openers at the score of 34 which brought Greg Chappell to the crease and paired with his brother Ian who had walked in at No.3. Previously, Greg had only two 50+ scores in the first four Tests which included a century at the Lord’s while skipper Ian had made only two fifties in eight innings. The Chappells now had to perform their best to rescue the Aussies.
The Chappell show
Greg showed aggression from the very first ball as he began with a boundary. He slowed down around the Lunch interval and took 119 balls for his fifty and took only another 67 deliveries to reach triple figures. Skipper Ian, however, held things from one end reaching his ton in 117 balls. About 15 overs before the stumps on the 2nd day, Greg was dismissed by Ray Illingworth after he made 113 off 226 balls with 17 boundaries.
This brought an end to the 201-run partnership by the Chappells for the 3rd wicket which came in 67.5 overs. Ian’s contribution in this stand was 81 who went on to bring up his century in 222 balls shortly before the stumps. He went on to score 118 before being dismissed by Geoff Arnold on the 3rd morning. Ian and Greg, thus recorded the first-ever instance of brothers scoring centuries in the same innings in Test history.
Despite two centuries, the Aussies could only manage 399 in their first innings. The English team responded with 356 in their second essay to set a target of 242 in front of the Aussies who chased it down losing five wickets to draw the series. Two years later, during the 1974 Wellington Test against New Zealand, both Ian and Greg smashed centuries in both innings; the first and only such occasion recorded by a pair of brothers.
