The West Indies cricket team toured Australia from November 1979 to January 1980 and played a three-match Test series against the Australia national cricket team. The West Indies won the Test series 2–0, retaining the Frank Worrell Trophy.
The series was notable for several major events in cricket history. It was the first Australian season after the rapprochement between the Australian Cricket Board and Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket. This was the first time that West Indies played their original "fearsome foursome" of fast bowlers, consisting of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Colin Croft, in an official Test match. It was also notable for Viv Richards' dominant batting display of 396 runs in 4 innings at an average of 96.50, with a lowest score of 74. His overall aggregate in that tour in international matches was of 881 runs at an astonishing batting average of 97.88. Richards' performance was rated by Australian media as one of the finest ever in Australia. Richards' performance was even more remarkable considering that he was suffering from groin, leg and back injuries throughout the tour. Wisden described Richards' batting as follows:
West Indies won their first Test series on Australian soil. It also marked the beginning of West Indies' dominance in world cricket, as they remained unbeaten for the next 15 years (1980-1995) until eventually losing to Mark Taylor's Australia in 1995.
The scheduling of the Test matches was unusual, in that Australia alternated between playing Tests against West Indies and against England. This format was not repeated in subsequent years when two teams toured Australia in the same season.
In addition to the Test series, the teams played in a triangular Limited Overs International tournament, the "World Series Cup", which also involved the England team. West Indies won this tournament, defeating England in the final.
Squads Tests Greg Chappell (c) Rodney Marsh (wk) Bruce Laird Kim Hughes Ian Chappell Ray Bright Julien Wiener David Hookes Allan Border Dennis Lillee Jeff Thomson Geoff Dymock Rodney Hogg Len Pascoe Ashley Mallett Rick McCoskerClive Lloyd (c) Deryck Murray (wk) Gordon Greenidge Desmond Haynes Vivian Richards Alvin Kallicharran Lawrence Rowe Larry Gomes Collis King Derick Parry Andy Roberts Michael Holding Joel Garner Colin Croft Malcolm Marshall
Tour Matches
Test series
First Test
Second Test
Third Test
Benson & Hedges World Series Cup
The Benson & Hedges World Series Cup was a tri-nation (ODI) series held in Australia from 27 November 1979 to 22 January 1980, between Australia, West Indies and England. The tournament was played in a round-robin format in which England and West Indies reached the finals, and West Indies won the matches 2–0.
Vivian Richards scored the most runs in the tournament with 485 runs (from 7 innings) at an average of 97.00, with his highest score coming against Australia where he scored 153* at the MCG. Dennis Lillee took the most wickets with 20 (in 8 innings) at an average of 12.70.
References