Bob Cowper dies aged 84 as Australian cricket mourns death of another great
The Victorian played 27 Tests and averaged 46.84, scoring five tons including his famous 307 across an astonishing 12 hours in the 1965-66 Ashes Test at the MCG.
It was the first triple-century scored on Australian soil.
He also took 36 wickets at an average of 31.63 — but would not play a single Test match after the age of 27.
He retired for good before turning 30, finishing on a high with Victoria's Sheffield Shield triumph in 1970 before turning his focus to business.
Cowper, a Victorian Cricket Hall of Famer and life member of Cricket Victoria, went on to have a lucrative career as a stockbroker and merchant banker.
He is the third Victorian great of the 1970s to die in the past six months.
Ian Redpath died aged 83 late last year, while Keith Stackpole died at 84 last month.
Cowper was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2023.
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The Advertiser
4 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Bulldogs star on verge of return, debutant picked
Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach. Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach. Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Treloar won't play in the AFL against West Coast on Sunday, but father-son recruit Jordan Croft will. The 20-year-old was told he will make his AFL debut on Wednesday at training, after being drafted with pick 15 in 2023. Croft, who is 201cm tall, has kicked six goals in the VFL during the last two weeks and can play at either end of the ground. The son of Matthew continues a long line of father-sons at the Bulldogs, with Sam Darcy, Tom Liberatore and Rhylee West already established in the senior team. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach.
Perth Now
34 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Western Bulldogs star on verge of remarkable return
Injury-plagued Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar is pressing to return via the VFL this week following his latest calf setback. Coming off a career-best season in 2024 when he was named All-Australian for the first time, Treloar has been restricted to a career-low of just four games this year. The 32-year-old again trained strongly at the Whitten Oval on Wednesday, following a match simulation session last weekend. The Bulldogs will be extra careful with Treloar given his wretched run with soft-tissues this year. But the star midfielder is being strongly considered to play for Footscray in the VFL on Sunday when they host Carlton. "He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said of Treloar, who is a "chance" this week. "Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes. "My philosophy around playing players who are under prepared is they can't compromise the team at any level. "But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations. "We just need to firm it up, it's still early in the week and we've got another session on Friday." The Bulldogs need to win both of their remaining games against West Coast and Fremantle to be guaranteed of playing finals. Even if they only win one and finish the season on 14 wins, it will likely not be enough to qualify. If that happened the Bulldogs would have a strong case to be one of the most unlucky teams of all-time given 12 or 13 wins is usually enough to make finals, and no team has ever missed out with 14. Even if the Bulldogs and their VFL team make strong runs into the finals, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is increasingly unlikely to make an appearance at any level. The troubled forward has been back at training, at times, following an extended break. Bulldogs assistant coach Brendon Lade believed Ugle-Hagan had "put himself back a couple more weeks". "The way the VFL is playing at the moment he might be lucky to get a game," Lade told 3AW on Sunday. Beveridge called Lade's comments "tongue-in-cheek". "I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said. "Ladey' will live and learn. "That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts, it can come back to bite you. "So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job." Beveridge was also bullish on the senior coach prospects of another assistant at the club. Former Eagles coach Adam Simpson said last week Bulldogs assistant Daniel Pratt was more than ready to be a senior coach.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Ex-Aussie captain Meg Lanning tops The Hundred batting charts in England
Australian star Annabel Sutherland has soared to be the No.1 T20 bowler in the world, but an Aussie who doesn't play international cricket is dominating the short format in England. Former captain Meg Lanning is the highest run-scorer in The Hundred after another blistering effort. At 33, and having played her last match for her country in 2023 before a premature retirement that shocked the cricket and sporting world, Lanning continues to show herself to be a batting force. Playing for the Oval Invincibles, Lanning's latest effort was part of a powerhouse opening partnership that racked up 54 runs off 25 balls, the best powerplay score in the five-year history of the competition. Lanning smashed six fours in her 19-ball innings of 36 that took her haul in the tournament to 177 runs in just three innings, 20 ahead of big-hitting Aussie Grace Harris, who still plays for Australia. Since her retirement from the international game, Lanning has continued to plunder runs for Victoria as well as dominate the Indian Premier League, where she's the third highest run-scorer in the tournament's history. All those runs have come against international-calibre bowlers, making it clear she would still be a batting force for Australia. Lanning's retirement sparked a regeneration of the Australian team, and superstar all-rounder Sutherland has been a major beneficiary. The 23-year-old has netted centuries at Test and ODI level and continues to star with the ball. Sutherland has also been a beneficiary of a quirk of the International Cricket Council's rankings system, being elevated to the No.1 T20 bowling ranking despite not playing an international T20 since she took a four-wicket haul against New Zealand in March. But her rating of 736 remains unchanged, as a group of bowlers near the top of the rankings lost points across the last week. Originally published as Meg Lanning in the leading run-scorer in The Hundred two years after international retirement
