In the previous season, 1971/72, a scheduled tour of Australia by South Africa had been cancelled following political and moral protests against the apartheid policies of the South African government. In its place a ‘World Team’ visited Australia and played a series of Test standard, although never officially recognised.
He umpired one Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Adelaide on 22 December to 27 December 1972, won by Australia by an innings with Ian Chappell scoring 196, Rod Marsh becoming the first Australian wicket-keeper to score a century, and Ashley Mallett taking 8/59 in Pakistan’s second innings. Townsend stood in one of these matches, in Perth, and witnessed the young tearaway bowler Dennis Lillee take 8/29 and 4/63 to help Australia to an innings win against a powerful batting line-up.
