Editing Colin Cowdrey (section)

===First international tour===
Cowdrey was a surprise choice for the [[English cricket team in Australia in 1954–55|England tour of Australia in 1954–55]]. He was called in to replace the injured [[Willie Watson (England cricketer)|Willie Watson]]. According to Cowdrey, [[England cricket team|England]] captain [[Len Hutton]] later told him that his selection was a gamble, but it was thought that his technique would be good on the hard Australian wickets.{{sfn|Cowdrey|1976|pp=55–56}} [[Frank Tyson]] recalled Hutton telling Cowdrey and himself that they would be secondary players on the tour, there to gain experience with probably no involvement in the [[Test cricket|Test series]].{{sfn|Tyson|2004|pp=23, 252}}

On the team's arrival in [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]], Cowdrey received a telegram that his father had died, but the team rallied round him and he played in the opening match against a local Western Australian Country XI. He scored 48[[not out|*]] and took 4/35 with his [[leg spin|leg breaks]]. The party moved on to [[Sydney]] where Cowdrey was selected to play against [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]. This became a key match in his career as he scored a century in each innings and thereby earned his place in the England team for the first Test, even though he failed in the next match against [[Queensland cricket team|Queensland]].{{sfn|Tyson|2004|pp=84–87}}

The first Test, Cowdrey's international debut, was played at the [[Brisbane Cricket Ground]] and [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] scored 601/8 declared after Hutton had won the toss and sent them in. England's batting collapsed in the first innings, though Cowdrey made 40, and they had to [[follow on]]. Cowdrey scored 10 in the second innings and England, with totals of 190 and 257 were unable to avoid a heavy defeat by an innings and 154 runs.{{sfn|Playfair|1955|p=15}} After that, England staged a recovery and won the second Test at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] by 38 runs, having been 74 behind on first innings. In the second innings, Cowdrey (54) shared a fourth wicket partnership of 116 with [[Peter May (cricketer)|Peter May]] (104) which enabled England to reach 296 and left Australia needing 223 to win. Frank Tyson and [[Brian Statham]] bowled them out for 184 to level the series.{{sfn|Playfair|1955|p=16}}

In the third Test at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], England were in trouble at 41/4 and were rescued by Cowdrey's maiden Test century. He scored 102 out of 191 after sharing partnerships of 74 with [[Trevor Bailey]] and 54 with [[Godfrey Evans]]. Some writers have said this was the highlight of Cowdrey's career as it laid a foundation for eventual victory by 128 runs after Tyson, with a return of 7/27, shattered Australia's batting in their second innings.{{sfn|Playfair|1955|p=16}} Among those who praised Cowdrey's performance were [[Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)|Bill O'Reilly]], who said it was the best Test innings he had ever seen and, Tyson who doubted if Cowdrey had "ever scored a better hundred".{{sfn|Tyson|2004|p=149}} Cowdrey made 102 of England's first innings of 191 and once again this was enough for Tyson to bowl his team to victory as the tourists took a 2–1 lead in the series.

Australia opened the fourth Test at the [[Adelaide Oval]] with a total of 323. In reply, England scored 341 including 79 by Cowdrey. Australia could only manage 111 in their second innings. Cowdrey was injured when the ball hit him in the face while he was fielding. He batted in the second innings and was out for 4 but the injury worsened and he was hospitalised for several days. England scored 97/5 to win the match by 5 wickets. The final Test at Sydney was drawn and so England won the series 3–1 to retain [[The Ashes]].{{sfn|Playfair|1955|pp=16–17}}