Top 3 best innings of Ian Chappell in Test

Ian Chappell is one of Australia’s finest captains. He was one of the greats of the 1960s and the 1970s and he made lots of runs in test cricket. The former batter was an inspiration and idol to a lot of future generations Australian batters. He captained Australia 30 times, won 15 of those games and lost only five. He had a fantastic series in England in 1975, amassing 429 runs at a 71.50 batting average.

He was involved in the issue of sledging that first arose during his time as captain. He was a driving force behind the professionalisation of Australian cricket in the 1970s. The 79-year-old cricketer was involved in confrontations with the opponents with his sledging as well. He amassed a total of 5345 Test runs with a 42.42 average and 14 Test hundreds.   

Here are top 3 best Ian Chappell test innings:

3. 165 vs West Indies in Melbourne in 1968

In this match he scored a brilliant 165 runs against the mighty West Indies in 1968. While batting first in this test match West Indies were bowled out for 200 runs. Chappell came in at number 3 and made a score of 165 runs off 310 balls at a strike rate of 51.56 hitting 16 fours. 

With his then skipper Bill Lawry who scored a double hundred, Australia made a mammoth total of 510 runs. In reply the two-time World Champion were bowled out for 280 runs. Eventually the five-time champions won the match by an innings and 30 runs.

2. 192 vs England at The Oval in 1975

His second best innings came against the arch-rivals England in the Ashes in 1975. In this test match Australia were batting first and they took full advantage of the batting conditions. Rick McCosker and Ian Chappell both scored hundred and they posted a total of 532/9.

The former scored 127 runs off 294 balls and Chappell scored 192 runs off 367 balls, at a strike rate of 52.32 which included 17 fours. With Australia scoring 500+ runs in both their innings led to a draw to the test match. 

1. 196 vs Pakistan in Adelaide in 1972

This is one of the best innings played by the former skipper; it is his most explosive innings in test cricket as well. Batting first Pakistan were bowled out for 257. In response, Australia posted a huge total in the first innings of 585. With Ian Chappell and wicketkeeper Rod Marsh scoring centuries. 

The former skipper scored 196 runs off 243 balls, hitting 21 fours and 4 sixes. Pakistan could only score 214 runs and lead the Aussies to win the match by an innings and 114 runs.