Former Australian cricketer Lindsay Kline passes away

Lindsay Kline (right) with former West Indies fast bowler Wes Hall at the Gabba

Former Australian spinner Lindsey Kline, who is best, remembered for facing the last ball of the first ever tied Test in 1961 passed away yesterday at the age of 81, reports ESPNcricinfo.

Kline played 13 Tests between 1957 and 1961 as a slow left-arm chinaman bowler. The Victorian took 34 wickets at an average of 22.82 including a hat-trick against South Africa at Cape Town, which was just his second Test. That performance against South Africa won Australia the Test, with Kline picking up the last three wickets in the match.

Despite his amazing bowling performances, it is for his involvement in the tied Test against West Indies that Kline is best remembered for. The last eight-ball over of the fifth day had started with Australia needing six to win and West Indies requiring three wickets.

Richie Benaud and Wally Grout were both got out in that over, and Kline came to the crease to join the No.10, Meckiff, with two balls remaining and the scores level. Kline who was the last man, not only had the job of surviving two deliveries against the Windies spearhead Wes Hall but of finding a way to squeeze out one more run for an Australian victory.

When asked about how he felt about going out to bat under such conditions he said, "The previous over, I said to Colin McDonald 'I won't have to go in, will I?' He said 'No, I don't think so'. Then we lost those wickets and I'm trying to pad up, and I couldn't find my gloves, I'm looking in my bag. I was sitting on them. It got to me a bit, I got pretty nervous, that's for sure.”

While walking out to bat, he walked past Frank Worrell said that he would never want to be in Kline’s shoes, "I walked out and walked past Frank Worrell and he said to me 'I wouldn't be in your shoes for all the tea in China'. Then he also said 'you look a little pale'. I felt it," Kline went on to add.

James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia CEO said it was extremely sad to hear about Kline’s demise and that he would be badly missed, "The news of Lindsay’s passing is incredibly sad. He was a wonderful man, a great character and a fine contributor to our game. He will be missed dearly.”

Kline turned 81 on the 29th of September this year. After his playing days, Kline established and ran a successful company manufacturing and supplying fire equipment in Melbourne.

Cricket Australia has paid tribute to former Test player Lindsay Kline, who has passed away: http://t.co/QKyCdGcQX3 pic.twitter.com/k7ARLqio1s

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) October 2, 2015

RIP Lindsay Kline. Saw the first Test match tie by looking back over his shoulder. pic.twitter.com/WYiWGBSYYK

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) October 2, 2015