England v Australia - Tour Match

MCC v Australians
Lord's
4 Day Game
Umpires: F Chester & CS Elliott
Toss: MCC

MCC: *WG Grace, H Sutcliffe, KS Ranjitsinhji, ER Dexter, DR Jardine, DW Randall, +RC Russell, PH Edmonds, GG Arnold, ARC Fraser, DE Malcolm.
AUS: WM Woodfull, WM Lawry, DG Bradman, *AR Border, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, +IA Healy, AK Davidson, AA Mallett, DK Lillee, TM Alderman.

An M.C.C. team whose main selection criterion seemed to be 'ability to rile' were no match for the Australians in this tour opener, and a thoroughly professional display gave Richie Benaud's team the perfect boost before the gloves come off for real.

A sore back forced Benaud himself to sit out this game, but Allan Border led well in his stead, rotating his bowlers to good effect in both M.C.C. innings as well as contributing some valuable runs off his own bat. Herbert Sutcliffe was the only top order batsman from the home team to offer any resistance as Terry Alderman enjoyed a most profitable introduction into the Australian set-up, and had it not been for some stoical late order scrapping from Arnold (30) and Fraser (21), then M.C.C. may not have made it past 100.

As it was, a total of 160 was woefully inadequate on a basically flat wicket, a fact that Bill Lawry underlined with a most authoritative century on his return to the international fold. Bradman made just 35 before playing on against Grace, but Border and McCabe rammed home the tourists' advantage with contrasting nineties before the tail fell away in search of quick declaration runs on the third afternoon.

A total of 385 gave the Australians a lead of over 200, and this would prove to be more than enough for victory once W.G. was bowled by Mallett in the last over of the third day. Lillee and Miller ripped through the rest of the innings on the final morning, and it was all over shortly after lunch, with the tourists having secured a comfortable innings victory. Australia's bowlers in particular look to be in good form ahead of the first Test, and the anticipation is almost tangible as we approach the start of cricket's biggest series.

Scoreboard
MCC 1st Inns 160 (Sutcliffe 41; Alderman 5-51)
AUS 1st Inns 385 (Lawry 110, Border 92, McCabe 90)
MCC 2nd Inns 150 (Grace 56; Lillee 4-42)

AUSTRALIANS WON BY AN INNINGS & 75 RUNS