Key Takeaways:
David Gower scored 11,401 international runs, including 25 centuries.
His highest Test score was 215 vs Australia in 1985.
He hit two Test double centuries and one ODI score above 150.
Gower’s 154* vs West Indies in 1981 was a masterclass in resilience.
His highest ODI score (158) came against New Zealand in 1983.
David Gower is one of the most legendary batters to have ever played for England. He is someone who has inspired so many young English people to take up a cricket bat. He has played 117 Test Matches for England. He has scored 8231 runs at an average of 44.25. He has hit 18 hundreds in Test Cricket along with 2 double hundreds. He has also played in 114 ODIs for England and has made 3170 runs at an average of 30.78. He has hit 7 hundreds in ODI Cricket. Therefore he has made 11401 international runs and 25 hundreds in international cricket.
What are David Gower’s best innings?
David Gower’s best batting performance came against Australia in 1985 when he scored 215 runs off 314 balls, leading England to a victory by an innings and 118 runs.
Top 5 Best Innings of David Gower
1) 215 vs Australia (1985)
This is the highest score in the career of the legendary David Gower. This was in a Test Match against Australia. In the first innings of this match, Australia had made 335. England gave a strong reply and David Gower was the leader. He made a brilliant 215 runs from 314 balls. He had a strike rate of 68.47 which was amazing at the time. He hit 25 fours and 1 six in this innings meaning 106 runs in boundaries. He ran for 109 of his runs and still he had such a good strike rate. He was an expert in running between the wickets. Tum Robinson and Mike Gatting also made hundreds. England won this match by an innings and 118 runs.
2) 200* vs India (1979)
This was the first of two double hundreds for David Gower in Test Cricket. This was against India and at the time India was one of the best teams. David Gower was batting at number 5 in this innings. He batted for 279 balls and at a very good strike rate of 71.68 he hit a double hundred. He smashed 24 fours in this innings. He made 96 runs from boundaries. He ran for 104 of his runs and still he had a strike rate of over 71. England made 633 in their first batting innings. They won the match by an innings and 83 runs.
3) 173* vs Pakistan (1984)
This batting performance by David Gower was one of the best away innings in his career. He made these runs in Pakistan and in the second batting innings for England. David Gower was batting at number 4 in this match. He took 284 balls to make 173 not out. He had a strike rate of 60.92 in this innings. He also hit 16 fours in this innings meaning 64 runs were made in boundaries. He ran for 109 of his runs thus showing that he was capable of everything. He showed the world that he does not need the English conditions to score big runs. This test match was a draw.
4) 154* vs West Indies (1981)
This is one of his slowest Hundreds. He was facing the bowling attack which had Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Colin Croft, Joel Garner. These were the four fastest bowlers in the world. He made an unbeaten 154 in the second batting innings. He batted for 403 balls and he was not dismissed. This was a marathon. He had a strike rate of 38.21. He hit 16 fours and 1 six in this innings meaning he hit 70 runs in boundaries. This was the innings that made him one of the best in the world. This match was a draw.
5) 158 vs New Zealand (1983)
This is his highest ODI score and this was against New Zealand. All the 5 innings in this list have come against different opponents. This was an exhibition of batsmanship of the highest order. He batted for 118 balls in this match and he smashed 158 at a strike rate of 134. He hit 18 fours and 4 sixes in this innings meaning he scored 96 runs in boundaries. He ran for 62 of his runs in this innings. England made 267 in their 50 overs. They won the match by 56 runs.
David Gower Stats:
Format | Tests | ODIs |
Matches | 107 | 181 |
Innings | 190 | 177 |
Runs | 7,422 | 5,964 |
Highest Score | 200 | 122 |
Average | 43.6 | 37.0 |
Strike Rate | 41.0 | 65.1 |
100s | 21 | 5 |
50s | 32 | 37 |
Also Read | Greatest English Cricketers of all time
