Editing Colin Cowdrey (section)

===1958–59 to 1962===
Cowdrey replaced Trevor Bailey as Peter May's vice-captain for the [[MCC tour of Australia in 1958–59|1958–59 tour of Australia]]. The [[1958–59 Ashes series|Test series]] was a disaster for England, who lost 4–0. Cowdrey had one notable innings when he scored 100[[not out|*]] in the Third Test at the [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] and helped England to save that match as a draw.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} In 1959, Cowdrey had a successful series against [[India national cricket team|India]] and scored 160 in the third Test at [[Headingley Cricket Ground|Headingley]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} Cowdrey captained England for the first time on their [[English cricket team in the West Indies in 1959–60|tour of the West Indies in 1959–60]] after May was seriously injured. He took over from May for the last two matches of the series. Both were drawn and England, who had won the second Test, took the series 1–0.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

With May out of action for the whole of 1960, Cowdrey captained England in the series against South Africa and won it 3–0.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} South Africa nearly won the last Test at [[The Oval]] after dismissing England for 155 and then scoring 479/9 declared. Cowdrey opened the England second innings with [[Geoff Pullar]] and they shared a first wicket stand of 290 which saved the match. Cowdrey scored 155 and Pullar 175.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

May returned in 1961 and was expected to take back his captaincy, but declared himself unfit. Cowdrey was hurriedly brought to Lords and was told he would take over only a few days before the First Test. Although [[Richie Benaud]] had beaten England 4–0 in the last Ashes series the 1961 Australians were considered to be the weakest sent to England with Benaud and [[Alan Keith Davidson|Alan Davidson]] struggling with injuries and many players unused to English conditions. They nearly upset England in the First Test at Edgbaston, leading by 321 runs in the first innings and [[Ted Dexter]] had to save the game with an innings of 180. Before the Second Test at Lords Cowdrey made 149 and 121 for Kent against the tourists and was 7 runs from victory when the game ended. May returned to the England team, but insisted that Cowdrey be captain despite pressure from the selectors. Benaud was unable to play, but the Australians under [[Neil Harvey]] rose to the occasion, Davidson taking 5/42 in the first innings, [[Bill Lawry]] making his maiden Test century of 130 and [[Garth McKenzie]] taking 5/37 to clear up the second innings in their 5 wicket victory. May agreed to lead England in the Third Test at Headingley and Cowdrey made 93 and 22 in a low scoring match as [[Fred Trueman]] took 11/93 to even the series. Cowdrey missed the Fourth Test at Old Trafford with a fever, where Australia won a nail-biting match to retain the Ashes. May thought England would have won if Cowdrey had played, even if he wasn't fit, but he returned for the drawn Fifth Test at the Oval.<ref>Cowdrey, p. 125</ref>

The Ashes series had been a disappointment and Cowdrey decided to miss the tough tour of India and Pakistan, which was led by Ted Dexter. He lost to India 2–0, but beat Pakistan 1–0 and made 712 Test runs (71.20) on the tour, including his highest Test score of 205. May returned to play for Surrey, but refused to play for England and retired from cricket after a few games in 1963. When [[Pakistani cricket team in England in 1962|Pakistan toured England in 1962]] Dexter was made captain for the First Test, winning by an innings and 24 runs (Cowdrey making 159) and the Second Test, which was won by 9 wickets. Cowdrey replaced him in the Third Test as the selectors considered their options for the forthcoming tour of Australia and he won by an innings and 117 runs. When Cowdrey was made captain in the final [[Gentlemen v Players|Gentleman v Players]] match at [[Lord's]] it looked like he would be chosen, but he was forced to withdraw because of [[kidney stones]] and Dexter was put in charge. However, he found a new rival in the old Sussex captain [[the Reverend]] [[David Sheppard]], who was willing to take a [[sabbatical]] from his [[Mission (Christianity)|church mission]] in the [[East End of London|East End]] in order to tour Australia. Sheppard made 112 for the Gentlemen and was chosen for the tour, but Dexter was confirmed as captain for the last two Tests against Pakistan and the forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand with Cowdrey as vice-captain. Cowdrey recovered to open the batting in the Fifth Test and make his highest Test score of 182, adding 238 with Dexter (172) and ending the series with 409 runs (81.80).<ref>Cowdrey, pp. 128–34</ref><ref>A.G. Moyes and Tom Goodman, ''With the M.C.C. in Australia 1962–63, A Critical Story of the Tour'', The Sportsmans Book Club (1965), page xiii<!-- ISBN needed --></ref><ref>Swanton, pp. 120, 129</ref><ref>Trueman, p. 271</ref>