Chappell picks his best knocks

To celebrate the birthday of one of Australia's greatest cricketers, Greg Chappell, cricket.com.au asked the 87-Test veteran to pick his three best innings. 

3: 204 v India, SCG 1981

Ten years after making his Test debut, Chappell had not yet tackled the might of the subcontinent, India. After dismantling the tourists for nearly seven hours and 204 runs, he must have wished he played them earlier in his career.

The third double-century of his career would be one of his toughest, struck down with illness overnight whilst on 41, battling the Indian attack and a stomach virus throughout day two.

In order to conserve energy, Chappell blasted 27 boundaries, posting 172 with Doug Walters to secure a match-winning lead that the tourists would find insurmountable. 

2: 182 not out v West Indies, SCG 1976

Against an attack that boasted names like Roberts, Holding and Gibbs, Chappell’s second favourite innings put Australia ahead 2-1 in the series with two to play.

Coming in at five at 3-103, still 253 runs behind, Chappell combined with Gary Cosier and Rod Marsh to hand Australia a 50-run first-innings lead. However, it wasn’t without chance. Chappell was dropped on 11, a critical mistake as described by cricket bible Wisden.

"If ever a missed catch will go down in history as having lost a series it will be that which Boyce dropped off Greg Chappell at fourth slip off Roberts when he had made 11,” wrote Wisden Chappell would finish unbeaten on 182, and after Jeff Thomson ripped apart the tourists in second innings, Australia cruised to a seven-wicket win.

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1: 131 v England, Lord’s 1972

On the back of 11 winless Tests and faced with a green seamer, Chappell rates his 131 against the Old Enemy the finest knock of his 87-Test career.

The Test will be forever known as ‘Massie’s match’ after the Western Australian claimed 16 wickets on debut, but the innings by Chappell – the only score above 56 in the match – was one of technical brilliance and mental toughness of the highest level.

Three hours passed before he hit the first of his 14 boundaries, combating England’s probing attack and temperamental pitch with devout concentration during his six-hour resistance, a feature that would define his career in the Baggy Green.

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