It was sad to read that we lost two former greats in recent days, Keith Stackpole and Bob Cowper.
I remember watching Victoria play NSW at the SCG during the sixties and seeing the great Stackie bat. He hit the ball so hard with seemingly little effort. Back in those days they used much thinner bats than what is used today but it didn't matter to him. It went like a rocket. Although I was (am) a true Blue supporter it was just great to watch him in action. He was initially a lower order batsman that bowled leg spin and then developed into a great opener. He faced some really quick bowling. People like Thommo and early Lillee before the back injury when he was a real express. He faced the likes of Snow, Pollock senior and Hall. There were no helmets or chest guards then. Bowl short to him and then watch it end up in the car park. A great cricketer, commentator and coach. A sad loss.
Bob Cowper was lost to cricket far too young. He retired when he was about 28 as there was no dough in cricket back then. I remember listening to him on the radio in mid sixties when he scored over 300 in an innings at the MCG during the Ashes. There were no rope boundaries then. You had to hit it to the fence in probably the biggest cricket ground in the world. If that innings had been replicated at Edgbaston, Trent Bridge or Lords all being much smaller grounds, he would have made over 500. From memory I think Bill Lawry batted with him and made 100 from about as many balls as Cowper faced.
