Former Australia Test cricketer Bob Cowper dies at 84

Bob Cowper, who played 27 Tests for Australia in the 1960s, has died at the age of 84.

Left-hand batter Cowper played most of his first-class cricket for Victoria, turning out in 147 games overall between 1959-60 and 1969-70, scoring 10,595 runs at an average of 53.78 with 26 centuries. In his 27 Tests, Cowper scored 2061 runs at an average of 2061 with five centuries, one of them a much celebrated 307 against England at the MCG in 1966. Also a part-time offspinner, Cowper finished with 183 first-class wickets, 36 of them in Tests.

"Cowper was an enormously talented left-hand batter renowned for his elegant stroke play, his patience at the crease and his ability to amass big totals," Cricket Australia (CA) said in a statement mourning Cowper's death.

He left the game at just 28 to pursue a career in stockbroking and merchant banking, "too intelligent and ambitious to linger long in a game offering such modest financial rewards," Gideon Haigh noted in ESPNcricinfo. "Bob Cowper renounced Test cricket at 28, though not before he had built an impressive portfolio of achievement as a left-hand batsman and finger-spinner. His 12-hour 307 against England at Melbourne in February 1966 was the highest Test innings and the only triple-century on Australian soil until Matthew Hayden's 380 in 2003-04.

"His fertile cricket imagination and sense of injustice at the lot of the average Australian cricketer left a strong impression on Ian Chappell, in time a militant campaigner for the rights of his comrades."

Cowper later served as an ICC match referee.

"We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Bob Cowper who was a hugely respected figure in Australian cricket," Mike Baird, CA chair, said in a statement. "Bob was a wonderful batter who will always be remembered for his famous triple century at the MCG, as well as his strong influence in the Australian and Victorian teams of the 1960s.

"He was also a significant contributor to cricket in other roles including as an ICC match referee and his wisdom was always keenly sought.

"On behalf of Cricket Australia, our deepest condolences to Bob's family, friends and former teammates at this very sad time."