Ranking David Gower’s Top 3 performances in Test cricket

Former England cricketer David Gower, who captained the national team in the 1980s, is one of the country’s most prolific run scorers. The elegant left-hander has represented England in 117 Test matches and 114 ODIs, scoring 8,231 and 3,170 runs, respectively. He has amassed 18 centuries, two double hundreds and 39 half-centuries in the longer format of the game.

Gower announced his retirement on 9 August 1992, aged 35, following a strained relationship with then-England captain Graham Gooch. His last Test match was against Pakistan – the same team where he made his international debut. In this article, we take a look at the England legend’s three best batting performances in Test cricket. 

Here are David Gower’s top three performances in Test cricket

3. 157(216) vs Australia, 1985, Kennington Oval

England took a 2-1 in the six-match series against Australia, and they arrived at Kennington Oval to clinch the series in the final match. Batting first, England scored 464 on the back of Graham Gooch’s 196 and captain Gower’s 157. In reply, Australia managed just 247 runs and failed to avoid the follow-on. The visitors struggled to score in the second innings as well, finishing at 129 runs. With this, England won by an innings and 94 runs. Gower was named Player of the Series while Gooch won Player of the Match.

2. 200*(279) vs India, 1979, Birmingham 

Gower’s maiden Test double century came during the first Test in Birmingham against India in 1979. England opted to bat first and amassed a massive 633/5 before declaring. Geoff Boycott scored 155, while Gower remained unbeaten on 200. The visitors were restricted to 297 and the follow-on was enforced on them. Their second innings ended at 253, and England won by an innings and 83 runs.

1. 215(314) vs Australia, 1985, Birmingham 

Gower had a sensational outing in the 1985 Ashes series, where he finished Player of the Series with over 700 runs. The southpaw’s second double century also came during this series. In reply to Australia’s 335 runs, England accumulated 595 in their first innings, courtesy of Gower’s 215, Tim Robinson’s 148 and Mike Gatting’s 100. The visitors could manage only 142 in their second chance and helped England to win by an innings and 118 runs.