Editing Colin Cowdrey (section)

===1955 to 1958===
On his return from Australia, Cowdrey decided to drop out of Oxford and concentrate on his cricket career. As he was no longer an undergraduate, he was called up for [[national service]] in the [[Royal Air Force]]. However, he was almost immediately discharged because of a hereditary disability of rigid toes, on which he had previously had an operation.{{sfn|Cowdrey|1976|p=75}} Cowdrey cemented his place in the England team and took part in each of the home series during this period. He also went to [[English cricket team in South Africa in 1956–57|South Africa in 1956–57]]. In 1957, during the [[West Indian cricket team in England in 1957|Test series against West Indies]], Cowdrey and May shared a fourth wicket partnership of 411 at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]]. Cowdrey scored 154 and May 285[[not out|*]]. At the time, it was the third highest stand in Test cricket.{{sfn|Playfair|1958|p=54}} 

Before the [[1957 English cricket season|1957 season]], Cowdrey was appointed captain of the Kent team, succeeding [[Doug Wright (cricketer)|Doug Wright]]. Kent finished 14th in the [[County Championship]], winning six of their 28 matches. ''[[Playfair Cricket Annual]]'' commented that Cowdrey had "infused the right spirit" into the team but pointed out that Kent cricket was still well short of resurgence.{{sfn|Playfair|1958|p=94}} Cowdrey only played in 18 matches because of international calls and, without him, the team's batting was weak.{{sfn|Playfair|1958|pp=94–95}}