England v Australia - Second Test

Lord's, London

ENG: JB Hobbs, *L Hutton, WR Hammond, KF Barrington, DI Gower, IT Botham, +LEG Ames, FJ Titmus, H Larwood, FS Trueman, AV Bedser.
AUS: WM Woodfull, WM Lawry, DG Bradman, AR Border, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, +IA Healy, *R Benaud, AK Davidson, RR Lindwall, TM Alderman.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: RS Dunne (NZL) & DL Orchard (SAF)
Toss: England

Selection policy for the second Test illustrated the difference in mood between the two camps following Australia's comprehensive victory at Edgbaston: the tourists named the same XI whilst England made five changes to their starting line-up, the most significant being the return of Ian Botham after almost two seasons and 18 Tests since Tony Greig claimed the all-rounder's berth in the team.

As at Edgbaston, Hutton again won the toss and elected to bat, but the early losses of Hobbs - for his first ever duck in this, his 39th Test and 70th innings - and Hammond (21), made the early going tough for England as Australia's bowlers found some unexpected early movement. Hutton and Barrington were able to settle though, and the afternoon and early evening belonged to England as Hutton completed his eleventh ATG hundred, handing out especially harsh treatment to his opposite number, Richie Benaud.

154 runs were added for the third wicket, but Hutton fell to Terry Alderman shortly after reaching three figures, and once Miller removed Gower (34) with the new ball shortly before the close, the innings fell away on the second morning, collapsing from 241-3 to 300-9 before some late hitting from Fred Trueman (48*, his highest ATG score) handed back some momentum to England, who finished on a respectable 347.

The two Bills, Woodfull and Lawry, then set about regaining the initiative for Australia with a 138 run opening stand, and with Trueman and Larwood both ineffective the tourists finished day two on 159-2, although Bradman's late dismissal for just 3, top-edging a pull off Trueman in fading light, gave England some hope for the following day. A century stand between Woodfull and McCabe seemed to be dashing English hopes though, but when Woodfull finally went for a marvellous 166, caught behind off a Botham delivery that climbed on him, Australia collapsed in even more spectacular fashion than England had on the previous day. McCabe's dashing innings ended on 71 when he was caught down the leg side by Ames off Bedser, and from the strength of 298-3 Australia subsided to 341 all out, handing England a most unlikely 6 run first innings lead.

Botham and Bedser had both bowled well for little return, but it was the unlikely figure of Wally Hammond who wrapped up the tourists' innings, finishing with his best ATG figures of 4-17, and with two days remaining he would now be expected to perform with the bat as England tried to build a lead that would put some pressure on Australia. Hobbs made up for his first innings failure by stroking his way to his fifteenth ATG hundred, adding 160 for the second wicket with a labouring Hammond, and at 169-1 England seemed well placed to really press on. However, just as in the first two innings, wickets then began to fall at regular intervals, and with the run rate falling Hutton was never in a position where he could safely declare.

Gower made a horribly scratchy 52 as Lindwall and Miller bowled with both hostility and control, and England were eventually bowled out for 291 on the fifth morning, setting Australia an achievable target of 298 in 77 overs, although a wicket now playing with uneven bounce would not make last day batting easy. Indeed, the tourists never really threatened to mount a serious charge, and with Larwood at last finding his rhythm, it was England who seemed most likely to force a victory. Larwood spectacularly plucked out Bradman's off stump for 48 with what proved to be the last ball before tea, and at 103-3 Australia now set out their stall for the draw.

Larwood continued to bowl full and fast, and with Titmus also picking up three wickets England maintained a sniff of victory, but McCabe's second fifty of the match took Australia to within nine overs of safety, and Benaud and Davidson were able to bat out time to draw the game and maintain the tourists' 1-0 series lead. England had responded well to their first Test defeat though, and with three tests to play they still have a chance of regaining the Ashes, but Australia are now the bookmakers' favourites to retain possession of the urn.

Scores
ENG 1st Inns 347 (Hutton 104, Barrington 89, Trueman 48*)
AUS 1st Inns 341 (Woodfull 166, McCabe 71, Lawry 40; Hammond 4-17)
ENG 2nd Inns 291 (Hobbs 112, Gower 52, Hammond 49; Miller 4-70)
AUS 2nd Inns 193-7 (McCabe 54, Bradman 48)

MATCH DRAWN


Man of the Match: WM Woodfull