MCC tour of Australia in 1958–59
Encyclopedia
The Marylebone Cricket Club
tour of Australia in 1958-59 under the captaincy of Peter May
was its eleventh since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907-1908. The touring team
played as England in the 1958-59 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games. In all there were 20 matches; 5 Test matches
(which they lost 4-0), 12 other First Class matches
(which they won 4-0) and 3 minor matches (which they won 3-0). It was billed as the strongest MCC team ever to tour Australia and dominated the early matches, and its heavy defeat in the Test series came was seen as one of the great upsets in cricket.
team arrived on the Iberia in Fremantle
on 13 October and after a rest day found their three days practice severely reduced due to heavy rain.
Unlike previous (and subsequent) tours they did not face a match against a local Country XI, but went straight into a First Class game against Western Australia
. Bush
games were unpopular with the touring sides, although the Australian Board of Control saw them as a good advertisement for cricket and to be fair they were good practice. The home captain Ken Meuleman
won the toss and put the tourists in on a fast wicket, covered with grass and freshened by the rain, though it proved less problematic than it looked. The batting was dominated by Tom Graveney
, who had made 111 in his last innings in Australia and now hit 177 not out. He carefully played himself in on the first day, but struck the ball in fine form on the second. Only Peter May
kept him company for long, cracking his first ball through the covers for four and nearly decapitating a spectator with a six into the member's enclosure. They added 91 for the third wicket and Graveney and Colin Cowdrey
(28) 97 for the fourth. Jack Rutherford was brought on as seventh bowler and took 3/12 with his leg-spin to wrap up the innings as England collapsed from 345/7 to 351 all out. Graveney struck again in the Western Australian innings, catching Rutherford off the first ball from Fred Trueman
(3/42). While he luck was in he visited the Gloucester Park
Trotting Meeting
that evening and was not disappointed. With Peter Loader
(3/40), Frank Tyson
(2/59) and Tony Lock
(2/46) all chipping in with wickets the hosts were out for 221 on the third morning, Bobby Simpson
making 60 despite a bad start and Meuleman 42. In their second innings the MCC again had trouble with Keith Slater
who took 4/33 - his best bowling in First Class cricket - and they collapsed to 44/4, with May out for a duck, despite bowling with a bent arm no complaint was made. Cowdrey (65 not out) and Trevor Bailey
(34 not out) made an unbeaten stand of 102 and May declared on 146/4, 276 runs ahead. In a three day game there was little chance of a win as the state players tried to impress the selectors with a responsible innings and the tourists could not afford a demoralising loss. Jack Rutherford was left unbeaten on 77 and Lock took 2/26, conceding only 72 runs off his 42 eight-ball overs in the match, leaving Western Australia on 124/3. After the complaints about Len Hutton
's time wasting on the previous tour May was determined to keep the overs ticking over and succeeded in doing so.
Until the 1970s it was the practice to strengthen state sides with Test cricketers so that the Australian selectors could see them play and to provide more games for the tourists. Colin McDonald of Victoria
, Norm O'Neill
of New South Wales
, Ken Mackay
of Queensland
were flown over and such was O'Neill's popularity that a record 17,921 people came to watch him bat on the second day, the biggest crowd at the WACA
since 1932. Keith Miller
wrote "Not since the days of Bradman had one player so absorbed the limelight
". Willie Watson
was having knee surgery, Frank Tyson
had lumbago and Roy Swetman
, Tom Graveney
and Tony Lock
were dropped so that the other 11 players could have a game. The MCC won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that had been dried out by a week's sunshine since their last game. Peter Richardson
and Arthur Milton
were out playing strokes, unused to the pace and bounce of Australian wickets, Raman Subba Row
was unlucky and the tourists were soon 33/3. As many times before it was up to captain Peter May
and vice-captain Colin Cowdrey
to set things right after a shaky start and they had added 134 runs when May pulled a knee ligament and retired hurt on 68. Cowdrey played carefully for 78 and when Trevor Bailey
was yorked
by Raymond Strauss (5/99) May returned, using Bailey as a runner. He added 92 with Evans (55) and completed made 113 when they both got themselves out to allow the tail wag its way to 349. With May and Bailey unwell Cowdrey brought Jim Laker
(2/55) in to float the ball into a strong wind once Brian Statham
(2/35) finished his opening spell. O'Neill came in after the first wicket and batted wonderfully, hitting Milton for 23 off an over and making 104 on the Monday morning despite Ken Mackay
making him wait for an hour by taking a single off the last ball of six overs in succession. Only 110 runs were made in the day as Laker bowled very tightly and removed O'Neill. Peter Loader
(4/56) ran through the lower order as the Combined XI fell from 187/3 to 227/8 and 260 all out. Richardson failed again and the wicketless Fred Trueman
went in as nightwatchman
and hit 53 before Bailey (71 not out) and Cowdrey (100 not out) batted out the day to draw the game on 257/4.
for Southern Australia
with several concerns. Their 16 man squad had been reduced by knee injuries to captain Peter May
and batsman Willie Watson
. On the plus side Tom Graveney
, Colin Cowdrey
and Peter May
all made centuries and Brian Statham
, Peter Loader
, Jim Laker
, and Tony Lock
had taken wickets. South Australia
were not a strong team at this time and none of their players were certain of a Test place. Vice-captain Colin Cowdrey
captained the MCC in place of May, but lost the toss to Colin Pinch who chose to bat. Les Favell
(19) and Gavin Stevens
(38) knocked up 43 runs in 52 minutes against Frank Tyson
bowling downwind with Fred Trueman
at fast-medium pace at the other end. Tyson was taken off and when Trueman was given the wind he bowled Favell. He was joined by Jim Laker
(5/31) who amazed Clarrie Grimmett
by getting the ball to turn on the first day, the great Australian leg-spinner had never been able to until the third day at the Adelaide Oval
, and Tony Lock
(0/40) was brought on. After lunch Tyson dismissed John Lill (34) and Johnny Martin
for a duck, the last six wickets fell for 26 runs and South Australia were out for 165. Fast bowler John Drennan had injured himself batting, but opened the bowling at medium pace without any luck. Peter Richardson
held the team together with 88 and added 102 with Tom Graveney
(41), but the left-arm wrist spinner
Johnny Martin
was brought on for his state debut having moved west from New South Wales
. Like Arthur Mailey
he "bowled like a millionaire" and worked his way through the MCC batting with old-fashioned bowling figures of 7/110. Trueman hit the "Chinamen"
for 4212446 in his eleven minute 23 before he was caught and the innings ended on 245, a lead of only 80. With the wind behind him again Tyson beat Stevens with pace to catch him leg before
, but the South Australians were "Lakered and Locked" as the Surrey
spinners took 5/70 and 4/65, only Martin with two sixes in his 37, made a fight of it and they were out for 194 on the third day. Needing 115 to win Richardson (40) and Milton (63 not out) opened with 100 for the first wicket and the tourists won by 9 wickets that evening in extra time to give the players the fourth day off.
, a stronger proposition than South Australia
. Their captain was the Australian opener Colin McDonald and their wicket-keeper Len Maddocks
and the two young bowlers Lindsay Kline
and Ian Meckiff
who had done well on the recent tour of South Africa
. With Peter May
still resting his knee vice-captain Colin Cowdrey
was in charge, winning the toss and electing to bat on a good wicket. Fred Trueman
and Frank Tyson
were rested and after Adelaide it was decided to use both spin bowlers again even though it was thought only one would be used the Tests. Peter Richardson
was caught off Meckiff's third ball, whose action caused immediate interest. "He bowled fast left-arm over the wicket with one or two really very quick ones which had the suspicion of a throw about them". Arthur Milton
gloved a dropped catch going for hook, but settled down with his Gloucestershire
team-mate Tom Graveney
who was in fine form. "Long Tom" was out l.b.w.
trying to pull a ball that stayed low with the score on 54, but Milton (116) proceeded to add 197 with Raman Subba Row
(83). McDonald brought on Kline (3/126), but his Chinaman
were expensive and failed to turn. Meckiff removed Subba Row and Colin Cowdrey
was run out by Ian Huntington after he stepped forward after an l.b.w.
appeal. Tony Lock
came in as nightwatchman
and belted 44 un under an hour, which was appreciated by the 26,000 crowd more than Trevor Bailey
's slow innings. Everybody made double figures except the first and last batsmen and the MCC totalled 396, Meckiff (4/69) being the best of the Victorian bowlers. Brian Statham
and Peter Loader
opened the bowling, but after "George"
bowled opener Neil Crompton Laker and Lock were brought on and each took a wicket, Laker getting McDonald for 53 and Lock Allen Aylett for 23. After the rest day Victoria resumed on 119/3 and Statham demonstrated why his motto was "if they miss, I hit" catching one wicket leg before and clean bowling another five in his 7/47, including Ian Huntington for 73. When asked about the slow pitch he replied "Well, if it's slow you’ve got to bowl faster" With Victoria out for 252 the MCC had a lead of 144 and went for quick runs. Milton was run out by Huntington when sent back by Richardson (40), but Tom Graveney (78 not out) took the score to 149/3 and Cowdrey declared on the fourth morning after the two minutes silence for Remembrance Day
. Victoria needed 296 runs in four hours and to McDonald's credit he went for the win, top-scoring with 62. Statham had no luck, Laker and Loader were ill with sun-stroke, but Tony Lock
took 6/70, helped by three catches in a row by Milton. He managed to find turn and bounce and won the game by taking two wickets in the last over of the day. The tourists thought Ian Meckiff
was a thrower, but not a very good one, no complaint was made and the MCC lost the chance ensure that he did not play in the Tests without too much fuss.
to play the champions New South Wales
. Ian Craig
was captain of Australia as well as New South Wales, which had won the Sheffield Shield 8 times since the war, the last 4 in succession, and would go on to win another 5. On a wicket known to take spin Jim Laker
was unfit to play, as was Peter Loader
, Willie Watson
, still recovering from his knee surgery, Fred Trueman
had a cold, but volunteered to play and Peter May
had recovered sufficiently to captain the team. Craig won the toss and batted on a sunny day on a good wicket. After Sid Carroll was bowled by a Trueman outswinger in the first over Jim Burke
made a ponderous 104 and Neil Harvey
a somewhat quicker 149 to finish the day on 243/1. Taking the new ball the next day Trueman (2/62) had Harvey caught off a skyer, which brought in Norm O'Neill
, who stroked his way to 84 not out. The other batsman went for runs and Lock (4/121) picked up the wickets of Burke, Craig (who looked very unwell) and Brian Booth
for ducks and Alan Davidson
for 8. Richie Benaud
was caught and bowled off a Trevor Bailey
long-hop and Craig declared on 391/7 before O'Neill could complete his century. The MCC openers were soon out; Arthur Milton
(10) bowled by the huge Gordon Rorke
(1/15) and Peter Richardson
(21), caught by Harvey off Peter Philpott. Peter May
(29) and Tom Graveney
(36) saw out the second day, but the next highest scorer was last man Brian Statham
with 27 as the New South Wales leg-spinners Richie Benaud
(5/48) and Philpott (4/87) worked their way through the order, leaving "Barnacle Bailey"
on 14 not out in a total of 177. The improvement of Benaud's bowling since his great tour of South Africa was evident just two weeks before the first Test. Craig enforced the follow on, but the MCC recovered as Richardson (87) and Milton (81) put on 170 for the first wicket, easily their best effort of the tour. Philpott took 5 catches in the match and removed both openers, one off Davidson (2/37) and the other off Benaud (2/84) and the MCC slumped to 217/4. Tom Graveney
(59), Roy Swetman
(52) and Colin Cowdrey
(42 not out) played out the last day and the tourists ended on a comfortable 356/4. Strangely Swetman, using his feet more than the other batsman, played the spinners better than the other batsmen, who were struggling. After the match the MCC announced that John Mortimore
would be sent out to reinforce the team as it appeared that the pitches would take spin. He was also an all-rounder
who could strengthen the lower order batting and his arrival would allow the team to rest Laker and Lock in the state games.
following Ian Craig
's resignation due to ill-health. It was the custom to play the six batsmen due to be picked for the First Test, but to only use bowlers on the edge of the Test scene. Peter May
won the toss and like Craig in the previous match opted to bat first, only to come at 40/2 which quickly became 40/3 thanks to Barry Fisher (3/59) and Raymond Strauss (4/77) who swung the ball in the heavy atmosphere. After a shaky start himself May settled and made runs with Tom Graveney
(70), but a late order collapse in the last session reduced them from 189/3 to 290/7 at stumps, the captain 113 not out. May carried the score to 319 when he was last out for 140, a fine captain's innings. This looked better when the Australian XI crashed to 12/3, May ruining out Gavin Stevens
, Peter Loader
bowling captain Neil Harvey
for a duck and Fred Trueman
dismissing Norm O'Neill
with a terrific yorker
that bruised his foot and caught him l.b.w.
. Colin McDonald steadied the ship helped by the front foot "English-style" batting of Peter Burge before Loader (4/23) bowled him for 49 and Bobby Simpson
for 2. Jim Laker
(4/52) trapped all-rounder
Johnny Martin
for a duck as they lost 4 wickets for 4 runs. The tail wagged for another 47 runs, but the Australian XI was out for 128. With tired bowlers and an unfit Trueman May failed to enforce the follow on and batted 191 runs ahead. Arthur Milton
was the first to go, but Peter Richardson
made 52 and Raman Subba Row
(68 not out) dug himself in. Peter May
played himself in before lunch, then attacked the Australian bowling with "a welter of strokes", He struck Fisher for 42421 off successive balls to take him to 97 and brought up his century with a magnificent cover-drive off Strauss. In the last over before tea he brought up his 100 runs in a session and won £A500
from the Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph. May shared half the money with the team and used the other half to throw a party for the two teams and the press. The England captain rarely allowed himself the liberty of cutting the bowling to ribbons, but many thought this was one of his finest displays. He declared on 257/3 when he was bowled by Fisher after tea for 114, leaving the Australian XI 449 to win. Subba Row dropped McDonald off Loader, who retired with a strained Achilles tendon
, which allowed his substitute Willie Watson
to play his first cricket of the tour. McDonald did not survive long, retiring hurt for 5 with a torn hamstring
. Stevens (33) and Harvey (38) took the first wicket partnership to 57 when Trueman bowled the opener and caught O'Neill off Tony Lock
. Making the ball bite and turn off Trueman's footmarks Lock took 6/29 as Australia crashed to 98/7, Laker (2/30) snapped up the last two wickets and the Australian XI were out for 103 on the last ball of the third day to lose by the crushing margin of 345 runs. The Surrey
duo had now taken 44 wickets (17.86) on the tour and put people on mind of the ditty "Here lie the Ashes of '56, skittled by Laker for next to nix"
. The Australian selectors Sir Donald Bradman and Jack Ryder looked distinctly unhappy as they watched the game and it probably cost Neil Harvey
the Australian captaincy, instead they gave it to Richie Benaud
.
the tourists found a storm brewing and the weather cool, but heavy. Peter May
won the toss and chose to bat on a green wicket, but only three overs were played before the rain came. When they resumed the opener Willie Watson
was caught by Wally Grout
off the Queensland
captain Ray Lindwall
, who swung the ball at his pleasure in the heavy atmosphere, taking 5/57 as England collapsed to 39/4. Raman Subba Row
(51) and Trevor Bailey
(33) rescued the innings, but the leg-spinner Walter Walmsley (2/34) bowled Subba Row and Ken Mackay
(3/4) removed Roy Swetman
and Frank Tyson
and the MCC were out for 151. Queensland were 30/1 overnight and batted poorly the next day, making only 105 runs in a full day's play as John Mortimore
took 21-8-26-0 in the day, Jim Laker
12-3-19-1 and Trevor Bailey
21-8-28-1. No wonder crowds flocked to see Norm O'Neill
's attacking strokeplay. On the last day Queensland made an effort to make more runs, but still took 501 minutes to make 210 with Statham taking 3/43 and Laker 4/27, but Mortimore was hit for 38 runs off his last 8 overs without a wicket and Ron Archer
top scored with 83. The ball broke Raman Subba Row
's wrist when fielding, another injury that removed him from contention just after he had made three fifties in three games. The MCC collapsed again to 41/4 as Lindwall (2/16) removed both openers and Walmsley (2/25) the out of form Colin Cowdrey
and Trevor Bailey
. Peter May
and Roy Swetman
added 30 unbeaten runs when the rain returned to finish the game.
all-rounder Ted Dexter
would be flown in as a reinforcement and he arrived in Sydney
in time join the team on its way to Tasmania
. Willie Watson
was brought back as an opener instead of Arthur Milton
. The first day was lost to rain, but Peter May
won the toss, batted and saw Richardson
(56) and Watson (30) add 72 against the weak Tasmanian attack. Dexter made 38 and May 80 (including 2 sixes) when he declared on 229/7. Fred Trueman
(3/36) had recovered from his back illness by drinking copious amounts of lemon juice and he and Frank Tyson
reduced the home team to 18/3 before stumps. On the next drizzle-filled day they reached 94/4 thanks to 52 not out from left-hander Ray Stokes before rain finally stopped play.
was shipped over with Jim Burke
, Norm O'Neill
and Peter Philpott of New South Wales
. Terence Cowley won the toss and put the MCC in to bat rather than face Frank Tyson
, Fred Trueman
, Peter Loader
and Ted Dexter
on a green wicket in English-style conditions. Willie Watson
(43) and Arthur Milton
(83) put on 99 for the first wicket, Peter May
(80) and the out-of-form Colin Cowdrey
(72) 123 for the fifth wicket and the M.C.C batted into the second day before declaring on 384/9, Cowley taking 5/92. McDonald used a heavy bat and made 104 before he threw his wicket away in what was obviously going to be a draw. No other batsman made 30 and the wickets were shared around five of the seven bowlers used, Tyson (3/60) being the best, though Trueman took a good one-handed catch off Mortimore to dismiss O'Neill for 20. The tourists batted out the last afternoon, Watson making 42 and Graveney 52 in their 162/4.
to play South Australia
and were put in on Christmas Eve
by Les Favell
on a lively wicket freshened up by the rain that delayed the start. The old Australian fast bowler Tim Wall
could hardly believe his eyes as the ball lept up at the batsmen where normally it rarely rose above the stumps. Richardson, Watson, Cowdrey (the captain for this match) and Dexter were out for 34/4 to the long drag of Peter Trethewey (1/33) and Alan Hitchcox (3/48). Arthur Milton
stuck in for 37, was hit repeatedly by the ball, broke his finger and Tom Graveney
made 54. Tony Lock
added 43 before he was out to a juggled caught and bowled by Leon Hill (2/55), which the umpire thought he had under control. Christmas Day was a rest day, but the MCC resumed on 180/7 on Boxing Day
, and the reserve wicket-keeper Roy Swetman
impressed with 41, having made several useful innings on the tour. Fred Trueman
belted 39 and John Mortimore
17 of the last 20 runs when they were out for 276. With the wicket drying and better for batting Ted Dexter
(2/45) had removed the openers Les Favell
and Gavin Stevens
after Frank Tyson
left the field because of stomach trouble. They started the third day on 110/3, but John Lill (86) was the only man to pass 30 as "Firey Fred" Trueman
took 5/46 and they were out for 223. Wickets continue to tumble before the 19 year old Brian Hurn (5/62) with Willie Watson
holding the fort with 40, but the tourists 110/7 at the end of the Saturday. With Sunday providing a second rest day Swetman (76) returned before a crowd of 12,000 to raise the total to 195/9 batting as if in a charity match. Cowdrey declared when he was out to leave South Australia 249 runs to win in 195 minutes. The started well with Les Favell
(52) and David Harris (30) taking the score to 78/1 after Tyson and Swetman ran out Stevens for a duck, but collapsed to Trueman (4/33), who reduced them to 102/6, and the spinners Lock, Mortimore and Graveney ran through the overs to leave South Australia 138/9 at stumps.
took a well-deserved holiday with his fiancée, though the press did not think so, and Colin Cowdrey
led the team against the weak Victorian
team. He lost the toss and was forced to field in the 109°F/43°C heat and limited the fast bowlers Frank Tyson
, Fred Trueman
and Peter Loader
to two over spells. Victoria did quite well and reached 270/5 in the day. A 21 year old Bill Lawry
opened the batting and made a slow 24 until he was bowled by Ted Dexter
, the footballer Neil Crompton
hit 73 and Lindsay Hassett
's nephew John Shaw 94 and Jack Potter 47. Trueman took 5/42 to dismiss Crompton and Shaw and returned in the morning to wrap up the innings for 286. The MCC responded poorly with 31/4, but Colin Cowdrey
stroked 84 and Willie Watson
141 in a stand of 169. Watson looked much like his old self and batted with the tail, especially John Mortimore
(32) and they finished on 313, the paceman Colin Guest taking 3/39. Victoria struggled in their second innings as Tyson (3/40) and Loader (3/29) found their form. Only Crompton (64) and Lawry (22) passed twenty and they were all out for 180. The MCC players were helped when the temperature dropped to 89°F/32°C half-way through the day. While knocking off the 156/1 to win Arthur Milton
received a nasty ball on his glove which re-fractured his broken finger and he retired hurt
for 35. Peter Richardson
made 65 and 120 was added before the first wicket fell. Raman Subba Row
and Ted Dexter
both made 21 not out and the MCC won by 9 wickets.
rejoined the team when they came back to Sydney
to replay New South Wales
, by far the strongest state side and the match was almost played at Test level. New South Wales were sent in to bat by May on a humid day with the ball swinging and patches on the wicket thanks to poor covering against the recent rain. Frank Tyson
(4/55) and Brian Statham
(4/36), the new ball partnership of 1954-55, showed that they could still be very dangerous. Roy Swetman
dropped Watson in the first over from Tyson, but caught him off Statham for a duck. Norm O'Neill
was hit on the elbow by a rising Tyson delivery and retired hurt on 37/2. Neil Harvey
made another 92 and fought back with fellow left-hander Neil Marks (42) as they took the score past 150 without further loss, but Tyson came off a short run at fast-medium pace and removed Harvey, Marks, Grahame Thomas and Richie Benaud
as they crashed to 171/6 before stumps. O'Neill returned at the start of the new day, but was l.b.w.
to Trevor Bailey
(2/40) and Statham removed the tail and New South Wales were out for 215. Gordon Rorke
(4/57) removed Peter Richardson
l.b.w.
first ball and Tom Graveney
for 14 and generated great pace off his short run, but his long drag left him only 19 yards from the batsman when he bowled and he was very difficult to play. Trevor Bailey
was hit repeatedly by Rorke, but stuck in for 54 and Peter May
made a powerful 136 as they added 179 for the third wicket. The captain saw off Rorke and attacked the spinners, hitting the New South Wales captain Richie Benaud
for six over mid-on and cracking drives through the covers with such ferocity that four fielders could not stop him hitting the boundary. May was 99 not out on the Saturday evening and returned on the Monday, but without the same certainty. Bailey went down the pitch to Jim Burke
(1/30), missed and was stumped miles out of his ground, but the crowd shouted that Burke ought to be given a coconut because he shied the ball
. Rorke caught May (136) with a beautiful ball that swung from leg to hit off stump and had Willie Watson
leg before, then Benaud (5/83) spun through the tail to give him 50 wickets in the season and the MCC were out for 303. There was just time for New South Wales to reach 44/0 when the rain washed out the third and fourth days.
the MCC team played three one day games. These were not limited overs cricket in the modern sense, but each side played one innings in the day and the first team could declare early to give it time to bowl out the opposition. This was not required in the first game at Wangaratta, Victoria when the Country XI were dismissed for 31 thanks to Peter Loader
(5/17), Jim Laker
(2/4) and Fred Trueman
(1/8). Ted Dexter
was out for 8, but Peter Richardson
(22) and Raman Subba Row
(40) made the runs for a 9 wicket victory. The MCC continued to entertain the crowd and get some batting practice; May made 56, Watson 38, Graveney 50 and Mortimore 50, the Country team using 10 bowlers and Thomlinson taking 3/60 before they ended on 308/8.
The team proceeded to Wagga Wagga, New South Wales for a second Country game and the opposition again batted first and a on a wicket taking spin Laker (4/22), Lock (2/22), Mortimore (2/17) and Subba Row (1/9) dismissed them for 117. The MCC won by 7 wickets and batted on again to make 260/8 with Richardson making 79, Watson 63 and Mortimore 44 and John Stuckings took 3/96.
Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies
was a keen cricket fan and the match between his Prime Minister's XI and the touring team was one of the social highlights of the tour with an official reception the night before the match. Cricketers can become jaded over official functions and endless speeches as the tour progresses, but Menzies was a marvellous after-dinner speaker and proved to be highly entertaining. Five Australian captains graced his team; Lindsay Hassett
, Ian Johnson
, Arthur Morris
, Ian Craig
and Ray Lindwall
as did the all-rounder Sam Loxton
and a Victorian
wicket-keeper called Les Botham. They batted first and the opener Morris hit 14 boundaries in his 79 and Brian James, a New South Wales Country player hit 5 sixes in his 88 before retiring hurt. Tom Graveney
took 2/38 with his leg-spin and Jim Laker
2/61. They declared on 288/7 off 38 eight-ball overs in two hours and thirty-five minutes, leaving the MCC roughly the same number of overs in slightly less time. Peter Richardson
was out for a duck to Lindwall, Ted Dexter
thrashed 76 before hitting his wicket and Colin Cowdrey
struck 101 runs in 84 minutes with 10 boundaries to win the match by four wickets. He batted on for his century before he was caught by Hassett off Morris (4/46), who ran through the lower order with his part-time leg-spin and they were all out for 332.
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 used at all.
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 1958-59 under the captaincy of Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
was its eleventh since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907-1908. The touring team
English cricket team in Australia in 1958-59
Peter May captained the English cricket team in Australia in 1958–59, playing as England in the 1958-59 Ashes series against the Australians and as the MCC in their other matches on the tour. It was widely regarded as one of the strongest teams to depart English shores, comparable with the great...
played as England in the 1958-59 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games. In all there were 20 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 lost 4-0), 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 4-0) and 3 minor matches (which they won 3-0). It was billed as the strongest MCC team ever to tour Australia and dominated the early matches, and its heavy defeat in the Test series came was seen as one of the great upsets in cricket.
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 arrived on the Iberia in Fremantle
Fremantle, 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...
on 13 October and after a rest day found their three days practice severely reduced due to heavy rain.
Western Australia vs MCC
this pencil-slim youngster bowled off-spinners in the first innings with a highly suspect and jerky action...but no one bothered much about him because of his comparatively modest success. The balloon really went up in the second innings when he used the new ball...I thought he looked less like a chucker when bowling quick but the M.C.C. were incensed.
- Keith Miller
Keith 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...
Unlike previous (and subsequent) tours they did not face a match against a local Country XI, but went straight into a First Class game against Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
. Bush
The Bush
"The bush" is a term used for rural, undeveloped land or country areas in certain countries.-Australia:The term is iconic in Australia. In reference to the landscape, "bush" describes a wooded area, intermediate between a shrubland and a forest, generally of dry and nitrogen-poor soil, mostly...
games were unpopular with the touring sides, although the Australian Board of Control saw them as a good advertisement for cricket and to be fair they were good practice. The home captain Ken Meuleman
Ken Meuleman
Kenneth Douglas Meuleman was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1946....
won the toss and put the tourists in on a fast wicket, covered with grass and freshened by the rain, though it proved less problematic than it looked. The batting was dominated by 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...
, who had made 111 in his last innings in Australia and now hit 177 not out. He carefully played himself in on the first day, but struck the ball in fine form on the second. Only Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
kept him company for long, cracking his first ball through the covers for four and nearly decapitating a spectator with a six into the member's enclosure. They added 91 for the third wicket and Graveney 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...
(28) 97 for the fourth. Jack Rutherford was brought on as seventh bowler and took 3/12 with his leg-spin to wrap up the innings as England collapsed from 345/7 to 351 all out. Graveney struck again in the Western Australian innings, catching Rutherford off the first ball from Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
(3/42). While he luck was in he visited the Gloucester Park
Gloucester Park
Gloucester Park is a harness racing course in Perth, Western Australia. In the suburb of East Perth, the oval course is adjacent to the WACA Ground...
Trotting Meeting
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
that evening and was not disappointed. 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...
(3/40), 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...
(2/59) and Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
(2/46) all chipping in with wickets the hosts were out for 221 on the third morning, 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...
making 60 despite a bad start and Meuleman 42. In their second innings the MCC again had trouble with Keith Slater
Keith Slater
Keith Nichol Slater is a former Western Australian and Australian cricketer and WAFL player....
who took 4/33 - his best bowling in First Class cricket - and they collapsed to 44/4, with May out for a duck, despite bowling with a bent arm no complaint was made. Cowdrey (65 not out) 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...
(34 not out) made an unbeaten stand of 102 and May declared on 146/4, 276 runs ahead. In a three day game there was little chance of a win as the state players tried to impress the selectors with a responsible innings and the tourists could not afford a demoralising loss. Jack Rutherford was left unbeaten on 77 and Lock took 2/26, conceding only 72 runs off his 42 eight-ball overs in the match, leaving Western Australia on 124/3. After the complaints about 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 time wasting on the previous tour May was determined to keep the overs ticking over and succeeded in doing so.
Western Australia Combined XI vs MCC
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...
, Norm O'Neill
Norm O'Neill
Norman Clifford O'Neill OAM was an cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. A right-handed batsman known for his back foot strokeplay, O'Neill made his state debut aged 18, before progressing to Test selection aged 21 in late 1958...
of New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
, Ken Mackay
Ken Mackay
Kenneth Donald Mackay was an Australian cricketer who played in 37 Tests from 1956 to 1963....
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...
were flown over and such was O'Neill's popularity that a record 17,921 people came to watch him bat on the second day, the biggest crowd at the WACA
WACA Ground
The WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
since 1932. 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...
wrote "Not since the days of Bradman had one player so absorbed the limelight
Limelight
Limelight is a type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls. An intense illumination is created when an oxyhydrogen flame is directed at a cylinder of quicklime , which can be heated to 2572 °C before melting. The light is produced by a combination of incandescence and...
". Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
was having knee surgery, 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...
had lumbago and Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman is an English former cricketer, who played in eleven Tests as a wicket-keeper from 1959 to 1960.-Life and career:...
, 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...
and Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
were dropped so that the other 11 players could have a game. The MCC won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that had been dried out by a week's sunshine since their last game. Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
and Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
were out playing strokes, unused to the pace and bounce of Australian wickets, Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
was unlucky and the tourists were soon 33/3. As many times before it was up to captain Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
and vice-captain 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...
to set things right after a shaky start and they had added 134 runs when May pulled a knee ligament and retired hurt on 68. Cowdrey played carefully for 78 and when 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 yorked
Yorker
Yorker is a term used in cricket that describes a ball bowled which hits the cricket pitch around the batsman's feet. When a batsman assumes a normal stance this generally means that the cricket ball bounces on the cricket pitch on or near the batsman's popping crease...
by Raymond Strauss (5/99) May returned, using Bailey as a runner. He added 92 with Evans (55) and completed made 113 when they both got themselves out to allow the tail wag its way to 349. With May and Bailey unwell Cowdrey brought Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
(2/55) in to float the ball into a strong wind once 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...
(2/35) finished his opening spell. O'Neill came in after the first wicket and batted wonderfully, hitting Milton for 23 off an over and making 104 on the Monday morning despite Ken Mackay
Ken Mackay
Kenneth Donald Mackay was an Australian cricketer who played in 37 Tests from 1956 to 1963....
making him wait for an hour by taking a single off the last ball of six overs in succession. Only 110 runs were made in the day as Laker bowled very tightly and removed O'Neill. 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...
(4/56) ran through the lower order as the Combined XI fell from 187/3 to 227/8 and 260 all out. Richardson failed again and the wicketless Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
went in as 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...
and hit 53 before Bailey (71 not out) and Cowdrey (100 not out) batted out the day to draw the game on 257/4.
South Australia vs MCC
The MCC tour party left WesternWestern 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...
for Southern Australia
Southern Australia
The term southern Australia is generally considered to include the States and territories of Australia of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory...
with several concerns. Their 16 man squad had been reduced by knee injuries to captain Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
and batsman Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
. On the plus side 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...
, 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 Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
all made centuries 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...
, 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 Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
, and Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
had taken wickets. 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...
were not a strong team at this time and none of their players were certain of a Test place. Vice-captain 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...
captained the MCC in place of May, but lost the toss to Colin Pinch who chose to bat. 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...
(19) and Gavin Stevens
Gavin Stevens
Gavin Byron Stevens is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests from 1959 to 1960....
(38) knocked up 43 runs in 52 minutes against 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...
bowling downwind with Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
at fast-medium pace at the other end. Tyson was taken off and when Trueman was given the wind he bowled Favell. He was joined by Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
(5/31) who amazed Clarrie Grimmett
Clarrie Grimmett
Clarence Victor "Clarrie" Grimmett was a cricketer; although born in New Zealand, he played most of his cricket in Australia. He is thought by many to be one of the finest early spin bowlers, and usually credited as the developer of the flipper.Grimmett was born in Caversham a suburb of Dunedin,...
by getting the ball to turn on the first day, the great Australian leg-spinner had never been able to until the third day at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
, and Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
(0/40) was brought on. After lunch Tyson dismissed John Lill (34) and Johnny Martin
Johnny Martin
John Wesley Martin was an Australian cricketer who played in 8 Tests from 1960 to 1967. Martin grew up on the central coast, near Taree, one of 10 children of the manager of Burrell Creek's post office and general store, which Johnny himself ended up managing...
for a duck, the last six wickets fell for 26 runs and South Australia were out for 165. Fast bowler John Drennan had injured himself batting, but opened the bowling at medium pace without any luck. Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
held the team together with 88 and added 102 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...
(41), but the left-arm wrist spinner
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...
Johnny Martin
Johnny Martin
John Wesley Martin was an Australian cricketer who played in 8 Tests from 1960 to 1967. Martin grew up on the central coast, near Taree, one of 10 children of the manager of Burrell Creek's post office and general store, which Johnny himself ended up managing...
was brought on for his state debut having moved west from New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
. Like Arthur Mailey
Arthur Mailey
Arthur Alfred Mailey was an Australian cricketer who played in 21 Test matches between 1920 and 1926....
he "bowled like a millionaire" and worked his way through the MCC batting with old-fashioned bowling figures of 7/110. Trueman hit 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...
for 4212446 in his eleven minute 23 before he was caught and the innings ended on 245, a lead of only 80. With the wind behind him again Tyson beat Stevens with pace to catch him 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...
, but the South Australians were "Lakered and Locked" as the 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...
spinners took 5/70 and 4/65, only Martin with two sixes in his 37, made a fight of it and they were out for 194 on the third day. Needing 115 to win Richardson (40) and Milton (63 not out) opened with 100 for the first wicket and the tourists won by 9 wickets that evening in extra time to give the players the fourth day off.
Victoria vs MCC
Continuing east the MCC team came to Melbourne 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...
, a stronger proposition than 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...
. Their captain was the Australian opener Colin McDonald and their 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 two young bowlers Lindsay Kline
Lindsay Kline
Lindsay Francis Kline is former Australian and Victorian cricketer. He played in 13 Tests for Australia and 88 first-class matches between 1955/56 and 1961/1962...
and Ian Meckiff
Ian Meckiff
Ian Meckiff is a former cricketer who represented Australia in 18 Tests between 1957 and 1963...
who had done well on the recent tour of South Africa
History of cricket in South Africa from 1945-46 to 1970
This article describes the history of South African cricket from the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the start of South Africa's cricket isolation in 1970....
. With Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
still resting his knee vice-captain 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...
was in charge, winning the toss and electing to bat on a good wicket. Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
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 rested and after Adelaide it was decided to use both spin bowlers again even though it was thought only one would be used the Tests. Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
was caught off Meckiff's third ball, whose action caused immediate interest. "He bowled fast left-arm over the wicket with one or two really very quick ones which had the suspicion of a throw about them". Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
gloved a dropped catch going for hook, but settled down with his 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....
team-mate 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...
who was in fine form. "Long Tom" was out l.b.w.
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...
trying to pull a ball that stayed low with the score on 54, but Milton (116) proceeded to add 197 with Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
(83). McDonald brought on Kline (3/126), but his Chinaman
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...
were expensive and failed to turn. Meckiff removed Subba Row 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...
was run out by Ian Huntington after he stepped forward after an l.b.w.
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...
appeal. Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
came in as 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...
and belted 44 un under an hour, which was appreciated by the 26,000 crowd more than 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...
's slow innings. Everybody made double figures except the first and last batsmen and the MCC totalled 396, Meckiff (4/69) being the best of the Victorian bowlers. 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 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...
opened the bowling, but after "George"
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...
bowled opener Neil Crompton Laker and Lock were brought on and each took a wicket, Laker getting McDonald for 53 and Lock Allen Aylett for 23. After the rest day Victoria resumed on 119/3 and Statham demonstrated why his motto was "if they miss, I hit" catching one wicket leg before and clean bowling another five in his 7/47, including Ian Huntington for 73. When asked about the slow pitch he replied "Well, if it's slow you’ve got to bowl faster" With Victoria out for 252 the MCC had a lead of 144 and went for quick runs. Milton was run out by Huntington when sent back by Richardson (40), but Tom Graveney (78 not out) took the score to 149/3 and Cowdrey declared on the fourth morning after the two minutes silence for Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
. Victoria needed 296 runs in four hours and to McDonald's credit he went for the win, top-scoring with 62. Statham had no luck, Laker and Loader were ill with sun-stroke, but Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
took 6/70, helped by three catches in a row by Milton. He managed to find turn and bounce and won the game by taking two wickets in the last over of the day. The tourists thought Ian Meckiff
Ian Meckiff
Ian Meckiff is a former cricketer who represented Australia in 18 Tests between 1957 and 1963...
was a thrower, but not a very good one, no complaint was made and the MCC lost the chance ensure that he did not play in the Tests without too much fuss.
New South Wales vs MCC
The next stop was in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to play the champions New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
. Ian Craig
Ian Craig
Ian David Craig is a former Australian Test cricketer who represented Australia in 11 Tests between 1953 and 1958. A slightly built right-handed batsman, Craig holds the record for being the youngest Australian to make a first-class double century, gain Test selection and captain his country...
was captain of Australia as well as New South Wales, which had won the Sheffield Shield 8 times since the war, the last 4 in succession, and would go on to win another 5. On a wicket known to take spin Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
was unfit to play, as was 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...
, Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
, still recovering from his knee surgery, Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
had a cold, but volunteered to play and Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
had recovered sufficiently to captain the team. Craig won the toss and batted on a sunny day on a good wicket. After Sid Carroll was bowled by a Trueman outswinger in the first over Jim Burke
Jim Burke (cricketer)
James Wallace Burke was an Australian cricketer who played in 24 Tests from 1951 to 1959.- Early years :...
made a ponderous 104 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...
a somewhat quicker 149 to finish the day on 243/1. Taking the new ball the next day Trueman (2/62) had Harvey caught off a skyer, which brought in Norm O'Neill
Norm O'Neill
Norman Clifford O'Neill OAM was an cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. A right-handed batsman known for his back foot strokeplay, O'Neill made his state debut aged 18, before progressing to Test selection aged 21 in late 1958...
, who stroked his way to 84 not out. The other batsman went for runs and Lock (4/121) picked up the wickets of Burke, Craig (who looked very unwell) and Brian 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...
for ducks 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...
for 8. 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....
was caught and bowled off a 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...
long-hop and Craig declared on 391/7 before O'Neill could complete his century. The MCC openers were soon out; Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
(10) bowled by the huge Gordon Rorke
Gordon Rorke
Gordon Frederick Rorke is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests in 1959.Rorke made his Test debut in January 1959 in the Fourth Test of The Ashes series against England in Adelaide...
(1/15) and Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
(21), caught by Harvey off Peter Philpott. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
(29) 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...
(36) saw out the second day, but the next highest scorer was last man 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...
with 27 as the New South Wales leg-spinners 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....
(5/48) and Philpott (4/87) worked their way through the order, leaving "Barnacle 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...
on 14 not out in a total of 177. The improvement of Benaud's bowling since his great tour of South Africa was evident just two weeks before the first Test. Craig enforced the follow on, but the MCC recovered as Richardson (87) and Milton (81) put on 170 for the first wicket, easily their best effort of the tour. Philpott took 5 catches in the match and removed both openers, one off Davidson (2/37) and the other off Benaud (2/84) and the MCC slumped to 217/4. 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...
(59), Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman is an English former cricketer, who played in eleven Tests as a wicket-keeper from 1959 to 1960.-Life and career:...
(52) 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...
(42 not out) played out the last day and the tourists ended on a comfortable 356/4. Strangely Swetman, using his feet more than the other batsman, played the spinners better than the other batsmen, who were struggling. After the match the MCC announced that John Mortimore
John Mortimore (cricketer)
John Brian Mortimore is a former English cricketer, who played in nine Tests for England from 1959 to 1964, and captained Gloucestershire between 1965 and 1967....
would be sent out to reinforce the team as it appeared that the pitches would take spin. He was also an 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...
who could strengthen the lower order batting and his arrival would allow the team to rest Laker and Lock in the state games.
Australian XI vs MCC
The MCC remained at Sydney to play an Australian XI, this was a team of Test hopefuls strengthened by the presence of a few old hands and led by the prospective Australian captain Neil HarveyNeil 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...
following Ian Craig
Ian Craig
Ian David Craig is a former Australian Test cricketer who represented Australia in 11 Tests between 1953 and 1958. A slightly built right-handed batsman, Craig holds the record for being the youngest Australian to make a first-class double century, gain Test selection and captain his country...
's resignation due to ill-health. It was the custom to play the six batsmen due to be picked for the First Test, but to only use bowlers on the edge of the Test scene. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
won the toss and like Craig in the previous match opted to bat first, only to come at 40/2 which quickly became 40/3 thanks to Barry Fisher (3/59) and Raymond Strauss (4/77) who swung the ball in the heavy atmosphere. After a shaky start himself May settled and made runs 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...
(70), but a late order collapse in the last session reduced them from 189/3 to 290/7 at stumps, the captain 113 not out. May carried the score to 319 when he was last out for 140, a fine captain's innings. This looked better when the Australian XI crashed to 12/3, May ruining out Gavin Stevens
Gavin Stevens
Gavin Byron Stevens is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests from 1959 to 1960....
, 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...
bowling captain 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...
for a duck and Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
dismissing Norm O'Neill
Norm O'Neill
Norman Clifford O'Neill OAM was an cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. A right-handed batsman known for his back foot strokeplay, O'Neill made his state debut aged 18, before progressing to Test selection aged 21 in late 1958...
with a terrific yorker
Yorker
Yorker is a term used in cricket that describes a ball bowled which hits the cricket pitch around the batsman's feet. When a batsman assumes a normal stance this generally means that the cricket ball bounces on the cricket pitch on or near the batsman's popping crease...
that bruised his foot and caught him l.b.w.
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...
. Colin McDonald steadied the ship helped by the front foot "English-style" batting of Peter Burge before Loader (4/23) bowled him for 49 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...
for 2. Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
(4/52) trapped 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...
Johnny Martin
Johnny Martin
John Wesley Martin was an Australian cricketer who played in 8 Tests from 1960 to 1967. Martin grew up on the central coast, near Taree, one of 10 children of the manager of Burrell Creek's post office and general store, which Johnny himself ended up managing...
for a duck as they lost 4 wickets for 4 runs. The tail wagged for another 47 runs, but the Australian XI was out for 128. With tired bowlers and an unfit Trueman May failed to enforce the follow on and batted 191 runs ahead. Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
was the first to go, but Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
made 52 and Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
(68 not out) dug himself in. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
played himself in before lunch, then attacked the Australian bowling with "a welter of strokes", He struck Fisher for 42421 off successive balls to take him to 97 and brought up his century with a magnificent cover-drive off Strauss. In the last over before tea he brought up his 100 runs in a session and won £A500
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
from the Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph. May shared half the money with the team and used the other half to throw a party for the two teams and the press. The England captain rarely allowed himself the liberty of cutting the bowling to ribbons, but many thought this was one of his finest displays. He declared on 257/3 when he was bowled by Fisher after tea for 114, leaving the Australian XI 449 to win. Subba Row dropped McDonald off Loader, who retired with a strained Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
, which allowed his substitute Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
to play his first cricket of the tour. McDonald did not survive long, retiring hurt for 5 with a torn hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
. Stevens (33) and Harvey (38) took the first wicket partnership to 57 when Trueman bowled the opener and caught O'Neill off Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
. Making the ball bite and turn off Trueman's footmarks Lock took 6/29 as Australia crashed to 98/7, Laker (2/30) snapped up the last two wickets and the Australian XI were out for 103 on the last ball of the third day to lose by the crushing margin of 345 runs. The 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...
duo had now taken 44 wickets (17.86) on the tour and put people on mind of the ditty "Here lie the Ashes of '56, skittled by Laker for next to nix"
Australian cricket team in England in 1956
The Australian cricket team toured England in the 1956 season to play a five-match Test series against England for The Ashes.England won the series 2-1 with 2 matches drawn and therefore retained The Ashes....
. The Australian selectors Sir Donald Bradman and Jack Ryder looked distinctly unhappy as they watched the game and it probably cost 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...
the Australian captaincy, instead they gave it to 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....
.
Queensland vs MCC
Travelling north to BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
the tourists found a storm brewing and the weather cool, but heavy. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
won the toss and chose to bat on a green wicket, but only three overs were played before the rain came. When they resumed the opener Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
was caught by Wally Grout
Wally Grout
Arthur Theodore Wallace Grout was a Test cricketer who kept wicket for Australia and Queensland.Grout played in 51 Test matches between 1957 and 1966...
off the 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...
captain 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...
, who swung the ball at his pleasure in the heavy atmosphere, taking 5/57 as England collapsed to 39/4. Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
(51) 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...
(33) rescued the innings, but the leg-spinner Walter Walmsley (2/34) bowled Subba Row and Ken Mackay
Ken Mackay
Kenneth Donald Mackay was an Australian cricketer who played in 37 Tests from 1956 to 1963....
(3/4) removed Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman is an English former cricketer, who played in eleven Tests as a wicket-keeper from 1959 to 1960.-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...
and the MCC were out for 151. Queensland were 30/1 overnight and batted poorly the next day, making only 105 runs in a full day's play as John Mortimore
John Mortimore (cricketer)
John Brian Mortimore is a former English cricketer, who played in nine Tests for England from 1959 to 1964, and captained Gloucestershire between 1965 and 1967....
took 21-8-26-0 in the day, Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
12-3-19-1 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...
21-8-28-1. No wonder crowds flocked to see Norm O'Neill
Norm O'Neill
Norman Clifford O'Neill OAM was an cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. A right-handed batsman known for his back foot strokeplay, O'Neill made his state debut aged 18, before progressing to Test selection aged 21 in late 1958...
's attacking strokeplay. On the last day Queensland made an effort to make more runs, but still took 501 minutes to make 210 with Statham taking 3/43 and Laker 4/27, but Mortimore was hit for 38 runs off his last 8 overs without a wicket and Ron Archer
Ron Archer
This article is about the cricket player. For Ron Archer see Ted WhiteRonald Graham Archer was an Australian Test cricketer who was born in Highgate Hill, Queensland...
top scored with 83. The ball broke Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
's wrist when fielding, another injury that removed him from contention just after he had made three fifties in three games. The MCC collapsed again to 41/4 as Lindwall (2/16) removed both openers and Walmsley (2/25) the out of form 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 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...
. Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
and Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman is an English former cricketer, who played in eleven Tests as a wicket-keeper from 1959 to 1960.-Life and career:...
added 30 unbeaten runs when the rain returned to finish the game.
First Test - Brisbane
See Main Article - 1958-59 Ashes seriesTasmania vs MCC
The MCC had announced immediately before First Test that the Cambridge and SussexSussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
all-rounder Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
would be flown in as a reinforcement and he arrived in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in time join the team on its way to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
was brought back as an opener instead of Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
. The first day was lost to rain, but Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
won the toss, batted and saw Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
(56) and Watson (30) add 72 against the weak Tasmanian attack. Dexter made 38 and May 80 (including 2 sixes) when he declared on 229/7. Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
(3/36) had recovered from his back illness by drinking copious amounts of lemon juice and he 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...
reduced the home team to 18/3 before stumps. On the next drizzle-filled day they reached 94/4 thanks to 52 not out from left-hander Ray Stokes before rain finally stopped play.
Tasmania Combined XI vs MCC
To bolster the Tasmanian team Colin McDonald of 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 shipped over with Jim Burke
Jim Burke (cricketer)
James Wallace Burke was an Australian cricketer who played in 24 Tests from 1951 to 1959.- Early years :...
, Norm O'Neill
Norm O'Neill
Norman Clifford O'Neill OAM was an cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. A right-handed batsman known for his back foot strokeplay, O'Neill made his state debut aged 18, before progressing to Test selection aged 21 in late 1958...
and Peter Philpott of New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
. Terence Cowley won the toss and put the MCC in to bat rather than face 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...
, Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
, 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 Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
on a green wicket in English-style conditions. Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
(43) and Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
(83) put on 99 for the first wicket, Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
(80) and the out-of-form 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...
(72) 123 for the fifth wicket and the M.C.C batted into the second day before declaring on 384/9, Cowley taking 5/92. McDonald used a heavy bat and made 104 before he threw his wicket away in what was obviously going to be a draw. No other batsman made 30 and the wickets were shared around five of the seven bowlers used, Tyson (3/60) being the best, though Trueman took a good one-handed catch off Mortimore to dismiss O'Neill for 20. The tourists batted out the last afternoon, Watson making 42 and Graveney 52 in their 162/4.
South Australia vs MCC
The MCC returned 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...
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...
and were put in on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
by 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...
on a lively wicket freshened up by the rain that delayed the start. The old Australian fast bowler Tim Wall
Tim Wall
Thomas Welbourn 'Tim' Wall was an Australian Test cricketer who played eighteen Tests between 1929 and 1934. Wall died in 1981 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Wall's 10-36 in February 1933 remains the best first-class figures recorded in Australia...
could hardly believe his eyes as the ball lept up at the batsmen where normally it rarely rose above the stumps. Richardson, Watson, Cowdrey (the captain for this match) and Dexter were out for 34/4 to the long drag of Peter Trethewey (1/33) and Alan Hitchcox (3/48). Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
stuck in for 37, was hit repeatedly by the ball, broke his finger 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 54. Tony Lock
Tony Lock
Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:...
added 43 before he was out to a juggled caught and bowled by Leon Hill (2/55), which the umpire thought he had under control. Christmas Day was a rest day, but the MCC resumed on 180/7 on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
, and the reserve wicket-keeper Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman is an English former cricketer, who played in eleven Tests as a wicket-keeper from 1959 to 1960.-Life and career:...
impressed with 41, having made several useful innings on the tour. Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
belted 39 and John Mortimore
John Mortimore (cricketer)
John Brian Mortimore is a former English cricketer, who played in nine Tests for England from 1959 to 1964, and captained Gloucestershire between 1965 and 1967....
17 of the last 20 runs when they were out for 276. With the wicket drying and better for batting Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
(2/45) had removed the openers 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 Gavin Stevens
Gavin Stevens
Gavin Byron Stevens is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests from 1959 to 1960....
after 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...
left the field because of stomach trouble. They started the third day on 110/3, but John Lill (86) was the only man to pass 30 as "Firey Fred" Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
took 5/46 and they were out for 223. Wickets continue to tumble before the 19 year old Brian Hurn (5/62) with Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
holding the fort with 40, but the tourists 110/7 at the end of the Saturday. With Sunday providing a second rest day Swetman (76) returned before a crowd of 12,000 to raise the total to 195/9 batting as if in a charity match. Cowdrey declared when he was out to leave South Australia 249 runs to win in 195 minutes. The started well with 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...
(52) and David Harris (30) taking the score to 78/1 after Tyson and Swetman ran out Stevens for a duck, but collapsed to Trueman (4/33), who reduced them to 102/6, and the spinners Lock, Mortimore and Graveney ran through the overs to leave South Australia 138/9 at stumps.
Second Test - Melbourne
See Main Article - 1958-59 Ashes seriesThird Test - Sydney
See Main Article - 1958-59 Ashes seriesVictoria vs MCC
Peter MayPeter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
took a well-deserved holiday with his fiancée, though the press did not think so, 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...
led the team against the weak Victorian
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...
team. He lost the toss and was forced to field in the 109°F/43°C heat and limited the fast bowlers 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...
, Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
and 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...
to two over spells. Victoria did quite well and reached 270/5 in the day. A 21 year old Bill Lawry
Bill Lawry
William Morris "Bill" Lawry, AM is a former cricketer who played for Victoria and Australia. He captained Australia in 25 Tests, winning nine, losing eight and drawing eight, and led Australia in the inaugural One Day International match, played in 1971...
opened the batting and made a slow 24 until he was bowled by Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
, the footballer Neil Crompton
Neil Crompton (footballer)
Colin Neil Crompton was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
hit 73 and 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...
's nephew John Shaw 94 and Jack Potter 47. Trueman took 5/42 to dismiss Crompton and Shaw and returned in the morning to wrap up the innings for 286. The MCC responded poorly with 31/4, but 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...
stroked 84 and Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
141 in a stand of 169. Watson looked much like his old self and batted with the tail, especially John Mortimore
John Mortimore (cricketer)
John Brian Mortimore is a former English cricketer, who played in nine Tests for England from 1959 to 1964, and captained Gloucestershire between 1965 and 1967....
(32) and they finished on 313, the paceman Colin Guest taking 3/39. Victoria struggled in their second innings as Tyson (3/40) and Loader (3/29) found their form. Only Crompton (64) and Lawry (22) passed twenty and they were all out for 180. The MCC players were helped when the temperature dropped to 89°F/32°C half-way through the day. While knocking off the 156/1 to win Arthur Milton
Arthur Milton
Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City...
received a nasty ball on his glove which re-fractured his broken finger and he retired hurt
Substitute (cricket)
A substitute in the sport of cricket is a replacement player that the umpires allow when a player has been injured or become ill after the nomination of the players at the start of the game...
for 35. Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
made 65 and 120 was added before the first wicket fell. Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
and Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
both made 21 not out and the MCC won by 9 wickets.
New South Wales vs MCC
Peter MayPeter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
rejoined the team when they came back to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to replay New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
, by far the strongest state side and the match was almost played at Test level. New South Wales were sent in to bat by May on a humid day with the ball swinging and patches on the wicket thanks to poor covering against the recent rain. 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...
(4/55) 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...
(4/36), the new ball partnership of 1954-55, showed that they could still be very dangerous. Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman
Roy Swetman is an English former cricketer, who played in eleven Tests as a wicket-keeper from 1959 to 1960.-Life and career:...
dropped Watson in the first over from Tyson, but caught him off Statham for a duck. Norm O'Neill
Norm O'Neill
Norman Clifford O'Neill OAM was an cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. A right-handed batsman known for his back foot strokeplay, O'Neill made his state debut aged 18, before progressing to Test selection aged 21 in late 1958...
was hit on the elbow by a rising Tyson delivery and retired hurt on 37/2. 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...
made another 92 and fought back with fellow left-hander Neil Marks (42) as they took the score past 150 without further loss, but Tyson came off a short run at fast-medium pace and removed Harvey, Marks, Grahame Thomas 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....
as they crashed to 171/6 before stumps. O'Neill returned at the start of the new day, but was l.b.w.
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...
to 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...
(2/40) and Statham removed the tail and New South Wales were out for 215. Gordon Rorke
Gordon Rorke
Gordon Frederick Rorke is a former Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests in 1959.Rorke made his Test debut in January 1959 in the Fourth Test of The Ashes series against England in Adelaide...
(4/57) removed Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
l.b.w.
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...
first ball 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...
for 14 and generated great pace off his short run, but his long drag left him only 19 yards from the batsman when he bowled and he was very difficult to play. 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 hit repeatedly by Rorke, but stuck in for 54 and Peter May
Peter May
-External links:* * at Cricket Archive*...
made a powerful 136 as they added 179 for the third wicket. The captain saw off Rorke and attacked the spinners, hitting the New South Wales captain 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....
for six over mid-on and cracking drives through the covers with such ferocity that four fielders could not stop him hitting the boundary. May was 99 not out on the Saturday evening and returned on the Monday, but without the same certainty. Bailey went down the pitch to Jim Burke
Jim Burke (cricketer)
James Wallace Burke was an Australian cricketer who played in 24 Tests from 1951 to 1959.- Early years :...
(1/30), missed and was stumped miles out of his ground, but the crowd shouted that Burke ought to be given a coconut because he shied the ball
Coconut shy
A coconut shy is a traditional game, originally known as 'The love grove alley', frequently found as a sidestall at funfairs and fêtes. The game consists of throwing wooden balls at a row of coconuts balanced on posts. Typically a player buys three balls and wins each coconut successfully dislodged...
. Rorke caught May (136) with a beautiful ball that swung from leg to hit off stump and had Willie Watson
Willie Watson (England cricketer)
William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:...
leg before, then Benaud (5/83) spun through the tail to give him 50 wickets in the season and the MCC were out for 303. There was just time for New South Wales to reach 44/0 when the rain washed out the third and fourth days.
Fourth Test - Adelaide
See Main Article - 1958-59 Ashes seriesVictoria Country vs MCC
After losing the Ashes in 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 team played three one day games. These were not limited overs cricket in the modern sense, but each side played one innings in the day and the first team could declare early to give it time to bowl out the opposition. This was not required in the first game at Wangaratta, Victoria when the Country XI were dismissed for 31 thanks 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...
(5/17), Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
(2/4) and Fred Trueman
Fred Trueman
Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
(1/8). Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
was out for 8, but Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
(22) and Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row
Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:...
(40) made the runs for a 9 wicket victory. The MCC continued to entertain the crowd and get some batting practice; May made 56, Watson 38, Graveney 50 and Mortimore 50, the Country team using 10 bowlers and Thomlinson taking 3/60 before they ended on 308/8.
Southern New South Wales vs MCC
Ian MeckiffIan MeckiffIan Meckiff is a former cricketer who represented Australia in 18 Tests between 1957 and 1963...
had destroyed their batting lineup in the just-completed second Test and their bad luck continued when two of their players were injured in a car smash on their journey up to Wagga from MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. I don't really think they wanted to play this match at all.
- Max Rudd
The team proceeded to Wagga Wagga, New South Wales for a second Country game and the opposition again batted first and a on a wicket taking spin Laker (4/22), Lock (2/22), Mortimore (2/17) and Subba Row (1/9) dismissed them for 117. The MCC won by 7 wickets and batted on again to make 260/8 with Richardson making 79, Watson 63 and Mortimore 44 and John Stuckings took 3/96.
Prime Minister's XI vs MCC
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
was a keen cricket fan and the match between his Prime Minister's XI and the touring team was one of the social highlights of the tour with an official reception the night before the match. Cricketers can become jaded over official functions and endless speeches as the tour progresses, but Menzies was a marvellous after-dinner speaker and proved to be highly entertaining. Five Australian captains graced his team; 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...
, 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...
, Arthur Morris
Arthur Morris
Arthur Robert Morris MBE is a former Australian cricketer who played 46 Test matches between 1946 and 1955. An opener, Morris is regarded as one of Australia's greatest left-handed batsmen. He is best known for his key role in Don Bradman's Invincibles side, which made an undefeated tour of...
, Ian Craig
Ian Craig
Ian David Craig is a former Australian Test cricketer who represented Australia in 11 Tests between 1953 and 1958. A slightly built right-handed batsman, Craig holds the record for being the youngest Australian to make a first-class double century, gain Test selection and captain his country...
and 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...
as did the 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...
and a Victorian
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...
wicket-keeper called Les Botham. They batted first and the opener Morris hit 14 boundaries in his 79 and Brian James, a New South Wales Country player hit 5 sixes in his 88 before retiring hurt. 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...
took 2/38 with his leg-spin and Jim Laker
Jim Laker
James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia...
2/61. They declared on 288/7 off 38 eight-ball overs in two hours and thirty-five minutes, leaving the MCC roughly the same number of overs in slightly less time. Peter Richardson
Peter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
was out for a duck to Lindwall, Ted Dexter
Ted Dexter
Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer...
thrashed 76 before hitting his wicket 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...
struck 101 runs in 84 minutes with 10 boundaries to win the match by four wickets. He batted on for his century before he was caught by Hassett off Morris (4/46), who ran through the lower order with his part-time leg-spin and they were all out for 332.
Fifth Test - Melbourne
See Main Article - 1958-59 Ashes seriesTour First Class Averages
sourceAs 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 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 |
| P.B.H. May Peter May -External links:* * at Cricket Archive*... (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... |
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-Handed 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 | 22 | 1 | 1197 | 140 | 57.00 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| 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... (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... |
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-Handed 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... |
15 | 26 | 957 | 100* 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... |
45.57 | 2 | 5 | 15 | ||
| 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-Handed 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 | 25 | 4 | 931 | 177* 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... |
44.33 | 1 | 7 | 15 | |
| R. Sabba Row Raman Subba Row Raman Subba Row is an English former cricketer who played for England, Cambridge University, Surrey and Northamptonshire.-Life and career:... |
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... |
Left-Handed 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... |
7 | 11 | 2 | 314 | 83 | 34.88 | 3 | 1 | ||
| Milton, C.A. Arthur Milton Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City... |
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-Handed 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 | 24 | 3 | 658 | 116 | 31.33 | 1 | 3 | 11 | |
| Watson, W Willie Watson (England cricketer) William "Willie" Watson, was an English cricketer, who played for Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England. He was a double international, as Watson was also a footballer who played for England's national team.-Cricket career:... |
Leicestershire Leicestershire County Cricket Club Leicestershire 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 Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland.... |
Left-Handed 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... |
8 | 13 | 386 | 141 | 26.69 | 1 | 3 | |||
| P.E. Richardson Peter Richardson (cricketer) Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England.... |
Worcestershire Worcestershire County Cricket Club Worcestershire 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 Worcestershire... |
Left-handed 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... |
14 | 26 | 688 | 88 | 26.46 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Swetman, R. Roy Swetman Roy Swetman is an English former cricketer, who played in eleven Tests as a wicket-keeper from 1959 to 1960.-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... |
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-Handed 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 | 3 | 318 | 76 | 24.46 | 2 | 15 | 1 | |
| 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-Handed 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... |
13 | 22 | 3 | 501 | 71* 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... |
26.36 | 3 | 5 | ||
| Mortimore, J.B. John Mortimore (cricketer) John Brian Mortimore is a former English cricketer, who played in nine Tests for England from 1959 to 1964, and captained Gloucestershire between 1965 and 1967.... |
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-Handed 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... |
7 | 7 | 2 | 115 | 44* 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... |
23.00 | 2 | |||
| 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-Handed 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 | 12 | 5 | 131 | 36* 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... |
18.71 | 4 | |||
| Trueman, F.S. Fred Trueman Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968... |
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-Handed 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... |
12 | 16 | 1 | 266 | 53 | 17.73 | 1 | 11 | ||
| E.R. Dexter Ted Dexter Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer... |
Sussex Sussex County Cricket Club Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a... |
Right-Handed 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... |
7 | 12 | 1 | 154 | 38 | 14.00 | ||||
| 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-Handed 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... |
7 | 10 | 124 | 55 | 12.40 | 1 | 8 | 3 | ||
| Lock, G.A.R. Tony Lock Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:... |
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-Handed 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 | 15 | 1 | 173 | 44 | 12.35 | 2 | |||
| 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-Handed 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 | 13 | 140 | 33 | 10.76 | 1 | ||||
| Laker, J.C. Jim Laker James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia... |
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-Handed 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 | 3 | 107 | 22* 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... |
10.70 | 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-Handed 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... |
8 | 10 | 7 | 31 | 11* 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... |
10.33 | 1 | |||
| 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 |
| Laker, J.C. Jim Laker James "Jim" Charles Laker was a cricketer who played for England in the 1950s, known for "Laker's match" in 1956 at Old Trafford, when he took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia... |
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... |
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... |
282.1 | 63 | 655 | 38 | 5/31 | 17.23 | 3 | 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-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... |
169.7 | 30 | 507 | 26 | 4/23 | 19.50 | ||
| 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... |
209.1 | 30 | 549 | 28 | 7/47 | 19.60 | 2 | |
| Trueman, F.S. Fred Trueman Frederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968... |
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 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... |
265.7 | 30 | 823 | 37 | 5/42 | 22.24 | 2 | |
| Lock G.A.R. Tony Lock Graham Anthony Richard Lock was an English cricketer, who played primarily as a left-arm spinner. He played in forty nine Tests for England taking 174 wickets at 25.58 each.-Life and career:... |
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... |
Slow Left Arm Bowler 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... |
335.1 | 65 | 973 | 33 | 6/29 | 29.43 | 2 | |
| 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... |
136.7 | 38 | 735 | 21 | 4/55 | 35.00 | ||
| Mortimore, J.B. John Mortimore (cricketer) John Brian Mortimore is a former English cricketer, who played in nine Tests for England from 1959 to 1964, and captained Gloucestershire between 1965 and 1967.... |
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.... |
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... |
122 | 25 | 335 | 8 | 2/27 | 41.87 | ||
| 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... (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... |
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... |
6.3 | 42 | 1 | 1/17 | 42.00 | |||
| 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... |
181 | 31 | 516 | 10 | 3/35 | 51.60 | ||
| E.R. Dexter Ted Dexter Edward Ralph Dexter CBE is a former English cricketer... |
Sussex Sussex County Cricket Club Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a... |
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... |
53 | 4 | 204 | 3 | 2/45 | 68.00 | ||
| 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... |
18 | 1 | 86 | 1 | 1/39 | 86.00 | ||
| Milton, C.A. Arthur Milton Clement Arthur Milton was an English cricketer and footballer. He played County cricket for Gloucestershire from 1948 to 1974, playing six Test matches for England in 1958 and 1959. He also played domestic football for Arsenal between 1951 and 1955, and then for a brief period for Bristol City... |
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-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... |
4 | 1 | 33 | 0/33 | ||||
Further reading
- Ashley Brown, The Pictorial History of Cricket, Bison Books, 1988
- Mark Browning, Richie BenaudRichie BenaudRichard "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....
: Cricketer, Captain, Guru, Kangaroo Press, 1996 - Robert Coleman, Seasons In the Sun: the Story Of the Victorian Cricket Association, Hargreen Publishing, 1993.
- Cris Freddi, The Guinness Book of Cricket Blunders, Guinness Publishing, 1996
- 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 - David Frith, Pageant of Cricket, The MacMillian Company of Australia, 1987
- 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...
with Norman Giller, The Ten Greatest Test Teams, Sidgewick & Jackson, 1988 - Ken Kelly and David Lemmon, Cricket Reflections : Five Decades of Cricket Photographs, Heinemann, 1985
- Alban George Moyes, Benaud & Co: The story of the Tests, 1958-1959, Angus & Robertson, 1959
- E.W. Swanton (ed), The Barclays World of Cricket, Collins, 1986
- Fred TruemanFred TruemanFrederick Sewards Trueman OBE was an English cricketer, generally acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history. A bowler of genuinely fast pace who was widely known as Fiery Fred, Trueman played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1949 until he retired in 1968...
, As It Was, The Memoirs of Fred Trueman, Pan Books, 2004 - Bernard Whimpress, Chuckers: A history of throwing in Australian cricket, Elvis Press, 2004.
- Bob WillisBob WillisRobert George Dylan Willis MBE , known as Bob Willis, is a former English cricketer who played for Surrey, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal and England...
and Patrick Murphy, Starting with Grace, Stanley Paul, 1986