England v Australia - Third Test

Trent Bridge, Nottingham

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) & D Sang Hue (WI)
Toss: England

After an even contest at Lord's, both sides named unchanged XIs at Trent Bridge, and for the third time in three Tests Richie Benaud called incorrectly at the toss, allowing England to bat first once again. On a placid wicket, the hosts dominated a rain hit opening two days, racking up a first innings score of 475, their highest ever against Australia, with Hammond's first century of the series the highlight.

Hammond got to work after some early swing with the new ball had accounted for both openers, and he was unfortunate to be dismissed for 104, with umpire Steve Dunne adjudging him caught behind off Alderman when there seemed to be daylight between bat and ball. An increasingly fluent David Gower contributed 84, but with the outfield slow and Benaud employing some tight fields, England's scoring rate remained in check as the runs accumulated. Benaud himself bowled very well, but with the umpires not on his side, Ames (71) and Titmus (an ATG best 77*) were able to compile a national record partnership of 104 for the seventh wicket, and Larwood spanked 35 useful runs from number nine before Miller cleaned up the innings to finish with his second consecutive four-for.

If the opening two days had belonged to England, days three and four were dominated by Australia as Woodfull and Lawry became just the fifth pair in ATG history to bat unparted through an entire day's play. After surviving a hostile new ball assault from Trueman and Larwood, the two Bills eventually amassed 287 together for the first wicket, by far an Australian record and the sixth highest opening stand ever in ATG Tests. Woodfull eventually fell to the deserving Larwood for 113, but Lawry went on to post an imposing 182 before being bowled by Botham after more than eight hours at the crease, an innings that made one wonder why he had been away from the Australian team for so long.

Botham also removed Bradman for 36 but really did not bowl well at all, Larwood and the metronomic Bedser being the only English bowlers to emerge with any real credit, and although wickets fell at regular intervals once the opening stand had been broken, Allan Border stood firm as the tourists nudged their way into the lead. Lindwall was felled by Larwood late on the fourth evening and would not bowl in England's second innings, but last man Terry Alderman clung on for the best part of an hour until Titmus trapped him in front, leaving Border agonizingly stranded on 99*, the first player to suffer such a fate in ATG Tests.

Nonetheless, Australia had trumped England's efforts in the first innings with the highest total by either side in all Ashes Tests, and a total of 523 gave the Aussies a lead of 48 going into the final day's play. A draw now looked the only option, but with the wicket now starting to become untruthful in its bounce, the nerves of the home fans began to fray as the tourists' bowlers (minus Lindwall) got stuck in. Benaud removed England's top three with just 69 on the board, including Hammond for 17 with a simply unplayable turning delivery, and from a relatively comfortable position of 60-2 at lunch, England slumped to an alarming 113-7 by tea, with only Les Ames standing between Australia and the most unlikely of victories.

Fortunately for England though, Messrs Larwood, Trueman and Bedser gave Ames (26* in two hours) enough support to see them through to safety, and although England had been bowled out in less than a day for a paltry 141, Australia's target of 94 off 10 overs was never going to be threatened. Bedser was able to strike two psychological blows in that time, dismissing Lawry for 9 and Bradman for a duck, but Trueman's miserable match was concluded when Hutton withdrew him from the attack after he bowled his second beamer of the game, and his place in the team ahead of the fourth Test must now be in doubt, despite the fact that his own Headingley will be the venue. Whatever the selections, England's task is now clear; they must win the final two Tests in order to regain the Ashes, an order that, at the moment, seems to be as tall as they get.

Scores
ENG 1st Inns 475 (Hammond 104, Gower 84, Titmus 77*, Ames 71, Botham 48; Miller 4-77)
AUS 1st Inns 523 (Lawry 182, Woodfull 113, Border 99*; Bedser 4-83)
ENG 2nd Inns 141 (Benaud 5-73)
AUS 2nd Inns 25-2

MATCH DRAWN


Man of the Match: WM Lawry

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

England v Australia - First Test

Edgbaston, Birmingham

ENG: *L Hutton, G Boycott, WR Hammond, KF Barrington, MC Cowdrey, AW Greig, +LEG Ames, JC Laker, FS Trueman, AV Bedser, DL Underwood.
AUS: WM Woodfull, WM Lawry, DG Bradman, AR Border, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, +IA Healy, *R Benaud, AK Davidson, RR Lindwall, TM Alderman.

Debuts: TM Alderman (AUS)
Umpires: Khizer Hayat (PAK) & DL Orchard (SAF)
Toss: England

The Ashes. Cricket's greatest rivalry. The number one and number two ranked teams in ATG history. Could there be a more perfect backdrop for the start of a series? Both sides would be without key players for the first Test though, with Jack Hobbs (back) and Dennis Lillee (knee), forced to sit out, and Terry Alderman would make his debut for Australia after impressing in the tour match against MCC.

Hutton won the toss and batted, but it was Alderman and co. who held sway over the course of the first two days as England struggled towards 300 under cloudy early season skies. With bad light curtailing play on day one, England batted until past tea on the second day, crawling to a disappointing total of 293, an innings that centred entirely around Ken Barrington's eight hour 133. All six bowlers employed by Richie Benaud claimed victims, and three times England lost wickets in the last over of a session, including Hammond for a second ball duck on the first morning.

The recalled Alec Bedser (37) had helped to add 84 for the ninth wicket with Barrington - one run short of equalling the national record - but this was to be his most positive contribution in the match as Australia took hold of the game over the course of days three and four. With Edgbaston now bathed in weekend sunshine, it was Don Bradman who made hay as the tourists ground the English bowlers into submission. First Bill Lawry stroked a fluent 63 on his return to the team, then Bradman hooked up with Allan Border to the tune of 206 runs for the third wicket as England toiled for two and a half sessions without a breakthrough.

Border contributed a typically gritty 90 from his new position at number four, but Bradman went on to record a monolithic 177, compiled in over eight and a half hours of immense concentration. It wasn't the Don's most fluent innings by any means, but it was certainly one of his most important, and it gave Keith Miller license to swat a blistering 118 ball century, studded with nine fours and six sixes, as Australia ran up a total of 491-6 before Benaud declared. None of England's bowlers made any sort of impression, and with four sessions left to play it was now down to the batsmen to salvage a face saving draw.

Run scoring again proved problematic for the hosts though, and after Alderman removed both openers, England's malaise of losing a wicket at the close of the session continued, Barrington departing for 17, bowled by Benaud in the last over of the fourth day, and England entered day five on 85-3, still 113 in arrears. Hammond and Cowdrey saw things through to the stroke of lunch, but once again a wicket fell as the tea was about to be poured, Hammond fending Davidson to Benaud at leg gully for 39 on this occasion, and from 142-4 the innings died a slow death over the next session and a half.

Greig and Ames again went cheaply, and when Cowdrey eventually departed for 47, bowled by Davidson having played himself into a strokeless torpor over the course of the afternoon, it was all but over. The only question seemed to be whether Australia would have to bat again, and when Bedser was last man out, caught behind off Miller for 2, England were still one run short of making Woodfull and Lawry strap on their pads. Australia had won by an innings and one run with sixteen overs to spare, and as much as they deserved their victory it was nonetheless a surprise, given the relative form of the two teams over the course of recent series. England put up a decidedly lacklustre performance over the five days here, and they will need a far more positive approach at Lord's if they are going to seriously threaten Australia's hold on the Ashes.

Scores
ENG 1st Inns 293 (Barrington 133)
AUS 1st Inns 491-6 dec (Bradman 177, Miller 109, Border 90, Lawry 63)
ENG 2nd Inns 197 (Cowdrey 47)

AUSTRALIA WON BY AN INNINGS & 1 RUN


Man of the Match: DG Bradman

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

England v Australia - Series Preview

Season V of ATG cricket kicks off with perhaps the most anticipated series on the calendar - The Ashes - and not only is the famous urn at stake, but it promises to be an unofficial 'world championship' of sorts, with the two sides occupying the top two positions in the world rankings. England have yet to win the Ashes in two previous ATG contests against Australia, but they begin here as favourites, having gone undefeated in nine series since losing 3-0 to the Aussies in the very first ATG series of all.

Richie Benaud retains the captaincy of a 17 man touring party, and having tasted defeat in the recent clashes with South Africa and West Indies, the Australian squad has undergone some significant reconstructive surgery. Australia's most capped player, Greg Chappell, is dropped for the first time in his ATG career, and there is also no place for ATG cricket's leading wicket taker, Bill O'Reilly, despite the fact that 'Tiger' headed the bowling averages against West Indies. Recalls are handed to Bill Lawry, Keith Miller and Steve Waugh, whilst the trio of Warren Bardsley, Ashley Mallett and Terry Alderman are included in an Australian squad for the first time.

Benaud's appointment as skipper has not been without its detractors, and both he and the previous incumbent - one Donald George Bradman - will have a lot to prove on a tour that all Australians hope will mark a long awaited return to form for the baggy green.

Australia's Ashes Squad
R Benaud (c), AR Border (v/c), TM Alderman, W Bardsley, DG Bradman, AK Davidson, IA Healy, WA Johnston, WM Lawry, DK Lillee, RR Lindwall, AA Mallett, RW Marsh, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, SR Waugh, WM Woodfull.