Editing Ted Dexter (section)

==England captain 1961–62==

<blockquote>
''Ted was a man of moods, often caught up in theories, keen when the action was hot, seemingly uninterested when the game was dull...a big-time player, one who responded to atmosphere, liked action and enjoyed the chase and gamble. Maybe this was the reason he was drawn to [[horse racing]]; a dull day stalking the covers might be enlivened for him by thoughts of how his money was faring on the 3:15 at [[Ascot Racecourse|Ascot]] or [[Goodwood Racecourse|Goodwood]].'' 
:[[John Snow (cricketer)|John Snow]]<ref name="s25">Snow, p. 25</ref>
</blockquote>
With [[Peter May (cricketer)|Peter May]] and [[Colin Cowdrey]] declining to tour India and Pakistan in 1961–62 Dexter was chosen to lead the MCC team. With a weakened team ([[Fred Trueman]] and [[Brian Statham]] also refused to tour) Dexter beat [[History of cricket in Pakistan from 1947 to 1970|Pakistan 1–0]] but lost to [[English cricket team in India in 1961–62|India 2–0]],<ref>Mohapatra, Bikash (6 December 2012). [https://www.rediff.com/cricket/slide-show/slide-show-1-england-tour-india-tendulkar-finish-sooner-but-right-note-ted-dexter-bikash-mohapatra/20121206.htm/ "An interview with Ted Dexter"], ''[rediff.com]''. Retrieved on 7 September 2021.</ref> their first series victory over England. He made 712 Test runs (71.20) on the tour, including his highest Test score of 205 at [[Karachi]], and another 446 runs (89.20) when [[Pakistani cricket team in England in 1962|Pakistan toured England in 1962]] and were beaten 4–0. [[Peter May (cricketer)|Peter May]] finally declared his retirement in 1962 and the selectors had to choose who would captain the [[English cricket team in Australia in 1962–63]]. Dexter captained England in the First and Second Tests against Pakistan, winning two big victories, but [[Colin Cowdrey]] was put in charge for the Third Test. Cowdrey had been May's affable vice-captain, had a shrewd cricket brain and was seen as his natural successor, but had inherited his cautious tactics and the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] was crusading for "brighter cricket". Cowdrey withdrew from the final [[Gentlemen v Players|Gentleman v Players]] match at [[Lord's]] because of [[kidney stones]] even though he had been appointed captain, which usually indicated the selectors' intentions. Dexter was put back in charge (and drew against [[Fred Trueman]]'s Players), but found another 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 remainder of the home series and the forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand with Cowdrey as vice-captain. The general opinion was that England had a good batting side, but their bowling was unvaried, would struggle to dismiss Australia and that the tourists would be lucky to avoid another defeat.<ref>Moyes and Goodman, p. xiii</ref><ref>Swanton, pp. 120, 129</ref><ref>Trueman, p. 271</ref>