 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".He had toured Australia with success in 1954–55 and as vice-captain in 1958–59, so he had the edge on experience, but he had the unfortunate knack of being injured or ill at vital moments and withdrew from the final Gentleman vs Players match at Lord's because of kidney stones even though he had been appointed captain, which usually indicated the selector's intentions.Dexter was back put in charge (and drew against Fred Trueman's Players), but found another rival his own Sussex captain the Reverend David Sheppard, who was willing to take a sabbatical from his church mission in the East End to tour Australia.