MCC tour of Australia in 1954–55
Encyclopedia
The Marylebone Cricket Club
tour of Australia in 1954-55 under the captaincy of Len Hutton
was its tenth since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907-1908. The touring team
played as England in the 1954-55 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games. In all there were 23 matches; 5 Test matches
(which they won 3-1), 12 other First Class matches
(which they won 5-1) and 6 minor matches (which they won 5-0). It was the only time that a professional cricketer
captained a MCC tour of Australia. It was one of the MCC's most successful tours, the Ashes
being retained and the team winning five of their victories by an innings.
team gathered at Lord's
for an eve of departure dinner during which the "Success of the Team" was toasted. In those days the MCC saw tours as a means of encouraging overseas cricket and strengthening the ties that bound the Commonwealth
. Lord Cobham
gave a speech in which he reminded the team that it was more important to not disgrace the face of English cricket even at the cost of series, though several young players had other ideas about this. The party was a large one of 18 players, Denis Compton
suffered a recurrence of his knee trouble which had plagued him on the 1950-51 tour
and required remedial surgery. Yorkshire's
"Farmer Vic" Wilson
was a surprise choice as his replacement and Compton was later flown out to join the team in Australia. The other 17 were seen off by family, friends and well-wishers on the ’’Orsava’’. Frank Tyson
saw "a spare, stooped old man, dressed immaculately in a pin-stripe suit" telling the young Colin Cowdrey
"..when you reach Australia, just remember one thing - Hate the Bastards!". He spoke with such vehemence that Tyson asked George Duckworth
who the old gent was, "That was Douglas Jardine
", the reason behind Lord Cobham
's speech on good sportsmanship. They travelled first class on the ‘’Orsova’’ which took six weeks to arrive in Western Australia
, after stopping for a one day game against Ceylon and learning en route that Cowdrey's father had died. Unused to the lavish fare and freed of rationing the players soon added weight and Frank Tyson
increased his weight from 161 lbs
(73 kg) to 182 lbs (83 kg). Unfortunately for the Australians he exercised regularly so the extra weight was turned into muscle. Soon after the voyage began Vic Wilson
, Colin Cowdrey
, Peter Loader
, Jim McConnon
, Keith Andrew
and Frank Tyson
were warned by Len Hutton
that they were secondary players who were expected to play little part in the Test matches.
and Perth
for hundreds to come and see the game. The Country teams could sometime surprise the oppsition and this one had three First Class cricketers. Hutton won the toss the MCC belted 344/5 in less than a day with Hutton (59), Edrich (129), Graveney (58) and Crowdrey (48 not out) entertaining the crowd. A declaration before stumps saw no Country wickets fall and 51 was added for the first wicket, but then Big Jim McConnon
's off-spinners worked their way through the middle order as he took 5/30 after Peter Loader
(4/35) and Tyson (1/35) removed the openers and the home side were all out for 116. Put back in again they survived the day, and the match, at 128/6 with Colin Cowdrey
's good natured leg-spin taking 4/35. Tyson ploughed up the sand on his long run up and could not bowl at full pace and was described by one reporter as a zephyr
rather than a typhoon.
was far removed from the other states and provided no Australian Test players in the series. It would not host a Test until 1970 and after these initial games the MCC would not return. Len Hutton
won the toss and put Western Australia
in with immediate results on a fast, rain-freshed pitch as both openers went for ducks and Ken Meuleman
retiring hurt after being hit on the head by Brian Statham
(6/23). Trevor Bailey
took 2/36, but the home team managed to recover from 7/3 and 57/7 to 103 all out thanks to captain Keith Carmody
(25) and Meuleman (23) when he returned before both were removed by Peter Loader
(2/26). Hutton made more runs than this himself, making 145 out of 250/3 before he retired hurt with a pulled leg muscle, handing over the captaincy to Peter May
. Only Cowdrey made any runs afterwards as the MCC collapsed to 266/6 and 321 all out with Harry Gorringe (4/102) taking the wickets, but by the end of the day Western Australia
were 32/3 and still 186 runs behind. Ken Meuleman
(109) and Keith Carmody
(75) led the fightback with a stand of 128, but after their demise the team collapsed to 197/8 and were out for 255. Statham (3/68) missed out on a ten wicket haul, but was still the best of the bowlers. The spinner Ronald Sarre (2/11) made things difficult, but the MCC made 40/3 for a seven wicket win with well over day to spare.
was reinforced with the presence of Neil Harvey
, Graeme Hole
and Ian Johnson
. Peter May
was the MCC captain as Hutton was still injured and won the toss. In keeping with the strategy of putting the opposition in against the England fast bowling attack the Combined XI were asked to bat and crashed to 86 all out. Only the opener Jack Rutherford (39) scored more than 9 and Brian Statham
topped the bowling figures with 3/21, Tyson (2/14), Bailey (2/16) and Wardle (2/11) all took cheap wickets, but Godfrey Evans
had the most dismissals with 4 catches and a stumping. Bill Edrich
was bowled for a duck, Ian Johnson (3/44) took 2 more wickets in his first over and the MCC were 60/3 at stumps. The next day May made a superb 129 on a poor pitch, adding 179 with Jim Wilson
(72), but the last 7 wickets fell for 90 runs and the tourists were out for 311. After facing a few balls in the evening the Combined XI fell again, but less spectacularly than in the first innings . No batsman made more than 38, but four made over twenty before they were spun out by Johnny Wardle
(4/34) and Bob Appleyard
(3/36). The MCC won by an innings and 62 runs and earned another rest day before they flew east.
were a tougher proposition and Len Hutton
, back as captain, decided to bat first on a pitch that looked full of runs (but wasn't). Bill Edrich
was out for another duck and only Denis Compton
, flown in the day before after a knee operation in England, made any headway with 113. The rotund slow left arm bowler Jack Wilson
took 5/81 despite the wicket not turning and they were out for 246. South Australia
overtook this the next day regardless of 5/62 from Frank Tyson
as Les Favell
increased his hopes of Test selection with 84, adding 119 for the first wicket with David Harris (48). They reached the MCC total at 246/7 by the end of the day, but after the rest day only wicket-keeper Gil Langley
(38 not out) added any more runs as they fell to 254 all out, a lead of only 8. Batting again the MCC innings revolved around Hutton's steadfast 98 as they were out for 181, Jack Wilson (4/32) again the destroyer. Their innings ended at stumps and there was a crowd of 6,000 to see the local team beat the tourists. As in the first innings Les Favell
(47) did well, but like the MCC innings only the first man in made any runs as South Australia
slipped from 95/2 to 152 all out thanks to Bob Appleyard
(5/46). The crowd did not appreciate the MCC's 21 run win and booed them off the ground.
, Richie Benaud
, Jim de Courcy
, Ray Harvey
along with veterans Neil Harvey
, Bill Johnston
, reserve wicket-keeper Len Maddocks
and the new Australian captain Ian Johnson
. Vice-captain Peter May
led the MCC again, won the toss and decided to bat so that the batsmen could find their form before the First Test, but they did not. Reg Simpson
top-scored with 74 and May made 45, but the team were out for 205 before the spinners Johnson (6/66) and Benaud (3/58) despite the wicket turning little. The Australian XI did little better ending the second day on 167/7, Ronald Briggs (48) and Benaud (47) the top scorers as Trevor Bailey
took 4/53 with his swing bowling. The third day was washed out, as was the fourth replacement day and the game ended in a draw.
was the strongest state the MCC would meet on the tour, winning the Sheffield Shield 14 times in 16 seasons between 1948–49 and 1961–62 and nearly 60,000 people came to see the champions take on the touring team over the course of the four day match. New South Wales were led by the flamboyant Keith Miller
who won the toss and put the visitors in to bat, much to Len Hutton
's annoymence as he wanted to do the same. Again he had to rescue the innings, making 102 and only receiving support from the baby-faced Colin Cowdrey
who had yet to make a century in the County Championship
, but made a sweetly timed 110 as they added 163 together. No other batsman exceeded 11 and the team was out for 252. Miller rotated his bowlers and the wickets were shared by Pat Crawford (3/51) whose drag
allowed him to bowl a yard down the wicket, Alan Davidson
(3/41), bowling with a shoulder injury, and the Chinamen
of John Treanor (3-64). Young Billy Watson, playing in his second First Class match raced to 155 and with the help of his captain's 86 took New South Wales past the MCC score three wickets down. From there wickets fell steadily to Frank Tyson
4/98 and Alec Bedser
4/117, who was suffering from a rash, and they were all out for 382. To try out potential openers Hutton put Vic Wilson
and Cowdrey in first. Wilson was out for a duck, but Cowdrey made another hundred (103), but only Hutton himself (87), batting at number 6, gave him any help. The MCC were out for 327, Cowdrey and Hutton making 402 of the 577 runs scored, the other 9 batsmen making 117 in two innings. Even Miller saw that 198 for victory in 75 minutes was impossible and sent in his young players for batting practice and Cowdrey went for 38 runs off 3 overs doing bowling impressions of Ray Lindwall
, Keith Miller
and others, but Peter Loader
took 2/14 before the gamed ended with New South Wales on 78/2.
captained again to give Hutton a rest. Ken Archer
, captain of Queensland
(the brother of the Australian all-rounder
Ken Archer
) won the toss and put the MCC in to bat on a good wicket. Reg Simpson
opened with 136, but again only two batsman did anything as Denis Compton
added 110 runs and everybody else 56. The tourists were 18/3 before the 234 run Simpson-Compton partnership and collapsed from 252/4 to 304 all out thereafter. Ray Lindwall
took 4/66, but had to retire because of gastric trouble. Strangely every batsman in the Queensland team except the absent Lindwall got into double figures, but none of them made fifty and they were out for 288. Mick Harvey
made 49 and thrashed a ball into Jim McConnon
's groin
, a painful injury that put the unlucky spinner out of contention for weeks. Alex Bedser still had his unexplained rash, but bowled 31 eight ball overs for 2/56 and Brian Statham
and Trevor Bailey
both took 3/74. The MCC made 288 as well in their second innings despite being 8/2 when the makeshift opener Colin Cowdrey
and wicket-keeper Keith Andrew
batting at number 3 were out for ducks. Simpson made 38, but it was May (77), Compton (69) and Bailey (51 not out) who made the runs as no bowler took more than 2 wickets. There was no time to consider a run chase, but Simpson surprised everybody when his off-spinners took 2/5 to leave Queensland on 25/2.
(74), who seemed to have regained his form, before he was out for 40. Peter May
made 69 and Jim Wilson
61, but the last five wickets fell for 26 runs., from 291/5 to 317 all out, with the retired Queensland leg spinner Donald Watt
taking 5/56 with help from fellow leggie Kenneth Jenkins (4/44). The innings had reduced the makeshift wicket to the consistency of a golf bunker and Hutton allowed it to be rebuilt for the next day. Opener Wilfred Brown top scored with 22 in the Country innings as they collapsed to 95 off 42.1 eight-ball overs with Peter Loader
(3/22), Johnny Wardle
(2/22), Bob Appleyard
(2/18) and Tom Graveney
(2/8) sharing the wickets. Hutton put them straight back in again and this time they did better, Brown making 78 and adding 108 for the second wicket with Renald Sippel (45), but Appleyard (7/51) spun his way through the rest of the batting order with some help from Graveney (2/49). The home team agreed to play past stumps so that the MCC could dismiss them, and the tourists won by an innings and 12 runs. This received some criticism in the Australian press, who forgot that Hutton had sportingly allowed the wicket to be remade.
invited the MCC to a reception on the evening before the match and the ex-Australian captain Lindsay Hassett
recited a ditty about facing "Typhoon" Tyson
.
When he finished there was a thunder-clap from the storm outside "Listen, he's just started his run-up!" joked Hassett. The match was a game played in one day with each side playing one innings rather than Limited overs cricket in the modern sense of the term. Hutton won the toss and opened with Bill Edrich
, but both were out for 25/2, but Peter May
made 101 and added 98 with Vic Wilson
(29) and 76 with Tom Graveney
(56). Johnny Wardle
scooped and swatted 37 not out and the MCC declared on 278/7 after 40 eight-ball overs. The match had a party atmosphere and Hassett gave 9 of his players a bowl, six of them took a wicket and himself 2/34 with his medium pacers. Tailender Ian Johnson
opened the Australian bowling and was out for 4, but his partner was the big hitting Richie Benaud
who smashed the ball all over the ground in his 113 as the Prime Minister's XI made 247 off 30.3 overs at over a run a ball. One of his sixes was caught by the Governor General
Field Marshal
Sir William Slim and a businessman donated £35 and 10 shillings to local charities, 30 shillings for each six and 10 shillings for each four. Veteran batsman Sam Loxton
hit 47 and Keith Miller
38 as Bill Edrich
's fast bowling cost him 40 runs off 5 overs, though he did take 2 wickets. Johnny Wardle
(4/73) produced a middle order collapse from 195/2 to 234/7 with Vic Wilson
helping him with three catches. When Hassett came in to bat Tyson was brought on and took an outrageously long run up before bowling a slow donkey drop
. He then bowled a real bouncer that hit Hassett on the hand before catching him off Len Hutton
's leg spin (3/15) for a 31 run victory.
in Adelaide. Hutton won the toss and decided to bat with Trevor Bailey
as his opening partner. This made sense in that "Barnacle Bailey" was a negative stonewaller and unlikely to give his wicket away, but it robbed the lower order of its sheet-anchor. In 1958-59 Ashes series he would be the regular opener and was blamed for paralysing the England batting with his slow scoring, though this was hardly his fault. On this occasion he made 60 and put on 97 with Hutton (41) before both were removed by the veteran all-rounder Sam Loxton
(2/54). Nobody bettered his analysis though three others took 2 wickets, but Len Maddocks
took three catches and ran out Colin Cowdrey
for 79. Tom Graveney
made 48 as the MCC were out for 312 on the rain affected second day. Taking advice from his old coach Alf Gover
, who was in Australia as a journalist covering the series, Tyson stopped using his laborious 38 yard run up and returned to the "short" 18 yard run up he had used for Knypersley in the Staffordshire
League with ten short then ten long final strides. Tyson took 6/68 in three over bursts when Victoria
replied with 277, five of them clean bowled. It would have been 8/68, but Johnny Wardle
dropped John Chambers (42) because he was singing a Bing Cosby song and Sam Loxton
feathered a thin edge to Godfrey Evans
, but was given not out. Neil Harvey
had failed in every game against the tourists so far, except in the Test, and was playing and missing constantly on his way to 59. A construction worker on the ground shouted "Typhoon! Bowl 'im down a piano! P'rhaps 'e can play that!". The Hutton-Bailey partnership added only 26, but Peter May
made a sterling 105 not out and added 120 with Colin Cowdrey
(54) and the innings was declared on 236/5 after the third day was lost. Just as important the Victoria and Australia captain Ian Johnson
pulled a muscle while fielding and missed the Second Test as a result. Loxton took 2/67 and Maddocks and took two more catches to strengthen his claims for the Australian gloves. Victoria batted out the game for 88/3, but Colin McDonald retired hurt on before scoring a run due to an undisclosed ailment.
in a three day match which did not count as First Class even though the team was as strong as some state sides. Len Hutton
, Frank Tyson
and Brian Statham
took a rest after the exhausting Second Test and Peter May
led the side. The Northern Districts batted first and Ron Harvey made 41 to take the score to 85/4. Robert MacDonald (63) batted through the lower order, but they collapsed to Johnny Wardle
's lethal mix of Slow Left Arm
, Chinamen
and reverse googlies
as he took 6/36 and the home side fell from 192/5 to 211 all out. The MCC batted to 438, their highest score of the tour so far with Jim McConnon
, having recovered from his injury, made 43 as an opener, Denis Compton
60, Peter May
a majestic 157 and wicket-keeper Godfrey Evans
69. batting again the home team did better with 246 with seven batsmen getting to double figures, but the medium paced off-spin of Bob Appleyard
(5/59) took their toll with the in-swingers and leg-cutters of Alec Bedser
(3/49) helping out. The MCC made the 20 runs needed to win for the loss of makeshift opener Godfrey Evans
and won by 9 wickets.
, but it was a weak state side that did not fully complete in the Sheffield Shield for another twenty years. Richie Benaud
, Alan Davidson
, Les Favell
and Neil Harvey
were flown out to help the Tasmanian team in another Combined XI. Thanks to the Third Test a record 20,000 spectators turned out on the small Hobart
ground to watch. The Tasmanian
captain Emerson Rodwell
won the toss and batted only to see Favell out for a duck, thanks to Alec Bedser
(3/56) as the ball swung heavily. Peter Loader
(4/81) took two more wickets and Benaud was caught of "Big Al"
to leave them 72/4, but Harvey (82) and Rodwell (72) added 60 before Trevor Bailey
(3/29) reduced 132/4 to 146/7. Rodwell added another 54 runs with Terence Cowley (12) before Bailey caught him off Bedser, Loader took the last two wickets and the Combined XI were out for 221. This looked good as the tourists now fell to the swing bowling of Alan Davidson
(4/45) as they collapsed to 167/7 with Denis Compton
making 46. Bailey stuck around for 53 and stand in keeper Keith Andrew
took the score up to 242 with 19 from Alec Bedser
. The Combined XI batted again, but waited until they were 184/6 before Rodwell declared, with Neil Harvey
47 and Richie Benaud
68 not out. The unlucky Jim McConnon
broke his little finger when fielding a powerful Harvey on-drive, as it would take until the end of the tour to mend he was sent home when they reached the mainland. The MCC had an hour and forty minutes to make 164 for victory so Hutton sent Keith Andrew
to open, but he was soon out and Reg Simpson
(37 not out) and Vic Wilson
(33 not out) together at the end on 99/2.
suffered in the state match against the tourists, but still 12,000 came to see the game at Launceston
. Hutton, who was lucky with the toss in Australia, won again and chose this time to bat and made 61, but the star of the day was the stylish Tom Graveney
with 134. They added 127 for the second wicket, then Graveney put on 105 with Denis Compton
(50) for the third. There was a small collapse from 243/2 to 281/6, but Vic Wilson (cricketer)
(62 not out) and Johnny Wardle
entertained with 111 for the sixth wicket and Hutton declared at 427/7 on the second morning, Noel Diprose the best of the bowlers with 4/107. The Tasmanians had no answer to the in-swing and off-cutters of Peter Loader
who took 6/22 off 12 eight-ball overs and were out for 117, captain Emerson Rodwell
had to retire hurt on 2, but returned to be bowled by Loader for 11. Hutton, 310 runs ahead elected to bat again, perhaps to entertain the Saturday crowd the next day and sent in nightwatchmen
Frank Tyson
to open with Reg Simpson
. Simpson failed again, ending his chances of playing in the Tests and Bob Appleyard
joined Tyson. The MCC scratched round the next day for 133/6 declared, Tyson's 27 was the top score and Terence Cowley took 4/53. Tasmania had no chance of making 444 runs to win and Hutton took the chance to exercise his bowlers. Mike Hyland (49) and added 60 with John Maddox (62 not out), who made his highest First Class score, but was left standing as the rest fell away and Tasmania were out for 200 for a 243 run win.
68, Peter May
62, Tom Graveney
44 and Denis Compton
53, though Trevor Bailey
was caught leg before
by G. Gross (3/31) for a duck. After a second wicket stand of 44 the Country XI toppled to 106 all out to the accurate Brian Statham
2/16 and the medium pace off-spinners and off-cutters of the "Applecart"
(6/26). Following on they did even worse as Alex Bedser (3/11) removed the first three batsmen for three runs, but Brian Statham's dictum of "if they miss, I hit" was never more proved as he clean bowled six batsmen in a row, the last five for ducks in his extraordinary analysis of 4-3-3-6. The opener H.G. Bennett carried his bat for 14 not out and added none of the 14 runs for the last wicket as last man Gross made them all before being caught leg before wicket
by Bailey. With the Country XI out for 45 the MCC won by an innings and 177 runs.
the MCC were to play South Australia
in the run up the Adelaide Test. Their captain "Pancho" Ridings
won the toss and batted on a belter of a wicket, but was let down badly by his team as they were rolled over for 185 on the first day as all the England bowlers took wickets. Only Ridings himself (40) and wicket-keeper Gil Langley
(53) made any resistance. With Peter May
in charge Len Hutton
, Godfrey Evans
, Trevor Bailey
, Frank Tyson
, Brian Statham
went to the races at Cheltenham Park Racecourse
and Tyson won £50 (his tour fee was £600). When he returned he regretted it as Denis Compton
had made a century of genius, 182 gold-stroked runs as he added 234 with May (114). Colin Cowdrey
added 64 and Donald Gregg took 4/117 as the MCC batted into the third day to make 451, their best score of the entire tour. South Australia began their second innings 266 runs behind and collapsed again, only Ridings (40 not out) giving any resistance to Peter Loader
(4/32) and Alec Bedser
(3/20), the two bowlers fighting for a Test place. The MCC won by a crushing margin of an innings and 143 runs, the perfect result for the vital Fourth Test.
the MCC went to their final Country match in a jovial mood. Only three regular bowlers were taken, Alec Bedser
, Peter Loader
and Johnny Wardle
, both wicket-keeper
s and the manager Geoffrey Howard. The Country XI won the toss, batted and were out for 182 with one W. Young making 52 as Loader (4/29) and Wardle (5/46) were far too good for the bulk of the local batsmen. Len Hutton
(75) and Reg Simpson
(59) were 130/0 at the end of the day and Tom Graveney
made 50 in the morning and Hutton was impressed with Rex Hollioake (2/69), the fast bowler from Ballarat, who he thought was quicker than any Australian outside the Tests. Vic Wilson
, Godfrey Evans
and Wardle all made 17, and Hutton declared with Howard unbeaten on 0 at 307/8. The Country team were completely unable to read Johnny Wardle
's highly varied off-breaks, leg-breaks and reverse-googlies and he finished with 7/45 (12/91 in the match), though R. Milne came in a number 4 and finished 22 not out in a score of 99. The MCC won by an innings and 26 runs.
was almost entirely washed out, except for the second day. Sam Loxton
won the toss and batted on a pitch that had sweated under the covers and Victoria promptly crashed to 39/6. Brian Statham
(3/23) took the first three wickets, followed by Trevor Bailey
(3/22) with the second three. Loxton (27) and Allan Dick (41) made a rescue attempt with a stand of 53, until Bob Appleyard
(3/14) took the next three wickets and Johnny Wardle
(1/14) finished off the innings for 113. Reg Simpson
and captain Peter May
both made 33 not out in 99/1 in reply and the match was given up as the rain returned.
The MCC returned to Sydney for their last state match and the Fifth and final Test. 34,198 fans came to watch the game over four days and despite frequent rain the match was fought to a finish and they were far from disappointed. The New South Wales
captain Keith Miller
won the toss and the Sheffield Shield champions elected to bat, but collapsed spectacularly to 3/3 as Alec Bedser
(5/57) returned to form, removing both openers for ducks and having Richie Benaud
caught by Johnny Wardle
for one. Tom Graveney
at slip caught the 18 year old Bobby Simpson
off Frank Tyson
for 6 and Keith Miller
off Peter Loader
for 11 and New South Wales were 25/6. The 20 old Peter Philpott
(46) and 21 year old "Sam" Booth
(74 not out) rescued the innings with a stand of 83, but Bedser returned to dismiss Philpot and Alan Davidson
, Graveney's third catch. Johnny Wardle
had wicket-keeper
Ossie Lambert caught by Colin Cowdrey
and Vic Wilson
(2/1) came in at the end and took two wickets for one run off nine balls, Graveney taking his fourth catch to end the inninngs on 172 when John Treanor went for a duck. Keith Miller
bowled Wilson for a duck and Pat Crawford
got Peter May
for 3 and the MCC ended the day on 4/2. They did not immediately improve their situation in the morning as Alan Davidson
(4/25) dismissed nightwatchman
Peter Loader
for a duck after he had been hit hard on the thigh by Miller, Reg Simpson
for 6 and Colin Cowdrey
for 12, and the MCC were 35/5. Tom Graveney
(35) and Len Hutton
(48) rescued the innings with a stand of 59, Hutton ironically batting at number 7 to give himself a rest, Godfrey Evans
made a perky 40, Johnny Wardle
slashed his way to 19, but Tyson was run out by Ronald Briggs for 3 and the innings closed on 172, the scores even. Briggs was bowled by Tyson for a duck (and a pair), but Test hopefuls Jim Burke
(98) and Bobby Simpson
(62) saw out the day and added 159 for the second wicket, the injured Loader unable to bowl. When it rained the umpires refused to stop play and Hutton led his men off, leaving Simpson waiting at the crease on 98. When play resumed the angry Simpson was fooled by a Johnny Wardle
left-arm reverse-googly
and stumped. Graveney took his fifth catch off Wardle (5/118) to dispose of Burke and Davidson was caught by Cowdrey for a duck to leave New South Wales 196/4. Richie Benaud
(59) and Miller (71) added 64, smashing "Farmer Jim" Wilson for 42 runs off 4 eight ball overs before Benaud was stumped off Wardle. Bedser (2/87) dismissed both Miller and Booth and Miller declared half an hour from stumps on 314/8. The MCC needed 315 to win in just over a day, but Hutton tried to have another "rest" by batting at number 5 and Simpson (24) and Graveney (28) opened the innings. They were 26/0 at the end of the day and took the score to 36/1 in the morning, when they both fell to Benaud (2/62). Wilson was bowled by Davidson (2/43) for 4 and the tourists were in trouble at 68/3. Peter May
(42), Len Hutton
(59), Crowdrey (33) and Evans (39) kept the runs coming even though wickets fell at regular intervals. At 250/6 needed only 65 more runs, but leg-spinner John Treanor (3/39) cleaned up the tail as they slumped from 261/7 to 269 all out and New South Wales won a thrilling 45 run victory, the only defeat the tourists suffered except for the First Test. It was a stunning vindication of Keith Miller
's inspirational captaincy, but it was too late for The Ashes
and he never became the captain of Australia.
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
tour of Australia in 1954-55 under the captaincy of Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
was its tenth since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907-1908. The touring team
English cricket team in Australia in 1954-55
Len Hutton captained the English cricket team in Australia in 1954–55, playing as England in the 1954-55 Ashes series against the Australians and as the MCC in their other matches on the tour. It was the first time that an England team had toured Australia under a professional captain since the 1880s...
played as England in the 1954-55 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games. In all there were 23 matches; 5 Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
(which they won 3-1), 12 other First Class matches
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
(which they won 5-1) and 6 minor matches (which they won 5-0). It was the only time that a professional cricketer
History of English amateur cricket
The history of English amateur cricket describes the concept and importance of amateur players in English cricket.-Co-development of amateur and professional cricket to 1800:...
captained a MCC tour of Australia. It was one of the MCC's most successful tours, the Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
being retained and the team winning five of their victories by an innings.
Travelling to Australia
The MCCMarylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
team gathered at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
for an eve of departure dinner during which the "Success of the Team" was toasted. In those days the MCC saw tours as a means of encouraging overseas cricket and strengthening the ties that bound the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
. Lord Cobham
Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham
Charles John Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham, KG, GCMG, GCVO, TD, PC was the ninth Governor-General of New Zealand and an English cricketer.-Early life and family:...
gave a speech in which he reminded the team that it was more important to not disgrace the face of English cricket even at the cost of series, though several young players had other ideas about this. The party was a large one of 18 players, Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
suffered a recurrence of his knee trouble which had plagued him on the 1950-51 tour
English cricket team in Australia in 1950-51
Freddie Brown captained the English cricket team in Australia in 1950–51, playing as England in the 1950-51 Ashes series against the Australians and as the MCC in their other matches on the tour. They were regarded as a weak team - some critics wanted to cancel the tour - and failed to regain the...
and required remedial surgery. Yorkshire's
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
"Farmer Vic" Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
was a surprise choice as his replacement and Compton was later flown out to join the team in Australia. The other 17 were seen off by family, friends and well-wishers on the ’’Orsava’’. Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
saw "a spare, stooped old man, dressed immaculately in a pin-stripe suit" telling the young Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
"..when you reach Australia, just remember one thing - Hate the Bastards!". He spoke with such vehemence that Tyson asked George Duckworth
George Duckworth
George Duckworth was a professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Lancashire and England....
who the old gent was, "That was Douglas Jardine
Douglas Jardine
Douglas Robert Jardine was an English cricketer and captain of the England cricket team from 1931 to 1933–34.When describing cricket seasons, the convention used is that a single year represents an English cricket season, while two years represent a southern hemisphere cricket season because it...
", the reason behind Lord Cobham
Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham
Charles John Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham, KG, GCMG, GCVO, TD, PC was the ninth Governor-General of New Zealand and an English cricketer.-Early life and family:...
's speech on good sportsmanship. They travelled first class on the ‘’Orsova’’ which took six weeks to arrive in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, after stopping for a one day game against Ceylon and learning en route that Cowdrey's father had died. Unused to the lavish fare and freed of rationing the players soon added weight and Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
increased his weight from 161 lbs
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
(73 kg) to 182 lbs (83 kg). Unfortunately for the Australians he exercised regularly so the extra weight was turned into muscle. Soon after the voyage began Vic Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
, Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
, Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
, Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play in the Lancashire League...
, Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
Keith Vincent Andrew was an English cricketer who played in two Tests, in 1954-55 and in 1963.-Life and career:...
and Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
were warned by Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
that they were secondary players who were expected to play little part in the Test matches.
Western Australia Country vs MCC
The tourists arrived in Fremantle on 7 October and four days later played their first match of a long tour against a local Country XI on a small, sandy ground 20 yards from the beach. The A.C.B. liked these games as they encouraged grassroots cricket. They were less popular with the tourists as they involved travelling to distant grounds to play in front of small crowds. However, one or two of these games were useful at the beginning of the tour to allow the players to warm up and Bunbury was close enough to FremantleFremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
and Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
for hundreds to come and see the game. The Country teams could sometime surprise the oppsition and this one had three First Class cricketers. Hutton won the toss the MCC belted 344/5 in less than a day with Hutton (59), Edrich (129), Graveney (58) and Crowdrey (48 not out) entertaining the crowd. A declaration before stumps saw no Country wickets fall and 51 was added for the first wicket, but then Big Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play in the Lancashire League...
's off-spinners worked their way through the middle order as he took 5/30 after Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
(4/35) and Tyson (1/35) removed the openers and the home side were all out for 116. Put back in again they survived the day, and the match, at 128/6 with Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
's good natured leg-spin taking 4/35. Tyson ploughed up the sand on his long run up and could not bowl at full pace and was described by one reporter as a zephyr
Zephyr
Zephyr may refer to:* A light or west wind* Zephyrus, one of the Anemoi and the Greek god of the west wind* Zephyranthes, a plant genus whose species include the zephyr lily* Zephyr , a well-known graffiti artist from New York City...
rather than a typhoon.
Western Australia vs MCC
PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
was far removed from the other states and provided no Australian Test players in the series. It would not host a Test until 1970 and after these initial games the MCC would not return. Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
won the toss and put Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
in with immediate results on a fast, rain-freshed pitch as both openers went for ducks and Ken Meuleman
Ken Meuleman
Kenneth Douglas Meuleman was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1946....
retiring hurt after being hit on the head by Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
(6/23). Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
took 2/36, but the home team managed to recover from 7/3 and 57/7 to 103 all out thanks to captain Keith Carmody
Keith Carmody
Douglas Keith Carmody was an Australian first class cricketer who played during the 1940s and 1950s.He was Western Australia's captain when they won their first ever Sheffield Shield and is credited as being the inventor of the 'umbrella field'.Born in Mosman, Carmody started his career with New...
(25) and Meuleman (23) when he returned before both were removed by Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
(2/26). Hutton made more runs than this himself, making 145 out of 250/3 before he retired hurt with a pulled leg muscle, handing over the captaincy to Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
. Only Cowdrey made any runs afterwards as the MCC collapsed to 266/6 and 321 all out with Harry Gorringe (4/102) taking the wickets, but by the end of the day Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
were 32/3 and still 186 runs behind. Ken Meuleman
Ken Meuleman
Kenneth Douglas Meuleman was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1946....
(109) and Keith Carmody
Keith Carmody
Douglas Keith Carmody was an Australian first class cricketer who played during the 1940s and 1950s.He was Western Australia's captain when they won their first ever Sheffield Shield and is credited as being the inventor of the 'umbrella field'.Born in Mosman, Carmody started his career with New...
(75) led the fightback with a stand of 128, but after their demise the team collapsed to 197/8 and were out for 255. Statham (3/68) missed out on a ten wicket haul, but was still the best of the bowlers. The spinner Ronald Sarre (2/11) made things difficult, but the MCC made 40/3 for a seven wicket win with well over day to spare.
Western Australia Combined XI vs MCC
In the days when state matches were seen as a source of entertainment and revenue and not just practice for the Tests extra matches were improvised to generate money and to allow the selectors to see promising players in action, or to allow the crowd to see the international players. So a week after their defeat Western AustraliaWestern Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
was reinforced with the presence of Neil Harvey
Neil Harvey
Robert Neil Harvey MBE is a former Australian cricketer who represented the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement...
, Graeme Hole
Graeme Hole
Graeme Blake Hole was an Australian cricketer....
and Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (cricketer)
Ian William Geddes Johnson CBE was an Australian cricketer who played 45 Test matches as a slow off-break bowler between 1946 and 1956. Johnson captured 109 Test wickets at an average of 29.19 runs per wicket and as a lower order batsman made 1,000 runs at an average of...
. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
was the MCC captain as Hutton was still injured and won the toss. In keeping with the strategy of putting the opposition in against the England fast bowling attack the Combined XI were asked to bat and crashed to 86 all out. Only the opener Jack Rutherford (39) scored more than 9 and Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
topped the bowling figures with 3/21, Tyson (2/14), Bailey (2/16) and Wardle (2/11) all took cheap wickets, but Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
had the most dismissals with 4 catches and a stumping. Bill Edrich
Bill Edrich
William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket...
was bowled for a duck, Ian Johnson (3/44) took 2 more wickets in his first over and the MCC were 60/3 at stumps. The next day May made a superb 129 on a poor pitch, adding 179 with Jim Wilson
Jim Wilson
-Sports:* James B. Wilson , American football player and coach* Jim Wilson , American Major League Baseball player* Jim Wilson , American pitcher in Major League Baseball, 1945–1958...
(72), but the last 7 wickets fell for 90 runs and the tourists were out for 311. After facing a few balls in the evening the Combined XI fell again, but less spectacularly than in the first innings . No batsman made more than 38, but four made over twenty before they were spun out by Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
(4/34) and Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
(3/36). The MCC won by an innings and 62 runs and earned another rest day before they flew east.
South Australia vs MCC
South AustraliaSouthern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
were a tougher proposition and Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
, back as captain, decided to bat first on a pitch that looked full of runs (but wasn't). Bill Edrich
Bill Edrich
William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket...
was out for another duck and only Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
, flown in the day before after a knee operation in England, made any headway with 113. The rotund slow left arm bowler Jack Wilson
Jack Wilson (cricketer)
John William Wilson was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1956....
took 5/81 despite the wicket not turning and they were out for 246. South Australia
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
overtook this the next day regardless of 5/62 from Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
as Les Favell
Les Favell
Leslie Ernest Favell was an Australian cricketer who played in 19 Tests from 1954 to 1961. He was a strong batsman who liked to hit the ball around the ground and was a much loved character...
increased his hopes of Test selection with 84, adding 119 for the first wicket with David Harris (48). They reached the MCC total at 246/7 by the end of the day, but after the rest day only wicket-keeper Gil Langley
Gil Langley
Gilbert Roche Andrews "Gil" Langley was an Australian Test cricketer, champion Australian rules footballer and member of parliament, serving as Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly....
(38 not out) added any more runs as they fell to 254 all out, a lead of only 8. Batting again the MCC innings revolved around Hutton's steadfast 98 as they were out for 181, Jack Wilson (4/32) again the destroyer. Their innings ended at stumps and there was a crowd of 6,000 to see the local team beat the tourists. As in the first innings Les Favell
Les Favell
Leslie Ernest Favell was an Australian cricketer who played in 19 Tests from 1954 to 1961. He was a strong batsman who liked to hit the ball around the ground and was a much loved character...
(47) did well, but like the MCC innings only the first man in made any runs as South Australia
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
slipped from 95/2 to 152 all out thanks to Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
(5/46). The crowd did not appreciate the MCC's 21 run win and booed them off the ground.
Australian XI vs MCC
In Melbourne the tourists were to play an Australian XI made up Test hopefuls like Colin McDonald, Bobby SimpsonBob Simpson (cricketer)
Robert Baddeley Simpson AO is a former cricketer who played for New South Wales, Western Australia and Australia, captaining the national team from 1963–64 until 1967–68, and again in 1977–78. He later had a highly successful term as the coach of the Australian team...
, Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
, Jim de Courcy
Jim de Courcy
James Harry de Courcy was an Australian cricketer who played in three Tests on the 1953 Australian tour of England....
, Ray Harvey
Ray Harvey
Raymond Harvey is a former Australian first-class cricketer who played for Victoria in the 1940s and 1950s. He was the brother of Australian Test batsmen Merv and Neil, and first-class cricketer and umpire Mick Harvey...
along with veterans Neil Harvey
Neil Harvey
Robert Neil Harvey MBE is a former Australian cricketer who represented the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement...
, Bill Johnston
Bill Johnston (cricketer)
William Arras Johnston was an Australian cricketer who played in forty Test matches from 1947 to 1955. A left arm pace bowler, as well as a left arm orthodox spinner, Johnston was best known as a spearhead of Don Bradman's undefeated 1948 touring team, well known as "The Invincibles"...
, reserve wicket-keeper Len Maddocks
Len Maddocks
Leonard Victor Maddocks is a former Australian cricketer and cricket administrator who played in 7 Tests from 1954 to 1956...
and the new Australian captain Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (cricketer)
Ian William Geddes Johnson CBE was an Australian cricketer who played 45 Test matches as a slow off-break bowler between 1946 and 1956. Johnson captured 109 Test wickets at an average of 29.19 runs per wicket and as a lower order batsman made 1,000 runs at an average of...
. Vice-captain Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
led the MCC again, won the toss and decided to bat so that the batsmen could find their form before the First Test, but they did not. Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
top-scored with 74 and May made 45, but the team were out for 205 before the spinners Johnson (6/66) and Benaud (3/58) despite the wicket turning little. The Australian XI did little better ending the second day on 167/7, Ronald Briggs (48) and Benaud (47) the top scorers as Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
took 4/53 with his swing bowling. The third day was washed out, as was the fourth replacement day and the game ended in a draw.
New South Wales vs MCC
New South WalesNew South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
was the strongest state the MCC would meet on the tour, winning the Sheffield Shield 14 times in 16 seasons between 1948–49 and 1961–62 and nearly 60,000 people came to see the champions take on the touring team over the course of the four day match. New South Wales were led by the flamboyant Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
who won the toss and put the visitors in to bat, much to Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
's annoymence as he wanted to do the same. Again he had to rescue the innings, making 102 and only receiving support from the baby-faced Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
who had yet to make a century in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
, but made a sweetly timed 110 as they added 163 together. No other batsman exceeded 11 and the team was out for 252. Miller rotated his bowlers and the wickets were shared by Pat Crawford (3/51) whose drag
No ball
In the sport of cricket a no ball is a penalty against the fielding team, usually as a result of an illegal delivery by the bowler. The delivery of a no ball results in one run to be added to the batting team's score, and an additional ball must be bowled...
allowed him to bowl a yard down the wicket, Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson (cricketer)
Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm fast-medium opening bowler...
(3/41), bowling with a shoulder injury, and the Chinamen
Left-arm unorthodox spin
Left-arm unorthodox spin, or chinaman, is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket using the hand wrist. Left-arm unorthodox spin bowlers use a wrist hand action to spin the ball which turns from off to leg side of the cricket pitch...
of John Treanor (3-64). Young Billy Watson, playing in his second First Class match raced to 155 and with the help of his captain's 86 took New South Wales past the MCC score three wickets down. From there wickets fell steadily to Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
4/98 and Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
4/117, who was suffering from a rash, and they were all out for 382. To try out potential openers Hutton put Vic Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
and Cowdrey in first. Wilson was out for a duck, but Cowdrey made another hundred (103), but only Hutton himself (87), batting at number 6, gave him any help. The MCC were out for 327, Cowdrey and Hutton making 402 of the 577 runs scored, the other 9 batsmen making 117 in two innings. Even Miller saw that 198 for victory in 75 minutes was impossible and sent in his young players for batting practice and Cowdrey went for 38 runs off 3 overs doing bowling impressions of Ray Lindwall
Ray Lindwall
Raymond Russell Lindwall MBE was a cricketer who represented Australia in 61 Tests from 1946 to 1960. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He also played top-flight rugby league football with St...
, Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
and others, but Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
took 2/14 before the gamed ended with New South Wales on 78/2.
Queensland vs MCC
This was the last match before the First Test on the same ground and was played in stifling heat and humidity. Peter MayPeter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
captained again to give Hutton a rest. Ken Archer
Ken Archer
Kenneth Alan Archer is an Australian cricketer. An opening batsman, he played domestic first-class cricket for Queensland for 10 years, from 1946-7 to 1956-7. He played in 5 Tests for the Australian cricket team in 1950 and 1951...
, captain of Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
(the brother of the Australian all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
Ken Archer
Ken Archer
Kenneth Alan Archer is an Australian cricketer. An opening batsman, he played domestic first-class cricket for Queensland for 10 years, from 1946-7 to 1956-7. He played in 5 Tests for the Australian cricket team in 1950 and 1951...
) won the toss and put the MCC in to bat on a good wicket. Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
opened with 136, but again only two batsman did anything as Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
added 110 runs and everybody else 56. The tourists were 18/3 before the 234 run Simpson-Compton partnership and collapsed from 252/4 to 304 all out thereafter. Ray Lindwall
Ray Lindwall
Raymond Russell Lindwall MBE was a cricketer who represented Australia in 61 Tests from 1946 to 1960. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. He also played top-flight rugby league football with St...
took 4/66, but had to retire because of gastric trouble. Strangely every batsman in the Queensland team except the absent Lindwall got into double figures, but none of them made fifty and they were out for 288. Mick Harvey
Mick Harvey
Michael John Harvey , is an Australian rock musician, composer, arranger and record producer. He is best known for his long-time collaboration with the singer and songwriter Nick Cave...
made 49 and thrashed a ball into Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play in the Lancashire League...
's groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
, a painful injury that put the unlucky spinner out of contention for weeks. Alex Bedser still had his unexplained rash, but bowled 31 eight ball overs for 2/56 and Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
and Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
both took 3/74. The MCC made 288 as well in their second innings despite being 8/2 when the makeshift opener Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
and wicket-keeper Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
Keith Vincent Andrew was an English cricketer who played in two Tests, in 1954-55 and in 1963.-Life and career:...
batting at number 3 were out for ducks. Simpson made 38, but it was May (77), Compton (69) and Bailey (51 not out) who made the runs as no bowler took more than 2 wickets. There was no time to consider a run chase, but Simpson surprised everybody when his off-spinners took 2/5 to leave Queensland on 25/2.
First Test - Brisbane
See Main Article - 1954-55 Ashes seriesQueensland Country vs MCC
After the horrors of the Brisbane Test the MCC got to play another upcountry game played in a rodeo dustbowl. Hutton won the toss, batted and put on 112 with Bill EdrichBill Edrich
William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket...
(74), who seemed to have regained his form, before he was out for 40. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
made 69 and Jim Wilson
Jim Wilson
-Sports:* James B. Wilson , American football player and coach* Jim Wilson , American Major League Baseball player* Jim Wilson , American pitcher in Major League Baseball, 1945–1958...
61, but the last five wickets fell for 26 runs., from 291/5 to 317 all out, with the retired Queensland leg spinner Donald Watt
Donald Watt (cricketer)
Donald Watt was an Australian first-class cricketer who played for Queensland. He also represented his state in Australian rules football and rugby union....
taking 5/56 with help from fellow leggie Kenneth Jenkins (4/44). The innings had reduced the makeshift wicket to the consistency of a golf bunker and Hutton allowed it to be rebuilt for the next day. Opener Wilfred Brown top scored with 22 in the Country innings as they collapsed to 95 off 42.1 eight-ball overs with Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
(3/22), Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
(2/22), Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
(2/18) and Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
(2/8) sharing the wickets. Hutton put them straight back in again and this time they did better, Brown making 78 and adding 108 for the second wicket with Renald Sippel (45), but Appleyard (7/51) spun his way through the rest of the batting order with some help from Graveney (2/49). The home team agreed to play past stumps so that the MCC could dismiss them, and the tourists won by an innings and 12 runs. This received some criticism in the Australian press, who forgot that Hutton had sportingly allowed the wicket to be remade.
Prime Minister's XI vs MCC
The cricket loving Prime Minister of Australia Robert MenziesRobert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
invited the MCC to a reception on the evening before the match and the ex-Australian captain Lindsay Hassett
Lindsay Hassett
Arthur Lindsay Hassett MBE was a cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia. The diminutive Hassett was an elegant middle-order batsman, described by Wisden as, "... a master of nearly every stroke ... his superb timing, nimble footwork and strong wrists enabled him to make batting look a...
recited a ditty about facing "Typhoon" Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
.
They say that this bloke Tyson is fast!
Faster than LarwoodHarold LarwoodHarold Larwood was an English cricket player, an extremely accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous "bodyline" Ashes Test series of 1932–33....
so they say!
They also say that he takes a run-up of a hundred yards!
Fast - psshaw! I'm not scared of him and his long run.
Tomorrow when I bat, I'll hook him out of sight!
Bill Edrich
William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket...
, but both were out for 25/2, but Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
made 101 and added 98 with Vic Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
(29) and 76 with Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
(56). Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
scooped and swatted 37 not out and the MCC declared on 278/7 after 40 eight-ball overs. The match had a party atmosphere and Hassett gave 9 of his players a bowl, six of them took a wicket and himself 2/34 with his medium pacers. Tailender Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (cricketer)
Ian William Geddes Johnson CBE was an Australian cricketer who played 45 Test matches as a slow off-break bowler between 1946 and 1956. Johnson captured 109 Test wickets at an average of 29.19 runs per wicket and as a lower order batsman made 1,000 runs at an average of...
opened the Australian bowling and was out for 4, but his partner was the big hitting Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
who smashed the ball all over the ground in his 113 as the Prime Minister's XI made 247 off 30.3 overs at over a run a ball. One of his sixes was caught by the Governor General
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Sir William Slim and a businessman donated £35 and 10 shillings to local charities, 30 shillings for each six and 10 shillings for each four. Veteran batsman Sam Loxton
Sam Loxton
Samuel John Everett "Sam" Loxton OBE is a former Australian cricketer, footballer and politician. Among these three pursuits, his greatest achievements were attained on the cricket field; he played in 12 Tests for Australia from 1948 to 1951...
hit 47 and Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
38 as Bill Edrich
Bill Edrich
William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket...
's fast bowling cost him 40 runs off 5 overs, though he did take 2 wickets. Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
(4/73) produced a middle order collapse from 195/2 to 234/7 with Vic Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
helping him with three catches. When Hassett came in to bat Tyson was brought on and took an outrageously long run up before bowling a slow donkey drop
Lob bowling
In cricket, Lob bowling is a largely disused style of bowling. It became illegal under Law 24.1 to use underarm bowling without prior agreement before the match....
. He then bowled a real bouncer that hit Hassett on the hand before catching him off Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
's leg spin (3/15) for a 31 run victory.
Victoria vs MCC
The MCC continued south to play VictoriaVictorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
in Adelaide. Hutton won the toss and decided to bat with Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
as his opening partner. This made sense in that "Barnacle Bailey" was a negative stonewaller and unlikely to give his wicket away, but it robbed the lower order of its sheet-anchor. In 1958-59 Ashes series he would be the regular opener and was blamed for paralysing the England batting with his slow scoring, though this was hardly his fault. On this occasion he made 60 and put on 97 with Hutton (41) before both were removed by the veteran all-rounder Sam Loxton
Sam Loxton
Samuel John Everett "Sam" Loxton OBE is a former Australian cricketer, footballer and politician. Among these three pursuits, his greatest achievements were attained on the cricket field; he played in 12 Tests for Australia from 1948 to 1951...
(2/54). Nobody bettered his analysis though three others took 2 wickets, but Len Maddocks
Len Maddocks
Leonard Victor Maddocks is a former Australian cricketer and cricket administrator who played in 7 Tests from 1954 to 1956...
took three catches and ran out Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
for 79. Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
made 48 as the MCC were out for 312 on the rain affected second day. Taking advice from his old coach Alf Gover
Alf Gover
Alfred Richard Gover MBE was an English Test cricketer. He was the mainstay of the Surrey bowling attack during the 1930s and played four Tests before and after the Second World War...
, who was in Australia as a journalist covering the series, Tyson stopped using his laborious 38 yard run up and returned to the "short" 18 yard run up he had used for Knypersley in the Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
League with ten short then ten long final strides. Tyson took 6/68 in three over bursts when Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
replied with 277, five of them clean bowled. It would have been 8/68, but Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
dropped John Chambers (42) because he was singing a Bing Cosby song and Sam Loxton
Sam Loxton
Samuel John Everett "Sam" Loxton OBE is a former Australian cricketer, footballer and politician. Among these three pursuits, his greatest achievements were attained on the cricket field; he played in 12 Tests for Australia from 1948 to 1951...
feathered a thin edge to Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
, but was given not out. Neil Harvey
Neil Harvey
Robert Neil Harvey MBE is a former Australian cricketer who represented the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement...
had failed in every game against the tourists so far, except in the Test, and was playing and missing constantly on his way to 59. A construction worker on the ground shouted "Typhoon! Bowl 'im down a piano! P'rhaps 'e can play that!". The Hutton-Bailey partnership added only 26, but Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
made a sterling 105 not out and added 120 with Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
(54) and the innings was declared on 236/5 after the third day was lost. Just as important the Victoria and Australia captain Ian Johnson
Ian Johnson (cricketer)
Ian William Geddes Johnson CBE was an Australian cricketer who played 45 Test matches as a slow off-break bowler between 1946 and 1956. Johnson captured 109 Test wickets at an average of 29.19 runs per wicket and as a lower order batsman made 1,000 runs at an average of...
pulled a muscle while fielding and missed the Second Test as a result. Loxton took 2/67 and Maddocks and took two more catches to strengthen his claims for the Australian gloves. Victoria batted out the game for 88/3, but Colin McDonald retired hurt on before scoring a run due to an undisclosed ailment.
Second Test - Sydney
See Main Article - 1954-55 Ashes seriesNorthern New South Wales vs MCC
The MCC played the Northern Districts of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in a three day match which did not count as First Class even though the team was as strong as some state sides. Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
, Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
and Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
took a rest after the exhausting Second Test and Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
led the side. The Northern Districts batted first and Ron Harvey made 41 to take the score to 85/4. Robert MacDonald (63) batted through the lower order, but they collapsed to Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
's lethal mix of Slow Left Arm
Left-arm orthodox spin
Left-arm orthodox spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket.Left-arm orthodox spin is bowled by a left arm bowler using the fingers to spin the ball from right to left of the cricket pitch...
, Chinamen
Left-arm unorthodox spin
Left-arm unorthodox spin, or chinaman, is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket using the hand wrist. Left-arm unorthodox spin bowlers use a wrist hand action to spin the ball which turns from off to leg side of the cricket pitch...
and reverse googlies
Googly
In cricket, a googly is a type of delivery bowled by a right-arm leg spin bowler. It is occasionally referred to as a Bosie , an eponym in honour of its inventor Bernard Bosanquet.- Explanation :...
as he took 6/36 and the home side fell from 192/5 to 211 all out. The MCC batted to 438, their highest score of the tour so far with Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play in the Lancashire League...
, having recovered from his injury, made 43 as an opener, Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
60, Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
a majestic 157 and wicket-keeper Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
69. batting again the home team did better with 246 with seven batsmen getting to double figures, but the medium paced off-spin of Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
(5/59) took their toll with the in-swingers and leg-cutters of Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
(3/49) helping out. The MCC made the 20 runs needed to win for the loss of makeshift opener Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
and won by 9 wickets.
Third Test - Melbourne
See Main Article - 1954-55 Ashes seriesTasmania Combined XI vs MCC
Some of the oldest grade clubs in Australia are in TasmaniaTasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
, but it was a weak state side that did not fully complete in the Sheffield Shield for another twenty years. Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
, Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson (cricketer)
Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm fast-medium opening bowler...
, Les Favell
Les Favell
Leslie Ernest Favell was an Australian cricketer who played in 19 Tests from 1954 to 1961. He was a strong batsman who liked to hit the ball around the ground and was a much loved character...
and Neil Harvey
Neil Harvey
Robert Neil Harvey MBE is a former Australian cricketer who represented the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement...
were flown out to help the Tasmanian team in another Combined XI. Thanks to the Third Test a record 20,000 spectators turned out on the small Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
ground to watch. The Tasmanian
Tasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
captain Emerson Rodwell
Emerson Rodwell
Edwin Emerson Rodwell MM was an Australian soldier, cricket player, umpire, commentator and administrator. He fought in World War II, in New Guinea, and Borneo, and was awarded the Military Medal...
won the toss and batted only to see Favell out for a duck, thanks to Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
(3/56) as the ball swung heavily. Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
(4/81) took two more wickets and Benaud was caught of "Big Al"
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
to leave them 72/4, but Harvey (82) and Rodwell (72) added 60 before Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
(3/29) reduced 132/4 to 146/7. Rodwell added another 54 runs with Terence Cowley (12) before Bailey caught him off Bedser, Loader took the last two wickets and the Combined XI were out for 221. This looked good as the tourists now fell to the swing bowling of Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson (cricketer)
Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm fast-medium opening bowler...
(4/45) as they collapsed to 167/7 with Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
making 46. Bailey stuck around for 53 and stand in keeper Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
Keith Vincent Andrew was an English cricketer who played in two Tests, in 1954-55 and in 1963.-Life and career:...
took the score up to 242 with 19 from Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
. The Combined XI batted again, but waited until they were 184/6 before Rodwell declared, with Neil Harvey
Neil Harvey
Robert Neil Harvey MBE is a former Australian cricketer who represented the Australian cricket team between 1948 and 1963, playing in 79 Test matches. He was the vice-captain of the team from 1957 until his retirement...
47 and Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
68 not out. The unlucky Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon
Jim McConnon was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play in the Lancashire League...
broke his little finger when fielding a powerful Harvey on-drive, as it would take until the end of the tour to mend he was sent home when they reached the mainland. The MCC had an hour and forty minutes to make 164 for victory so Hutton sent Keith Andrew
Keith Andrew
Keith Vincent Andrew was an English cricketer who played in two Tests, in 1954-55 and in 1963.-Life and career:...
to open, but he was soon out and Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
(37 not out) and Vic Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
(33 not out) together at the end on 99/2.
Tasmania vs MCC
Bereft of its Australian players TasmaniaTasmanian Tigers
The Tasmanian cricket team, nicknamed the Tigers, represents the Australian state of Tasmania in cricket tournaments. They compete annually in the Australian domestic senior men's cricket season, which currently consists of the first-class Sheffield Shield, the limited overs Ford Ranger Cup, and...
suffered in the state match against the tourists, but still 12,000 came to see the game at Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
. Hutton, who was lucky with the toss in Australia, won again and chose this time to bat and made 61, but the star of the day was the stylish Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
with 134. They added 127 for the second wicket, then Graveney put on 105 with Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
(50) for the third. There was a small collapse from 243/2 to 281/6, but Vic Wilson (cricketer)
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
(62 not out) and Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
entertained with 111 for the sixth wicket and Hutton declared at 427/7 on the second morning, Noel Diprose the best of the bowlers with 4/107. The Tasmanians had no answer to the in-swing and off-cutters of Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
who took 6/22 off 12 eight-ball overs and were out for 117, captain Emerson Rodwell
Emerson Rodwell
Edwin Emerson Rodwell MM was an Australian soldier, cricket player, umpire, commentator and administrator. He fought in World War II, in New Guinea, and Borneo, and was awarded the Military Medal...
had to retire hurt on 2, but returned to be bowled by Loader for 11. Hutton, 310 runs ahead elected to bat again, perhaps to entertain the Saturday crowd the next day and sent in nightwatchmen
Nightwatchman (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a nightwatchman is a lower-order batsman who comes in to bat higher up the order than usual near the end of the day's play...
Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
to open with Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
. Simpson failed again, ending his chances of playing in the Tests and Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
joined Tyson. The MCC scratched round the next day for 133/6 declared, Tyson's 27 was the top score and Terence Cowley took 4/53. Tasmania had no chance of making 444 runs to win and Hutton took the chance to exercise his bowlers. Mike Hyland (49) and added 60 with John Maddox (62 not out), who made his highest First Class score, but was left standing as the rest fell away and Tasmania were out for 200 for a 243 run win.
South Australia Country vs MCC
The touring team's run of form since the Second Test continued with a big win over a South Australian Country XI. Vice-captain May captained the MCC, who batted again for 328. All the middle order made runs; Reg SimpsonReg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
68, Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
62, Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
44 and Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
53, though Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
was caught leg before
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
by G. Gross (3/31) for a duck. After a second wicket stand of 44 the Country XI toppled to 106 all out to the accurate Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
2/16 and the medium pace off-spinners and off-cutters of the "Applecart"
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
(6/26). Following on they did even worse as Alex Bedser (3/11) removed the first three batsmen for three runs, but Brian Statham's dictum of "if they miss, I hit" was never more proved as he clean bowled six batsmen in a row, the last five for ducks in his extraordinary analysis of 4-3-3-6. The opener H.G. Bennett carried his bat for 14 not out and added none of the 14 runs for the last wicket as last man Gross made them all before being caught leg before wicket
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
by Bailey. With the Country XI out for 45 the MCC won by an innings and 177 runs.
South Australia vs MCC
After sailing back to AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
the MCC were to play South Australia
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
in the run up the Adelaide Test. Their captain "Pancho" Ridings
Phil Ridings
Phil Lovett Ridings was an Australian cricketer.Ridings made 107 first-class appearances for South Australia, scoring 9 hundreds. Primarily a batsman, he also took 61 first-class wickets with his fast-medium pace bowling...
won the toss and batted on a belter of a wicket, but was let down badly by his team as they were rolled over for 185 on the first day as all the England bowlers took wickets. Only Ridings himself (40) and wicket-keeper Gil Langley
Gil Langley
Gilbert Roche Andrews "Gil" Langley was an Australian Test cricketer, champion Australian rules footballer and member of parliament, serving as Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly....
(53) made any resistance. With Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
in charge Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
, Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
, Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
, Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
, Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
went to the races at Cheltenham Park Racecourse
Cheltenham Park Racecourse
Cheltenham Park Racecourse was a horse racing track located in the suburb of Cheltenham in Adelaide, South Australia. It is situated north-west of the centre of the city and approximately five kilometres from Port Adelaide...
and Tyson won £50 (his tour fee was £600). When he returned he regretted it as Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
had made a century of genius, 182 gold-stroked runs as he added 234 with May (114). Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
added 64 and Donald Gregg took 4/117 as the MCC batted into the third day to make 451, their best score of the entire tour. South Australia began their second innings 266 runs behind and collapsed again, only Ridings (40 not out) giving any resistance to Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
(4/32) and Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
(3/20), the two bowlers fighting for a Test place. The MCC won by a crushing margin of an innings and 143 runs, the perfect result for the vital Fourth Test.
Fourth Test - Adelaide
See Main Article - 1954-55 Ashes seriesVictoria Country vs MCC
After winning The AshesThe Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
the MCC went to their final Country match in a jovial mood. Only three regular bowlers were taken, Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
, Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
and Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
, both wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
s and the manager Geoffrey Howard. The Country XI won the toss, batted and were out for 182 with one W. Young making 52 as Loader (4/29) and Wardle (5/46) were far too good for the bulk of the local batsmen. Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
(75) and Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
(59) were 130/0 at the end of the day and Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
made 50 in the morning and Hutton was impressed with Rex Hollioake (2/69), the fast bowler from Ballarat, who he thought was quicker than any Australian outside the Tests. Vic Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
, Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
and Wardle all made 17, and Hutton declared with Howard unbeaten on 0 at 307/8. The Country team were completely unable to read Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
's highly varied off-breaks, leg-breaks and reverse-googlies and he finished with 7/45 (12/91 in the match), though R. Milne came in a number 4 and finished 22 not out in a score of 99. The MCC won by an innings and 26 runs.
Victoria vs MCC
The return tour match against VictoriaVictorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
was almost entirely washed out, except for the second day. Sam Loxton
Sam Loxton
Samuel John Everett "Sam" Loxton OBE is a former Australian cricketer, footballer and politician. Among these three pursuits, his greatest achievements were attained on the cricket field; he played in 12 Tests for Australia from 1948 to 1951...
won the toss and batted on a pitch that had sweated under the covers and Victoria promptly crashed to 39/6. Brian Statham
Brian Statham
John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast...
(3/23) took the first three wickets, followed by Trevor Bailey
Trevor Bailey
Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting...
(3/22) with the second three. Loxton (27) and Allan Dick (41) made a rescue attempt with a stand of 53, until Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
(3/14) took the next three wickets and Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
(1/14) finished off the innings for 113. Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
and captain Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
both made 33 not out in 99/1 in reply and the match was given up as the rain returned.
New South Wales vs MCC
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
captain Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
won the toss and the Sheffield Shield champions elected to bat, but collapsed spectacularly to 3/3 as Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
(5/57) returned to form, removing both openers for ducks and having Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
caught by Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
for one. Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
at slip caught the 18 year old Bobby Simpson
Bobby Simpson
Roberta "Bobby" Marshall is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Nicolle Dickson. She was introduced in the pilot episode by executive producer Alan Bateman. Nearly four hundred actresses auditioned to play Bobby, with Dickson taking the role...
off Frank Tyson
Frank Tyson
Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in...
for 6 and Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
off Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
for 11 and New South Wales were 25/6. The 20 old Peter Philpott
Peter Philpott
Peter Ian Philpott was a leg-spin bowler and middle order batsman for New South Wales and Australia in the 1960s. He made his debut in the West Indies in 1964-65 and took 18 wickets...
(46) and 21 year old "Sam" Booth
Brian Booth
Brian Charles Booth is a former Australian cricketer who played in 29 Tests from 1961 to 1966. He captained Australia for two Tests during the 1965–66 Ashes series while regular captain Bob Simpson was absent due to illness and injury. Booth was a graceful right-handed middle order batsman...
(74 not out) rescued the innings with a stand of 83, but Bedser returned to dismiss Philpot and Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson (cricketer)
Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm fast-medium opening bowler...
, Graveney's third catch. Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
had wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
Ossie Lambert caught by Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
and Vic Wilson
Vic Wilson (cricketer)
John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England....
(2/1) came in at the end and took two wickets for one run off nine balls, Graveney taking his fourth catch to end the inninngs on 172 when John Treanor went for a duck. Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
bowled Wilson for a duck and Pat Crawford
Pat Crawford
William Patrick Anthony Crawford was an Australian cricketer who played in four Tests, including one in England at Lord's in 1956 and three in India in 1956–57...
got Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
for 3 and the MCC ended the day on 4/2. They did not immediately improve their situation in the morning as Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson (cricketer)
Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE is a former Australian cricketer of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an all rounder: a hard-hitting lower-order left-handed batsman, and an outstanding left-arm fast-medium opening bowler...
(4/25) dismissed nightwatchman
Nightwatchman (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a nightwatchman is a lower-order batsman who comes in to bat higher up the order than usual near the end of the day's play...
Peter Loader
Peter Loader
Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36...
for a duck after he had been hit hard on the thigh by Miller, Reg Simpson
Reg Simpson
Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:...
for 6 and Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
for 12, and the MCC were 35/5. Tom Graveney
Tom Graveney
Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
(35) and Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
(48) rescued the innings with a stand of 59, Hutton ironically batting at number 7 to give himself a rest, Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
made a perky 40, Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
slashed his way to 19, but Tyson was run out by Ronald Briggs for 3 and the innings closed on 172, the scores even. Briggs was bowled by Tyson for a duck (and a pair), but Test hopefuls Jim Burke
Jim Burke (cricketer)
James Wallace Burke was an Australian cricketer who played in 24 Tests from 1951 to 1959.- Early years :...
(98) and Bobby Simpson
Bob Simpson (cricketer)
Robert Baddeley Simpson AO is a former cricketer who played for New South Wales, Western Australia and Australia, captaining the national team from 1963–64 until 1967–68, and again in 1977–78. He later had a highly successful term as the coach of the Australian team...
(62) saw out the day and added 159 for the second wicket, the injured Loader unable to bowl. When it rained the umpires refused to stop play and Hutton led his men off, leaving Simpson waiting at the crease on 98. When play resumed the angry Simpson was fooled by a Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
left-arm reverse-googly
Googly
In cricket, a googly is a type of delivery bowled by a right-arm leg spin bowler. It is occasionally referred to as a Bosie , an eponym in honour of its inventor Bernard Bosanquet.- Explanation :...
and stumped. Graveney took his fifth catch off Wardle (5/118) to dispose of Burke and Davidson was caught by Cowdrey for a duck to leave New South Wales 196/4. Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
(59) and Miller (71) added 64, smashing "Farmer Jim" Wilson for 42 runs off 4 eight ball overs before Benaud was stumped off Wardle. Bedser (2/87) dismissed both Miller and Booth and Miller declared half an hour from stumps on 314/8. The MCC needed 315 to win in just over a day, but Hutton tried to have another "rest" by batting at number 5 and Simpson (24) and Graveney (28) opened the innings. They were 26/0 at the end of the day and took the score to 36/1 in the morning, when they both fell to Benaud (2/62). Wilson was bowled by Davidson (2/43) for 4 and the tourists were in trouble at 68/3. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
(42), Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
(59), Crowdrey (33) and Evans (39) kept the runs coming even though wickets fell at regular intervals. At 250/6 needed only 65 more runs, but leg-spinner John Treanor (3/39) cleaned up the tail as they slumped from 261/7 to 269 all out and New South Wales won a thrilling 45 run victory, the only defeat the tourists suffered except for the First Test. It was a stunning vindication of Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
's inspirational captaincy, but it was too late for The Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
and he never became the captain of Australia.
Fifth Test - Sydney
See Main Article - 1954-55 Ashes seriesTour First Class Averages
source As was the convention of the time gentleman amateurs have their initials in front of their surname and professional players have their initials after their name, if their initials were used at all.| Tour Batting Averages | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | County | Batting Position | Matches | Innings | Not Out | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s | 50s | Ct Caught Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. Being caught out is the most common method of dismissal at higher levels of competition... | St |
| Compton, D.C.S. Denis Compton Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer... |
Middlesex Middlesex County Cricket Club Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the... |
Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
11 | 16 | 2 | 799 | 182 | 57.07 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Hutton, L. Len Hutton Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket... (c) Captain (cricket) The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Right-Hand Opening Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
12 | 21 | 2 | 959 | 145* Not out In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress... |
50.47 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| P.B.H. May Peter May -External links:* * at Cricket Archive*... (vc) Captain (cricket) The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player... |
Surrey Surrey County Cricket Club Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions... |
Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
14 | 23 | 3 | 931 | 129 | 46.55 | 4 | 3 | 13 | |
| M.C. Cowdrey Colin Cowdrey Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976... |
Kent Kent County Cricket Club Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent... |
Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
13 | 24 | 890 | 110 | 37.08 | 3 | 5 | 11 | ||
| Graveney, T.W. Tom Graveney Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School... |
Gloucestershire Gloucestershire County Cricket Club Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators.... |
Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
11 | 15 | 1 | 519 | 134 | 37.07 | 2 | 15 | ||
| T.E. Bailey Trevor Bailey Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting... |
Essex Essex County Cricket Club Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games... |
Right-Hand Middle Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
12 | 17 | 2 | 508 | 88 | 33.86 | 5 | 5 | ||
| R.T. Simpson Reg Simpson Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:... |
Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws... |
Right-Hand Opening Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
12 | 21 | 2 | 518 | 136 | 27.26 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Wilson, J.V. Jim Wilson -Sports:* James B. Wilson , American football player and coach* Jim Wilson , American Major League Baseball player* Jim Wilson , American pitcher in Major League Baseball, 1945–1958... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Left-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
9 | 15 | 2 | 271 | 72 | 20.84 | 2 | 9 | ||
| Wardle, J.H. Johnny Wardle Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I.... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Left-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
14 | 18 | 2 | 291 | 72 | 18.18 | 2 | 9 | ||
| Evans, T.G. Godfrey Evans Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches... (wk) Wicket-keeper The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike... |
Kent Kent County Cricket Club Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent... |
Right-Hand Middle Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
10 | 16 | 2 | 243 | 40 | 17.35 | 30 | 4 | ||
| W.J. Edrich Bill Edrich William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket... |
Middlesex Middlesex County Cricket Club Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the... |
Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
10 | 16 | 2 | 274 | 88 | 17.12 | 1 | 5 | ||
| McConnon, J.E. Jim McConnon Jim McConnon was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play in the Lancashire League... |
Glamorgan Glamorgan County Cricket Club Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County... |
Right-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
5 | 7 | 2 | 85 | 22 | 14.16 | 2 | |||
| Appleyard, R. Bob Appleyard Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Right-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
10 | 13 | 7 | 74 | 19* Not out In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress... |
12.33 | 8 | |||
| Statham, J.B. Brian Statham John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast... |
Lancashire Lancashire County Cricket Club Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then... |
Left-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
10 | 12 | 4 | 98 | 25 | 12.25 | 4 | |||
| Tyso, F.H. Frank Tyson Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in... |
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the... |
Right-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
11 | 17 | 2 | 181 | 37* Not out In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress... |
12.06 | 3 | |||
| Bedser, A.V. Alec Bedser Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club... |
Surrey Surrey County Cricket Club Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions... |
Right-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
7 | 11 | 2 | 85 | 30 | 9.44 | 3 | |||
| Andrew, K.V. Keith Andrew Keith Vincent Andrew was an English cricketer who played in two Tests, in 1954-55 and in 1963.-Life and career:... (wk) Wicket-keeper The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike... |
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the... |
Right-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
7 | 9 | 2 | 63 | 28* Not out In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress... |
9.00 | 13 | 1 | ||
| Loader, P.J. Peter Loader Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36... |
Surrey Surrey County Cricket Club Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions... |
Right-Hand Lower Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
9 | 10 | 1 | 70 | 22 | 7.77 |
| Tour Bowling Averages | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | County | Bowling Type | 8 Ball Overs | 8 Ball Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | 5 Wt Wicket In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch... | 10 Wt |
| Hutton, L. Len Hutton Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket... (c) Captain (cricket) The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Leg Spin Bowler Wrist spin Wrist spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the cricket technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball... |
0.6 | 2 | 1 | 1/2 | 2.00 | |||
| R.T. Simpson Reg Simpson Reginald Thomas Simpson is an English former cricketer, who played in twentry seven Tests from 1948 to 1955.-Life and career:... |
Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws... |
Off Spin Bowler Finger spin Finger spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the cricket technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball. The other spinning technique, generally used to spin the ball in the opposite direction, is wrist spin... |
3.4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2/5 | 2.50 | ||
| Tyson, F.H. Frank Tyson Frank Holmes Tyson is an England cricketer of the 1950s who became a journalist and cricket commentator after he emigrated to Australia in 1960. Nicknamed "Typhoon Tyson" by the press he was regarded by many commentators as one of the fastest bowlers ever seen in cricket and took 76 wickets in... |
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the... |
Right-Arm Fast Bowler Fast bowling Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling... |
296 | 44 | 1002 | 51 | 7/27 | 19.64 | 4 | 1 |
| Appleyard, R. Bob Appleyard Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Off Spin Bowler Finger spin Finger spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the cricket technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball. The other spinning technique, generally used to spin the ball in the opposite direction, is wrist spin... |
187.1 | 50 | 519 | 26 | 5/46 | 19.96 | 1 | |
| Statham, J.B. Brian Statham John Brian "George" Statham, CBE was one of the leading English fast bowlers in 20th-century English cricket. Initially a bowler of a brisk fast-medium pace, Statham was able to remodel his action to generate enough speed to become genuinely fast... |
Lancashire Lancashire County Cricket Club Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then... |
Right-Arm Fast-Medium Bowler Fast bowling Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling... |
244.4 | 40 | 778 | 38 | 6/23 | 20.47 | 2 | |
| T.E. Bailey Trevor Bailey Trevor Edward Bailey CBE was an England Test cricketer, cricket writer and broadcaster.An all-rounder, Bailey was known for his skilful but unspectacular batting... |
Essex Essex County Cricket Club Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games... |
Right-Arm Fast-Medium Bowler Fast bowling Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling... |
201.1 | 32 | 689 | 33 | 4/53 | 20.87 | ||
| Loader, P.J. Peter Loader Peter James Loader was an English cricketer and umpire, who played thirteen Test matches for England. He played for Surrey and Beddington Cricket Club. A whippet-thin fast bowler with a wide range of pace and a nasty bouncer, he took the first post-war Test hat-trick as part of his 6 for 36... |
Surrey Surrey County Cricket Club Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions... |
Right-Arm Fast-Medium Bowler Fast bowling Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling... |
204.21 | 30 | 721 | 34 | 6/22 | 21.20 | 1 | |
| Wardle, J.H. Johnny Wardle Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I.... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Slow Left Arm Bowler Chinaman Bowler |
269.7 | 60 | 832 | 37 | 5/79 | 22.48 | 2 | |
| J.V. Wilson Vic Wilson (cricketer) John Victor "Vic" Wilson was an English first-class cricketer, who played for and captained Yorkshire. He was born in Scampston, Malton, Yorkshire, England.... |
Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure.... |
Right-Arm Medium Bowler Fast bowling Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling... |
19.1 | 1 | 90 | 4 | 2/1 | 22.50 | ||
| Bedser, A.V. Alec Bedser Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club... |
Surrey Surrey County Cricket Club Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions... |
Right-Arm Medium-Fast Bowler Fast bowling Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling... |
207.7 | 33 | 659 | 24 | 5/57 | 27.45 | 1 | |
| McConnon, J.E. Jim McConnon Jim McConnon was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play in the Lancashire League... |
Glamorgan Glamorgan County Cricket Club Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County... |
Off Spin Bowler Finger spin Finger spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the cricket technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball. The other spinning technique, generally used to spin the ball in the opposite direction, is wrist spin... |
75.1 | 18 | 267 | 8 | 2/37 | 27.45 | 1 | |
| Graveney, T.W. Tom Graveney Thomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School... |
Gloucestershire Gloucestershire County Cricket Club Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators.... |
Leg Spin Bowler Wrist spin Wrist spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the cricket technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball... |
6 | 34 | 1 | 1/34 | 33.37 | |||
| Compton, D.C.S. Denis Compton Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer... |
Middlesex Middlesex County Cricket Club Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the... |
Slow Left Arm Bowler Chinaman Bowler |
16 | 2 | 101 | 2 | 1/21 | 50.50 | ||
| M.C. Cowdrey Colin Cowdrey Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976... |
Kent Kent County Cricket Club Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent... |
Leg Spin Bowler Wrist spin Wrist spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket. It refers to the cricket technique and specific hand movements associated with imparting a particular direction of spin to the cricket ball... |
7 | 63 | 1 | 1/25 | 63.00 | |||
| W.J. Edrich Bill Edrich William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket... |
Middlesex Middlesex County Cricket Club Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the... |
Right-Arm Fast-Medium Bowler Fast bowling Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling... |
3 | 53 | 0/25 |
Further reading
- John ArlottJohn ArlottLeslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
, Australian Test Journal. A Diary of the Test Matches Australia v. England 1954-55, The Sportsman's Book Club, 1956 - John ArlottJohn ArlottLeslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
, John Arlott's 100 Greatest Batsmen, MacDonald Queen Anne Press, 1986 - Sidney Barnes, The Ashes Ablaze: The M. C. C. Australian tour,1954-55, Kimber, 1955
- Bill FrindallBill FrindallWilliam Howard Frindall, MBE was an English cricket scorer and statistician. He was familiar to cricket followers from his appearances on the BBC Radio 4 programme Test Match Special, nicknamed the Bearded Wonder by Brian Johnston for his ability to research the most obscure cricketing facts in...
, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877-1978, Wisden, 1979 - Arthur GilliganArthur GilliganArthur Edward Robert Gilligan was an English cricketer who played for Cambridge University, Sussex, Surrey and England....
, The Urn Returns: A Diary of the 1954-55 M. C. C. Tour of Australia, Deutsch, 1955 - Tom GraveneyTom GraveneyThomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
and Norman Miller, The Ten Greatest Test Teams Sidgewick and Jackson, 1988 - Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993
- Alan Hill, Daring Young Men: MCC Tour to Australia - 1954-55, Methuen Publishing Ltd, 2004
- Ken Kelly and David Lemmon, Cricket Reflections : Five Decades of Cricket Photographs, Heinemann, 1985
- Keith MillerKeith MillerKeith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
, Cricket Crossfire, Oldbourne Press, 1956 - Ian PeeblesIan PeeblesIan Alexander Ross Peebles was a cricketer who played for Oxford University, Middlesex, Scotland and England. After retiring from cricket he became a cricket writer, working as a journalist on The Sunday Times and as the author of many books on cricket.Peebles had one of the strangest...
, The Ashes 1954-55, Hodder and Stoughton, 1955 - Playfair Cricket AnnualPlayfair Cricket AnnualPlayfair Cricket Annual is a compact annual about cricket that is published in the United Kingdom each April, just before the English cricket season is due to begin. Its main purposes are to review the previous English season and to provide detailed career records and potted biographies of current...
1955 - Ray RobinsonRay Robinson (cricket writer)Raymond John Robinson was an Australian journalist and author, best known for his writings on the sport of cricket. Born in Melbourne, Robinson attended Brighton State school and joined the Melbourne's The Herald as a copyboy. Given a cadetship with the paper, he reported on Australian football...
, On Top Down Under, Cassell, 1975 - Alan RossAlan RossAlan John Ross, , was a British poet, writer and editor. He was born in Calcutta, India, where he spent the first seven years of his life...
, Australia 55: A Journal of the MCC Tour, Joseph, 1955 - E.W. Swanton and C.B. Fry, Test Matches of 1954/55 Victory in Australia, The Daily Telegraph, 1955
- E.W. Swanton (ed), Barclay's World of Cricket, Willow, 1986
- Roy Webber, The Australians in England, A Record of the 21 Australian Cricket Tours of England 1878-1953, Hodder & Stoughton, 1953
- Crawford White, England Keep the Ashes: The Record of the England and M. C. C. Tour of Australia, 1954-55, News Chronicle, 1955
- Wisden Cricketers' AlmanackWisden Cricketers' AlmanackWisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
1956, "MCC in Australia and New Zealand, 1954-55"