The Ashes

by John Miller

  It wasn’t long before Bradman was out for eight, caught off Larwood. The crowd was incensed but with Allen refusing to bowl in that manner there was some respite. Had Jardine used Voce there may have been serious trouble. A courageous Woodfull battled until tea when MCC manager Plum Warner visited him in the dressing room. The captain then uttered: ‘There are two teams out there. One is trying to play cricket and one is not. It is too great a game for spoiling by the tactics your team is adopting. I don’t approve of them. It might be better if I do not play the game.’

  Later that day, wicket-keeper Bert Oldfield had his skull cracked as he tried to hook Larwood. The Australian Board sent a cable of protest to Lord’s saying the tactics were ‘unsportsmanlike’. The response stated that the MCC had full confidence in their team management and that if Australia thought fit to cancel the rest of the tour, MCC would consent ‘with great reluctance’. A further dispatch was sent saying Bodyline was ‘opposed to the spirit of cricket’ and ‘dangerous to players’ but that cancellation was not considered necessary.

  Australia replied to England’s 341 with 222, Ponsford top scoring with 85 and taking many deliveries on the back. England increased its advantage with 412 and Australia was set 512 to win with Bradman likely to be the only saviour. He thrilled the crowd as he sliced and cut Larwood. Soon after reaching 50 the threatening quick was removed from the attack to the relief of Bradman, whose normal control went missing. He hit Larwood’s replacement Hedley Verity for six, his first in Test cricket, then tried another and was caught and bowled for 66. Despite Woodfull again showing courage with 73, Australia lost by 338 in the ‘Battle of Adelaide’.

  Debate developed about how Australia should fight back. Some wanted to fight fire with fire. The press picked up on the retaliation theme but Woodfull, backed by Bradman and O’Reilly, would not hear of it. They thought the game would be reduced to thuggery and an awful spectacle if both used Bodyline. England won the Ashes with a six-wicket fourth Test win at Brisbane. The first innings was closely fought with Australia registering 340 and England 356. Bradman hit 76 before being bowled by Larwood as he tried to off-cut. Australia made 175 in its second innings and England 162 for the loss of four. In Sydney England made it 4–1 after both teams were evenly matched in the first innings. Australia scored 435 including 48 from Bradman with Larwood capturing 4–98. Hammond scored 101 in England’s 454 but Larwood surprised everyone, with 98 as nightwatchman. Australia’s second innings 182 owed almost everything to a stand of 115 between Woodfull and Bradman. England made the required runs for the loss of two wickets.

  Larwood, slowed at the end of the series by a splintered bone in the foot, finished with 33 Test wickets at 19.51. Bradman had the best batting record of both sides with 56.57 but had been reduced to half his usual effectiveness. Jardine and his bowlers had won back the Ashes and were heroes on their return. Yet Bodyline caused repercussions as England suffered at the hands of the West Indies’ fast bowlers who used the same tactics at Old Trafford in 1933. Hammond had his chin split and said he wouldn’t play again if Bodyline was not outlawed, which it was in Tests although Larwood and Voce continued to use it in county games.

  Chapter 5

  THE GREATEST EVER

  Sir Donald Bradman is the most revered cricketer of all time. His extraordinary achievements have been widely chronicled and his Test batting average of 99.94 is the sport’s best-known statistic. The legend of ‘The Don’—not merely as a player but as administrator, selector, sage and cricketing statesman—only intensified after his last Test in 1948, and even his death in 2001 did not take anything from the special meaning his name has for every Australian and every cricket enthusiast.

  His figures are a constant reminder that there is a standard in batting—the Bradman standard. He batted 338 times in first-class cricket from 1927 to 1949, scoring 28,067 and averaging 95.14. He hit 117 centuries at better than one every three innings, including 452 not out for New South Wales in 1930. Bradman hit 37 scores of 200 or more while his nearest rival in this field, England’s Wally Hammond, hit 36 in three times as many innings. In 52 Tests he scored 6996 runs at 99.94, or, rounded off, a century every time he went out to bat in his 80 innings.

  How did Bradman manage to be so far ahead? His key characteristics provide part of the answer: concentration, character, courage and determination, technique, knowledge of the game, natural athleticism, competitiveness, leadership skills and intelligence. His aim was always to win and in the most entertaining way possible, giving the paying public the best value, and he did so without seeking comments about his prowess. Bradman’s technique was both orthodox and unorthodox. Early in his career he was criticised for playing ‘cross-bat’ shots when pulling balls from the off-side to the on, but said: ‘How else do you score on the on-side when a ball is well outside off-stump?’ Unlike others he could play these shots with ease due to his extraordinary skills. He used the top hand to lever the bat up when playing a shot, which ensured the ball was kept down in attack or defence. He only lofted when he wanted to and only hit 44 sixes in his 338 innings but stroked 2580 fours.

  Donald was born in the New South Wales’ town of Cootamundra on 27 August 1908, the youngest of five children to farmers George and Emily Bradman. Before World War I the family moved to Bowral, a community of 2000 where George obtained a job as a carpenter with Alf Stephens, a businessman, mayor and president of Bowral Cricket Club. George became involved in cricket and played for Bowral as well as being assistant secretary, treasurer and selector, and secretary of the district association.

  Young Don became interested in the game and spent hours hitting a golf ball against a galvanised iron water tank with a cricket stump, honing his hand–eye coordination. Before he was old enough to play he was appointed scorer for Bowral, which wholly involved him in the progress of matches. At twelve he attended the annual general meeting of the club and a year later visited Sydney Cricket Ground with his father for the first Test of the 1920–21 Ashes. After leaving school in 1923 he entered a local real estate firm. Learning real estate became his priority and he put aside all cricket games for almost two years. He was not yet seventeen but maintained fitness with tennis and continued his cricket administration interests.

  Don returned to the game in the summer of 1925–26 and within two years was playing Test cricket. The Test career of a future legend had begun but it didn’t totally consume his life as he later chose stockbroking as his profession; when not playing cricket it enabled him to disappear into the private world of stocks and shares. After he finished playing he continued his profession but stayed involved in cricket administration.

  Bradman’s Test career begins

  Bradman set the cricketing world on fire with his first few Tests and came out of the controversial Bodyline series as the best performing batsman. He played a major role in regaining the Ashes in England in 1934 after Bodyline had been banned. Bill ‘Tiger’ O’Reilly and Clarrie Grimmett spun Australia to a 238-run win in the first Test at Nottingham. England evened the score at Lord’s through an innings win made possible by slow-medium bowler Hedley Verity’s hauls of 7–61 and 8–43. England was again on top at Old Trafford but Australia escaped with a draw thanks to 137 from Stan McCabe. England set a formidable total of 9–627 featuring Maurie Leyland’s 153 and ‘Patsy’ Hendren’s 132 while O’Reilly took 7–189. The Leeds Test was drawn but not before Bradman scored 304. After an inept English batting effort of 200 against O’Reilly and Grimmett, Australia was in trouble at 3–39 at the end of day one but by the end of the second it was 4–494 with Bradman and Bill Ponsford (181) featuring in a 388 fourth-wicket stand. Bradman reached his triple century on the third day but minutes later was bowled after hitting two sixes and 43 fours. England reached 6–229 but rain was their saviour. The Headingley partnership proved a rehearsal for the Oval when the pair’s 451 saw Australia to a 562-run win and Ashes victory. Ponsford scored 266 and Bradman 244 in Australia’s 701. England replied with 321 and f
ollowing on could only muster 145, Grimmett taking 5–64.

  The Australian series in 1936–37 was a cliffhanger and attendance records were broken as people clamoured to see new captain Bradman. It was an inauspicious start as England won the first Test in Brisbane by 322. England’s bowlers Bill Voce and Gubby Allen proved difficult on an unpleasant pitch in Australia’s dismal second innings of 58.

  Bad weather rendered Bradman’s second Test as captain even more unpropitious than the first. Wally Hammond’s 231 not out put England in the box seat at 6–426 but rain intervened and Voce bounced the ball wickedly. He took 4–10 as Australia was dismissed for 80 and Bradman was out for his second successive duck. Following on, Australia fought hard but could not prevent England’s innings and success.

  Bradman’s captaincy saw rain work in Australia’s favour in Melbourne. At 6–130 on the first day it looked as though the series would be lost but McCabe helped take the score to 9–200 when Bradman declared after rain delayed the start on the second day. England struggled to 9–76 as O’Reilly and medium pacer Morris Sievers (5–21) made the ball leap. At 5–97 the game could have gone either way but Bradman and Fingleton figured in a 346-run stand. Fingleton scored 136 while Bradman made a chanceless 270, hitting 22 fours and 110 singles. Needing 689, England scored 323. The match was watched by 350,534 over six days.

  Australia evened the ledger in Adelaide with a 148-run win. England bowled and fielded well to dismiss Australia for 288 and then took the lead, amassing 330. Bradman turned the tables and saved the series with 212, batting through the fourth day. He hit fourteen fours and 99 singles in a wonderful display of concentration as Australia made 433 and England faced a target of 392. The visitors were 3–148 on the sixth morning but Chuck Fleetwood-Smith spun one in from the off to bowl Hammond and the remainder fell steadily as the Victorian teased his way to ten in the match. In the Melbourne decider Bradman won the toss and demonstrated his infallibility with a faultless 169 in Australia’s 604. McCabe made 112, his 249-run stand with Bradman in only 163 minutes. England’s task was made more difficult by rain that deadened the pitch and made it spiteful as it dried. The visitors made 239 in their first innings and then 165 for Australia to win by an innings and 200.

  The 1938 English series marked the debuts of Len Hutton, 22, and Denis Compton, twenty, for England. It was closely fought and finished level. The home side was never going to lose the Nottingham Test after amassing 8–658. Bradman made 51 in Australia’s first effort of 411 but it was McCabe who kept them in the match with 232, including 127 with the tailenders. Australia survived the eight hours of their second innings with little trouble, finishing 6–427 and Bradman’s 144 not out was his thirteenth Ashes century.

  Batsmen were on top in the drawn second Test when skipper Hammond scored 240 in England’s 494 and Bill Brown 206 not out in Australia’s 422. After the Old Trafford Test was washed out Australia edged ahead by taking the Leeds Test by five wickets with Bradman and ‘Tiger’ O’Reilly starring. Bradman’s 103 in Australia’s first innings of 242 was astounding. In the gloom and on a moist pitch he manoeuvred the strike and dealt with varied bowling. Australia suffered early setbacks in its victory bid and reached 5–107 before rain came.

  England drew the series and achieved its biggest ever Test win, by an innings and 579 runs at the Oval, although Bradman was injured. The result was virtually predetermined after Hammond won the toss and batted on an over-prepared pitch. Hutton and Leyland (187) figured in a 382-run opening stand, then Hammond joined Hutton for another 135. After a couple of cheap wickets, Joe Hardstaff (169 not out) and Hutton put on 215 before the opener was dismissed for 364 after a 797-minute innings. After declaring at 7–903 at tea on the third day, Australia crumbled against the pace of Bill Bowes to make 201 and second time 123.

  Biggest loss, biggest win

  The first Test after World War II produced Australia’s biggest win over England. In Brisbane in 1946 Bradman began where he left off, scoring 187 and Lindsay Hassett 128 in Australia’s 645. In their debuts fast bowler Keith Miller made 79 and leg spinner Colin McCool 95. Miller had already made a big name for himself with bat and ball in the unofficial ‘Victory Tests’ in England. By the time England came to the crease on the third day the light had deteriorated and rain interfered. The visitors had a fearful day on a spiteful pitch after almost two inches of rain and Miller proved difficult to play. Bill Edrich made 16 in 105 minutes but then came a bigger storm, accompanied by hail and strong winds during which the Gabba was submerged. Play miraculously resumed on the fifth day and England was dismissed for 141, Miller taking 6–70. England could only muster 172 in the follow-on as medium-pacer Ernie Toshack took 6–82 and Australia won by an innings and 332 runs.

  The off-spin of Ian Johnson and leggies of McCool spelt England’s downfall in Sydney. Johnson took 6–42 as England was dismissed for 255. Australia then racked up 8–659 with Sid Barnes and Bradman both scoring 234. The captain had now taken part in record second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth wicket stands. On the sixth day Edrich battled for 119 but it proved too much for England with McCool taking 5–109 and Australia winning by an innings.

  The next two Tests were drawn with batsmen on top. In Melbourne McCool made 104 not out, Arthur Morris 155, Ray Lindwall 100 and Bradman 79 and 49, while Cyril Washbrook made 112 and Edrich 89 for England. I n Adelaide, Compton made 147 and 103 not out while for Australia Morris made 122 and 124 not out, Miller 141 not out, and Bradman 56 not out. Australia made it 3–0 with a five-wicket win in Sydney. Hutton hit 122 as England made 280 and Ray Lindwall took 7–63. Australia replied with 253 and McCool took 5–44 as England was humbled for 186 in its second innings.

  Australia invincible

  The Australian team that toured England in 1948 led by Bradman was termed ‘The Invincibles’ after it returned unbeaten. It was a fitting way for Bradman to end his playing career although a final innings duck cost him a Test average of 100.

  The series began in Trent Bridge with an eight-wicket win to Australia. Bradman led the way with 138 backed up by Hassett’s 137 in 509. England showed courage in its second innings against Miller to score 441. Compton played a gallant innings of 184 battling bad light, rain interruptions and short-pitched bowling. He had to play himself in nine times but found good support from Hutton.

  The margin to Australia at Lord’s was 409. Morris got them away to a good start with 105 in 350. England’s innings was breached by a fiery Lindwall who took 5–70 and they trailed by 135. Australia set up a big lead with 7–460 in which Barnes scored 141 and Bradman 89. After rain, England’s pursuit of 596 was never likely and they succumbed for 186. The Manchester weather brought a draw in the third Test. Australia retained the Ashes in a high-scoring Leeds match. Washbrook (143) and Edrich (111) were top scorers in England’s 496. Australia almost matched them as Neil Harvey, nineteen, in his first Ashes Test, scored 112 in 458. England then declared at 8–365 and Australia needed 404 in 344 minutes, which looked an impossible task. Morris (182) and Bradman (173 not out) hit 301 for the second wicket in 217 minutes to set up a seven-wicket win.

  At the Oval Australia hammered home their superiority to make it 4–0 in Bradman’s final test. Batting first on a sodden pitch England was destroyed by Lindwall (6–20) and made 52. Australia established a big lead, scoring 389 which featured 196 from Morris and a second ball duck for Bradman in his final innings. England replied with 188.

  Chapter 6

  THE VOICE AND FACE OF MODERN CRICKET

  The greatest sportsperson Australia had produced was no longer playing. How was cricket going to cope, would crowds still turn up and would Australia still be dominant? Despite losing the first four Tests of 1950–51, England showed they were competitive and Australia that they weren’t as dominant. The closely fought encounters helped maintain interest in the game.

  In Brisbane, Australia was bowled out for 228 on a good pitch. Rain intervened with day two washed out and the third a batting joke as
twenty wickets fell for 130. England declared at 7–68 and Australia at 7–32, leaving England needing 193. At the end of the day they were 6–30 but their decision to hold back Len Hutton proved costly. He was 62 not out as he ran out of partners and England was dismissed for 122. Bowlers were on top in Melbourne as Australia made 194 and 181 while England made 197 and 150.

  Injuries hit England heavily in Sydney where Australian all-rounder Keith Miller dominated with 4–37 in England’s first innings of 290 and 145 not out as Australia amassed 426. Jack Iverson then took 6–27 as England were bundled out for 123. In Adelaide, Australia won by 274 runs. After a series of failures, opener Arthur Morris hit back with his highest Test score of 206 in Australia’s 371. Australia took a commanding lead, declaring at 8–403. Missing captain Freddie Brown, owing to a car accident, England was bowled out for 228. England won the fifth Test at Melbourne by eight wickets, their first victory over Australia since 1938. Wickets tumbled as Australia made 217. Reg Simpson made his only Ashes century but it was a last wicket stand of 74 that saw England press home the advantage and Simpson go from 92 to 156 not out. Australia made 197, setting England a modest total.

  England returns fire

  Fittingly in 1953, the Coronation year, England won back the Ashes after almost nineteen years. The first four Tests were drawn with a result finally coming at the Oval, where Hutton became the first captain to win a series after losing all five tosses. Australia made 275 with ‘Fiery’ Fred Trueman finding life in a rain-freshened pitch, taking 4–86 in his first Ashes Test. During the tour’s final first-class match Richie Benaud blasted eleven sixes in his knock of 135, becoming the first Australian batsman to score a first-class century containing more sixes than fours. He became a leading all-rounder in the 1950s and 1960s, Test captain and the face, and voice, of Australian cricket through television commentary.