Editing Ian Chappell (section)

===A team in his own image===
{{Blockquote|Ian Chappell fashioned an Australian team in his own image between 1971 and 1975: aggressive, resourceful and insouciant.|[[Gideon Haigh]]<ref name=CricinfoProfile/>}}

Australia lost an unofficial Test series to a [[Rest of the World cricket team in Australia in 1971-72|Rest of the World team]] led by [[Gary Sobers]] that toured in 1971–72 as a replacement for the politically unacceptable South Africans.<ref>Harte (1993), p 532–533.</ref> Chappell was the outstanding batsman of the series, with four centuries included in his 634 runs, at an average of 79.25.<ref>[http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1970S/1971-72/WORLD-XI_IN_AUS/WORLD-XI_IN_AUS_NOV1971-FEB1972_TEST-STATS.html World XI in Australia 1971–72.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101154823/http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1970S/1971-72/WORLD-XI_IN_AUS/WORLD-XI_IN_AUS_NOV1971-FEB1972_TEST-STATS.html |date=1 January 2009 }} Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 November 2007.</ref> He took the team to England in 1972 and was unlucky not to regain The Ashes in a rubber that ended 2–2. The series began disastrously for Chappell when he was out hooking from the first ball he faced in the opening Test at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Manchester]]. He fell the same way in the second innings and Australia lost the match.<ref>[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152473.html 1st Test England v Australia, match report.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120710211347/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152473.html |date=10 July 2012 }} ''Wisden, 1973 edition''. Retrieved 13 November 2007.</ref> However, the team regrouped and had the better of the remaining matches, apart from the fourth Test at Leeds, played on a controversial pitch that the Australians believed was "doctored" to suit the England team.<ref>Mallett (2005), pp 75–76.</ref> Greg Chappell emerged as a prolific batsman during the series, batting one place below his brother in the order. The siblings shared several crucial partnerships,<ref name=CricinfoProfile/> most notably 201 at the Oval in the last Test when they became the first brothers to score centuries in the same Test innings.<ref>[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152477.html 5th Test England v Australia, match report.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120708160712/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152477.html |date=8 July 2012 }} ''Wisden, 1973 edition''. Retrieved 17 August 2007.</ref> Australia won the game, an effort that Chappell later cited as the turning point in the team's performances.<ref>Mallett (2005), p 78.</ref>

In 1972–73, Australia had resounding victories against Pakistan (at home) and the West Indies (away). Chappell's leadership qualities stood out in a number of tight situations. He hit his highest Test score of 196 (from 243 balls) in the first Test against Pakistan at Adelaide. Pakistan "appeared probable winners of the last two Tests on the second last day of each game", yet Chappell's team managed to win on both occasions.<ref>[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152511.html ''Wisden, 1974 edition'': Pakistan in Australia 1972–73.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120714172141/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152511.html |date=14 July 2012 }} Retrieved 8 October 2007.</ref>

On indifferent pitches in the Caribbean, Chappell was the highest-scoring batsman of the Test series with 542 runs (at 77.4 average).<ref name=Statsguru/> He hit 209 in a tour match against [[Barbados national cricket team|Barbados]], two Test centuries and a "glorious" 97 on a poor pitch at [[Queen's Park Oval|Trinidad]] in the third Test, batting with an injured ankle. This set up a dramatic last day when the West Indies needed just 66 runs to win with six wickets in hand at lunch. The home team collapsed against an inspired Australian bowling attack supported by Chappell's aggressive field-placements.<ref>[http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152522.html ''Wisden, 1974 edition'': 3rd Test West Indies v Australia, match report.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120713181855/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152522.html |date=13 July 2012 }} Retrieved 17 August 2007.</ref>