Australian cricket team in Australia in 1946-47
Encyclopedia
The 1946-47 Australians defeated the touring England team 3-0 in the 1946-47 Ashes series. First class cricket had continued in Australia until January 1942 and as grade cricket
had continued throughout the war there had been less of an hiatus than in England. Their cricket grounds had not been bombed and compared to austerity Britain Australia was a land of plenty, which allowed for a more rapid recovery than in the old country, as had happened after the First World War. There was no Sheffield Shield in 1945-46, but the Australian Services XI had played all the states and there had been non-Shield interstate games. However, Australia's main advantage was the encouragement of their younger players, in particular by Bradman. Though overshadowed by the great 1948 Australian team in 1975 Don Bradman reckoned that it was Australia's strongest post-war home team, with the 1974-75 Australians
coming a close second and the 1950-51 Australians third. It was also superior to the pre-war Australian teams, as though they were just as strong in batting they had no fast bowlers and depended heavily on the leg-spin of Clarrie Grimmett
and Bill O'Reilly
. In 1946-47 Ray Lindwall
and Keith Miller
emerged as a great new-ball partnership, with quality support from Ernie Toshack
, Ian Johnson
and Colin McCool
. Its only areas of improvement were in finding another top-order batsman - a position soon filled by Neil Harvey
.
Donald George Bradman, better known as Don Bradman or The Don, was the greatest batsman of all time, was ranked first in ESPN's Legends of Cricket and is can be statistically regarded as the greatest sportsman of all as "no other athlete dominates an international sport to the extent that Bradman does cricket". His unorthodox grip meant he could not cream the ball through the covers like Wally Hammond
and purists contended that Jack Hobbs
was better on a sticky wicket, but on any pitch that did not make batting a lottery he simply made more runs. He made them fast too, until the 1990s his 3.7 runs per six ball over in Tests was the fastest scoring rate of any batsmen except Gilbert Jessop
(4.2). Even if his pre-war career was ignored his feats would make him the greatest batsman of all time; 680 runs (97.14) against England in 1946-47, 715 runs (178.75) against India in 1947-48 and 508 runs (72.57) in England in 1948, with 8 hundreds in his last 15 Tests. Ironically he was bowled by Eric Hollies
googly
for a duck in his final Test innings when he was 4 runs short of a batting average of 100.00, he had to settle for one of 99.94.
Bradman volunteered for the RAAF
in 1940, but transferred to the Australian Army
as a lieutenant in the Army School of Physical Training. Stress and depression aggravated his fibrositis and he was invalided out of the army in 1941, after which he spend months in poor physical condition and lost the use of his right thumb and forefinger. He resumed stockbroking in 1942 and set up his own firm after his employer was imprisoned for fraud and embezzlement. In 1945 he joined the South Australian Cricket Association
and became their representative with the Board of Control
and he seriously considered retiring from cricket in order to concentrate on an administrative role. He played a few games in 1945-46, but Richard Whittington
thought he was "the ghost of a once great cricketer". The press and public badly wanted to see him play and after a few warm up matches Bradman agreed to captain Australia against the advice of his doctor. In the First Test he played poorly for 28 when he chopped a ball to Jack Ikin
in gully. The England players (and Keith Miller
from the dressing room) thought he was out, but Bradman was confident that the ball had been jammed into he ground by his bat before it flew up to Ikin and refused to walk. The umpire gave him the benefit of the doubt, but Wally Hammond
told Bradman "That's a fine way to start a Test series." Bradman went on to make a match-winning 187 and it was thought if Bradman had been given out he would have retired from cricket.
In Don Bradman's time as an Australian batsmen before the war England won 13 Ashes Tests
to Australia's 10, some of them by huge margins. He made his debut in the First Test of 1928-29, making 18 and 1 as Australia were beaten by a record 675 runs. In their last Test before the war England had made 903/7 - Wally Hammond
waiting the Don was unfit to bat before he declared - and Australia lost by an innings and 579 runs, another record. Bradman was not the man to forget such things and now he had the better team he was determined to repay the favour. The First Test of 1946-47 saw Australia win their largest victory over England by an innings and 332 runs, the first time that a Test team had lost and won successive Tests by an innings, albeit with a ten-year gap due to the war. As a captain Bradman had few rivals, tough, shrewd and rarely missing a trick. He liked to play aggressive cricket, racking up huge scores with his batting then bowling the opposition out. While fielding Bradman carefully watched batsmen play, if he saw a weakness he would call over the bowlers to tell them and reset his field accordingly. In the First Test at Brisbane he even took Ernie Toshack
down the pitch, showed him exactly where he wanted him to bowl and make him bowl a practice over alongside the pitch before play, after which the left-armer took 9 of the 15 English wickets to fall that day. He was often criticised for being distant and removed from his team and too conscious of his superiority, "a star with ten extras". However, he built the 1946-47 team from scratch, gave them encouragement, and made them Bradman-minded; "When you get in front, nail 'em into the ground. When you get 'em down, never let up." By 1948 he had moulded them into one of the great teams in cricket history, nicknamed The Invincables as they won the 1948 Ashes series
4-0 and were undefeated on tour. He retired at the end of the 1948-49 season and is the only Australian to be knighted for his services to cricket.
After the Second World War Australia began a record unbeaten runs of games; 14 Tests against England, 26 Tests against all countries and 96 games in all cricket, having lost their last game to England at the Oval
in 1938. Their record remained until England played 27 Tests without defeat in 1968-71.
Australia had three great openers in this period, Bill Brown
, Sid Barnes
and Arthur Morris
. Brown had been an Australian batsman for most of the 1930s, coming in at number three after Bill Woodfull
and Bill Ponsford
or opening with Jack Fingleton
. He captained Australia on their tour of New Zealand in 1945-46, which unlike other such tours had one of hits matches belatedly recognised as a Test. Brown missed the 1946-47 series through injury and with Barnes was promoted to open with Morris in 1946-47, they were soon established as Australia's opening pair and when Brown returned he again batted at number three. Barnes played one Test before the war - at the Oval in 1938 - so hardly rates as a pre-war player even though he made his first class debut in 1936. He was a back-foot strokeplayer known for his off-side cuts and drives before the war, but so improved his on-side play that Alec Bedser
changed his bowling grip so as to avoid bowling in-swingers at his legs. It is as an eccentric that he is best remembered, playing in Don Bradman's testimonial match using a miniature bat, serving drinks in a state match wearing a lounge suit instead of whites and leaping over the turnstiles at the MCG
. In the Second Test in 1946-47 he threw away his wicket when he reached 234 so that he would make the same score as his captain. He was dropped from the Australian team because of his antics, and unsuccessfully took the case to court. Barnes made 846 runs (70.50) against England in the 1940s, his opening partner Arthur Morris
made 1,199 (79.93), but his Test average suffered as unlike Barnes he faced the powerful England attacks of the 1950s. A stylish left-hander who uniquely made 148 and 111 on his first class debut in 1940-41 Morris had excellent footwork which made him a good player against spin, but was vulnerable to in-swinging balls aimed at his leg-stump. As a result he was labelled "Bedser's Bunny"
in 1950-51 until he made 206 in the Fourth Test. In 1946-57 he made three centuries in a row, 155 in the Third Test at Melbourne and 122 and 124 not out in the Fourth at Adelaide. Only Bradman made more than his 503 runs and in 1948 he made the most runs (696) and topped the averages (87.00), but as E.W. Swanton wrote "what the figures do not say is that few more charming men have played for Australia, and I cannot name one who was more popular with his opponents". Merv Harvey
was a middle order strokeplayer who was called up to open with Morris when Sid Barnes
was unfit to play in the Fourth Test. He made 12 and 31 and never played for Australia again, though his younger brother Neil Harvey
became a famous Test batsman.
After Don Bradman in the batting order was his vice-captain Lindsay Hassett
, a dimulative (5'6") batsman who had been a great strokemaker before the war and had made his Test debut in England in 1938. He captained the scratch Australian Services cricket team
which drew the Victory Tests
2-2 against England in 1945. After the war he took his batting more seriously and was more defensive, though never dull, and he never failed in a series. He had an impish good humour, but this stopped when he walked onto the field and "there is no better team man in Australia". Keith Miller
had been a young batsmen before the war better known for playing Aussie Rules football
in his native Victoria
. In the war he was a Flight Lieutenant
in the RAAF
, and inured his back crash-landing a de Havilland Mosquito
, which affected the rest of his playing career. He was the star of the Victory Tests, having decided that "The people of England wanted an escape from the hellish suffering they had experienced for so many years. Those who turned up to watch cricket deserved something better than grim, unentertaining stonewalling, and I was determined to go for runs every time I went in to bat," He hit a swashbuckling 185 in 165 minutes for the Dominion XI vs England at Lords with 7 towering sixes and became a cricketing star. Miller kept to this philosophy throughout his career, becoming one of the world's most entertaining strokemakers and a magnet for the crowds. Although an all-rounder Miller saw himself as a batsman first and batted in the top order throughout his career, though it suffered as he was often spent from bowling. Ron Hamence
was the nearly man of the Australian team, he made his Test debut after his career best 145 vs the MCC and was stranded on 30 not out in their first innings collapse to Doug Wright
. He played India in 1947-48 and toured England in 1948, but played only two more Tests as he could not force his way into the strong Australian team.
, there was Ray Lindwall
, Colin McCool
, Ian Johnson
and the wicketkeeper Don Tallon
. Lindwall took to fast bowling after seeing Harold Larwood
as a boy, but was a strong striker of the ball and a menace to parked cars in grade cricket
. In the Third Test he hit exactly 100 off 90 balls with 14 fours and a six and added 154 in an hour and a half with Tallon, whose 92 off 108 balls with 10 fours was the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper until Rod Marsh
made 132 against New Zealand in 1973–74. Like Tallon Ian Johnson never quite batted as well as expected, but topped the averages in the 1954-55 Ashes series by making 116 runs (58.00). McCool made 95 in the First Test and 104 not out in the Third, when he came in at 188/5 and dominated the strike. He was a good player of spin with wristy cuts and vigorous hooks.
announced his retirement at the beginning of the season there were fears that Australia's untried bowlers would suffer against the much-vaulted England batting line up of Len Hutton
, Cyril Washbrook
, Bill Edrich
, Denis Compton
and Wally Hammond
. The opposite became true as the English batsmen initially failed and Australia won the First and Second Tests by an innings.
At the forefront of the bowling attack was Ray Lindwall
, who decide to become a fast bowler after watching Harold Larwood
. His whose smooth run up and perfect delivery produced swing and control and bouncers at a lethal pace, though he dropped the ball short less than Miller. Neville Cardus
later wrote that "He has so many brains it's a wonder why he ever went in for fast bowling" and working hand-in-glove with his captain Don Bradman he would think batsman out and catch them in carefully seleected field-placings. A. P. Herbert
was moved to poetry to describe his bowling action and Trevor Bailey
wrote "Watching him bowl was one of the most satisfying spectacles the game has ever produced". Even so his arm was thought to be too low (Frank Tyson
thought him almost a round-arm bowler) and his long drag could have produced numerous no balls, though he was rarely called for this. His parner Keith Miller
had been a batsmen, but in the Victory Tests
the Australian Services XI
were short of bowlers and Hassett used Miller initially as a change bowler and then gave him the new ball. To everyone's surprise he picked up wickets and soon his strength and natural talent made him into a genuine fast bowler. Bradman knew Australia needed this more than another batsman and encouraged Miller to develop his new talent, though due an injury to his back crashlanding the war limited him to short spells. Unlike his new-ball partner Miller liked to drop the ball short and lacked consistency, sometimes bowling leg-breaks or off-spin. Bill O'Reilly
wrote "The value of Miller's bowling lies wholly and solely in its surprise element. Just when he appears to be well under the control of the batsman he comes to light with a ball that can upset anyone". Together they formed the best fast bowling duo in post-war cricket, perhaps the greatest of any era, and were the spearhead of Australia's success. Ernie Toshack
, a left-arm medium pace bowler who bowled with a packed leg-side field and tied up the batsmen when Lindwall and Miller were resting. In the First Test he had the perfect pace to unhinge the English batting on a Brisbane sticky, but failed to understand Bradman's instructions. In the end Bradman took him to the middle, pointed to the spot where he wanted Toshack to bowl, and made him practice alongside the wicket until he understood what was required. Once this was done 9 of the last 15 wickets fell to his bowling and Australia won by an innings. Fred Freer
was a steady fast-medium swing bowler who liked to drop the ball short and replaced Ray Lindwall in the Second Test when the fast bowler had chickenpox
.
The England captain Wally Hammond
ordered his batsmen to stay within their crease when facing the Australian spinners, whose figures were flattered as a result. In the Second Test Ian Johnson
took 6/42 off 241 balls with his off-spin, including one spell of 1/3 off 88 balls, of which 85 were not scored from. Johnson's off spin
was a rarity in Australia, where the pitches work better to leg-spin, and was not a big spinner of the ball, but he used flight to deceive the batsmen and could tie down one end. Colin McCool
was "a better fieldsman than a batsman, and a better batsman than he was a bowler" But before the MCC team had even landed in Australia he snapped up 35 wickets (28.82) with his flighty leg-spin
for Queensland
with help from Don Tallon
behind the stumps. He dismissed Hammond, Hutton, Washbrook, Compton, Yardley, Edrich and Voce in his 7/106 for an Australian XI against the MCC, 5/109 in the Third Test and 5/44 in the Fifth and "the English batsmen seemed like rabbits fascinated in the presence of a snake". Bruce Dooland
was another leg-spinner who was brought into the South Australia
side after one club match in 1945. He was not overawed and soon earned a place on the tour of New Zealand. He was not as deadly as McCool and by the end of the tour he suffered as the England batsman became used to his flighted leg-breaks. George Tribe
was a rare specialist Chinaman
bowler who took more first class wickets than any other Australian bowler in 1945-46 and 1946-47. He suffered from uneven form, taking 6/49 for Victoria
vs the MCC, but costly in the Tests.
Don Tallon
first appeared as a wicket-keeper in 1933 and was a shock exclusion for the Ashes tour in 1938
. In 1939 he equalled Ted Pooley
's record by dismissing 12 batsman in a first class match and another when he held 7 catches in another match. He was 30 when he made his Test debut and proved to be an excellent keeper, but in his eagerness would move in front of the slips, denying them the full view of the ball. Tallon was also "one of the most notorious appealers of all time" and "was often roaring before he had studied facts and it was his over-eagerness that brought about the shocking decision which so greatly affected Washbrook". Tallon had scooped up a ball from the ground which the batsmen and other observers thought touched the ground, but having made the appeal Bradman backed Tallon and Washbrook was given out. However he improved on his performances and Bill O'Reilly
wrote "I have never seen a better keeper than Tallon as he was in England in 1948. Otherwise Australia had a fine fielding team which was younger and quicker than their English opponents. Bradman himself has been a good mid-fielder, but was probably restricted by fibrositis and was unable to field in the Second Test due to a pulled leg muscle. Keith Miller
"was a captain's dream, because he is alert, sure and fast in no matter what position he is placed". Ian Johnson
and Colin McCool
were noted slip fielders and Sid Barnes
was a good catcher close to the wicket at short-leg.
Grade cricket
Grade cricket is the name of the senior inter-club or district cricket competitions in each of the Australian states. The term may refer to:*Brisbane Grade Cricket *South Australian Grade Cricket League*Sydney Grade Cricket...
had continued throughout the war there had been less of an hiatus than in England. Their cricket grounds had not been bombed and compared to austerity Britain Australia was a land of plenty, which allowed for a more rapid recovery than in the old country, as had happened after the First World War. There was no Sheffield Shield in 1945-46, but the Australian Services XI had played all the states and there had been non-Shield interstate games. However, Australia's main advantage was the encouragement of their younger players, in particular by Bradman. Though overshadowed by the great 1948 Australian team in 1975 Don Bradman reckoned that it was Australia's strongest post-war home team, with the 1974-75 Australians
English cricket team in Australia in 1974-75
Mike Denness captained the English cricket team in Australia in 1974–75, playing as England in the 1974-75 Ashes series against the Australians and as the MCC in their other matches on the tour...
coming a close second and the 1950-51 Australians third. It was also superior to the pre-war Australian teams, as though they were just as strong in batting they had no fast bowlers and depended heavily on the leg-spin of 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,...
and Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)
William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...
. In 1946-47 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...
and Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
emerged as a great new-ball partnership, with quality support from Ernie Toshack
Ernie Toshack
Ernest Raymond Herbert Toshack was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Tests from 1946 to 1948. A left arm medium paced bowler who was known for his accuracy and stamina in his application of leg theory, Toshack was best known for being as member of Don Bradman's Invincibles that toured...
, 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...
and Colin McCool
Colin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
. Its only areas of improvement were in finding another top-order batsman - a position soon filled by 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 Captain
Batsman
He was not the most exciting and entertaining of batsmen, but was untouchable when it came to efficiency and all-round batting strength. He had self-confidence that was quite chilling and there was not a bowler he did not feel he could master. There was something of a "Little Dictator" about him at the wicket, and an indication of his legendary run-making skill is that it was considered a failure whenever he missed out on a century.
- Tom Graveney
Tom 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...
Donald George Bradman, better known as Don Bradman or The Don, was the greatest batsman of all time, was ranked first in ESPN's Legends of Cricket and is can be statistically regarded as the greatest sportsman of all as "no other athlete dominates an international sport to the extent that Bradman does cricket". His unorthodox grip meant he could not cream the ball through the covers like Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
and purists contended that Jack Hobbs
Jack Hobbs
Sir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930....
was better on a sticky wicket, but on any pitch that did not make batting a lottery he simply made more runs. He made them fast too, until the 1990s his 3.7 runs per six ball over in Tests was the fastest scoring rate of any batsmen except Gilbert Jessop
Gilbert Jessop
Gilbert Laird Jessop was an English cricket player, often reckoned to have been the fastest run-scorer cricket has ever known, he was Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1898.Relations...
(4.2). Even if his pre-war career was ignored his feats would make him the greatest batsman of all time; 680 runs (97.14) against England in 1946-47, 715 runs (178.75) against India in 1947-48 and 508 runs (72.57) in England in 1948, with 8 hundreds in his last 15 Tests. Ironically he was bowled by Eric Hollies
Eric Hollies
William Eric Hollies was an English cricketer, who is mainly remembered for taking the wicket of Donald Bradman for a duck in Bradman's final Test match innings, in which only four was needed for a Test average of 100...
googly
Googly
In cricket, a googly is a type of delivery bowled by a right-arm leg spin bowler. It is occasionally referred to as a Bosie , an eponym in honour of its inventor Bernard Bosanquet.- Explanation :...
for a duck in his final Test innings when he was 4 runs short of a batting average of 100.00, he had to settle for one of 99.94.
Health
Don Bradman went into a huddle and refused to male any statement concerning his cricket future; it was not until this sagacious colossus had obtained first-hand reports from PerthWACA GroundThe WACA is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. WACA are the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association....
, and had sampled the bowling at AdelaideAdelaide OvalThe Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
and MelbourneMelbourne Cricket GroundThe Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
the he told the Board of ControlCricket AustraliaCricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket...
he would be available for the opening Test...Bradman is justifiably proud of his marvellous record, and one suggestion is that only consented to play because of his supreme confidence of being able to gather in his full share of runs, and that his health would stand up to any strain imposed on it.
- Clif Cary
Clif CaryClif Cary was an Australian cricket reporter of the 1930s and 1940s. He was the "sports editor on the commercial radio network with the largest sports audience in the Commonwealth" and in 1946 he published Test Cricket and Records, "a splendid, authentic and comprehensive history of the many great...
Bradman volunteered for the RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in 1940, but transferred to the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
as a lieutenant in the Army School of Physical Training. Stress and depression aggravated his fibrositis and he was invalided out of the army in 1941, after which he spend months in poor physical condition and lost the use of his right thumb and forefinger. He resumed stockbroking in 1942 and set up his own firm after his employer was imprisoned for fraud and embezzlement. In 1945 he joined the South Australian Cricket Association
South Australian Cricket Association
The South Australian Cricket Association is the peak body for the sport of cricket in South Australia. The association runs Adelaide Oval and the Southern Redbacks based in Adelaide, South Australia. SACA is the controlling body for the South Australian Grade Cricket League...
and became their representative with the Board of Control
Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket...
and he seriously considered retiring from cricket in order to concentrate on an administrative role. He played a few games in 1945-46, but Richard Whittington
Richard Whittington
Sir Richard Whittington was a medieval merchant and politician, and the real-life inspiration for the pantomime character Dick Whittington. Sir Richard Whittington was four times Lord Mayor of London, a Member of Parliament and a sheriff of London...
thought he was "the ghost of a once great cricketer". The press and public badly wanted to see him play and after a few warm up matches Bradman agreed to captain Australia against the advice of his doctor. In the First Test he played poorly for 28 when he chopped a ball to Jack Ikin
Jack Ikin
John Thomas Ikin, known as Jack Ikin was an English cricketer, who played in eighteen Tests from 1946 to 1955...
in gully. The England players (and Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
from the dressing room) thought he was out, but Bradman was confident that the ball had been jammed into he ground by his bat before it flew up to Ikin and refused to walk. The umpire gave him the benefit of the doubt, but Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
told Bradman "That's a fine way to start a Test series." Bradman went on to make a match-winning 187 and it was thought if Bradman had been given out he would have retired from cricket.
Australian Captain
To Bradman, even in the first series after so many years of war and suffering, there was apparently no room for carefree cricket in an Anglo-Australian Test. He knew of only one way in which to play this game...In the 1946-47 Tests he was in charge of the stronger side, and for that reason seemed to overshadow HammondWally HammondWalter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
, although he went on the field with an outlook that was vastly different to the Englishman. He appeared as determined in seeking convincing victory as if he had been opposed by a team of JardinesDouglas JardineDouglas Robert Jardine was an English cricketer and captain of the England cricket team from 1931 to 1933–34.When describing cricket seasons, the convention used is that a single year represents an English cricket season, while two years represent a southern hemisphere cricket season because it...
and LarwoodsHarold LarwoodHarold Larwood was an English cricket player, an extremely accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous "bodyline" Ashes Test series of 1932–33....
- Clif Cary
Clif CaryClif Cary was an Australian cricket reporter of the 1930s and 1940s. He was the "sports editor on the commercial radio network with the largest sports audience in the Commonwealth" and in 1946 he published Test Cricket and Records, "a splendid, authentic and comprehensive history of the many great...
In Don Bradman's time as an Australian batsmen before the war England won 13 Ashes Tests
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
to Australia's 10, some of them by huge margins. He made his debut in the First Test of 1928-29, making 18 and 1 as Australia were beaten by a record 675 runs. In their last Test before the war England had made 903/7 - Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
waiting the Don was unfit to bat before he declared - and Australia lost by an innings and 579 runs, another record. Bradman was not the man to forget such things and now he had the better team he was determined to repay the favour. The First Test of 1946-47 saw Australia win their largest victory over England by an innings and 332 runs, the first time that a Test team had lost and won successive Tests by an innings, albeit with a ten-year gap due to the war. As a captain Bradman had few rivals, tough, shrewd and rarely missing a trick. He liked to play aggressive cricket, racking up huge scores with his batting then bowling the opposition out. While fielding Bradman carefully watched batsmen play, if he saw a weakness he would call over the bowlers to tell them and reset his field accordingly. In the First Test at Brisbane he even took Ernie Toshack
Ernie Toshack
Ernest Raymond Herbert Toshack was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Tests from 1946 to 1948. A left arm medium paced bowler who was known for his accuracy and stamina in his application of leg theory, Toshack was best known for being as member of Don Bradman's Invincibles that toured...
down the pitch, showed him exactly where he wanted him to bowl and make him bowl a practice over alongside the pitch before play, after which the left-armer took 9 of the 15 English wickets to fall that day. He was often criticised for being distant and removed from his team and too conscious of his superiority, "a star with ten extras". However, he built the 1946-47 team from scratch, gave them encouragement, and made them Bradman-minded; "When you get in front, nail 'em into the ground. When you get 'em down, never let up." By 1948 he had moulded them into one of the great teams in cricket history, nicknamed The Invincables as they won the 1948 Ashes series
1948 Ashes series
The 1948 Ashes series was that year's edition of the long-standing cricket rivalry between England and Australia. Starting on 10 June 1948, England and Australia played five Tests. Australia had not lost a Test since the Second World War and were strong favourites...
4-0 and were undefeated on tour. He retired at the end of the 1948-49 season and is the only Australian to be knighted for his services to cricket.
Unbeaten Run
With typical resilience, Australian youth participated in the restoration of sport to pre-war grade, directly khakiKhakiThis article is about the fabric. For the color, see Khaki . Kaki, another name for the persimmon, is often misspelled "Khaki".Khaki is a type of fabric or the color of such fabric...
and the blue uniforms were laid aside. every effort had been made by administrators to preserve the framework of competition during the years of strife, and in addition to the services games, club matches in all cities were played every Saturday...We are, perhaps, on the threshold of another Golden AgeGolden AgeThe term Golden Age comes from Greek mythology and legend and refers to the first in a sequence of four or five Ages of Man, in which the Golden Age is first, followed in sequence, by the Silver, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and then the present, a period of decline...
- but, as, yet, only on the threshold.
- Clif Cary
Clif CaryClif Cary was an Australian cricket reporter of the 1930s and 1940s. He was the "sports editor on the commercial radio network with the largest sports audience in the Commonwealth" and in 1946 he published Test Cricket and Records, "a splendid, authentic and comprehensive history of the many great...
After the Second World War Australia began a record unbeaten runs of games; 14 Tests against England, 26 Tests against all countries and 96 games in all cricket, having lost their last game to England at the Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
in 1938. Their record remained until England played 27 Tests without defeat in 1968-71.
- 1-0 (1 Test) in New Zealand 1945-46
- 3-0 (5 Tests) vs England 1946-47.
- 4-0 (5 Tests) vs India in 1947–48
- 4-0 (5 Tests) in England in 19481948 Ashes seriesThe 1948 Ashes series was that year's edition of the long-standing cricket rivalry between England and Australia. Starting on 10 June 1948, England and Australia played five Tests. Australia had not lost a Test since the Second World War and were strong favourites...
. - 4-0 (5 Tests) in South Africa in 1949-50
- 4-1 (5 Tests) vs England in 1950-51, England winning the Fifth Test at MelbourneMcGJoseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
by 8 wickets.
The Opening Batsmen
It was common knowledge that Arthur MorrisArthur MorrisArthur 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...
, after failing in the first two Tests, was in grave danger of being dropped, and MeulemanKen MeulemanKenneth Douglas Meuleman was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1946....
was his obvious successor. In the first innings Arthur made 21 and we all thought Ken's chances were sky high. Arthur scored 155 in the second innings and saved his place. Meuleman, twelfth man in the first two Tests...was instantly dropped. And he has never been asked to play since. If ever a man was thrown on the scrap heap it was Ken.
- 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...
Australia had three great openers in this period, Bill Brown
Bill Brown (cricketer)
William Alfred "Bill" Brown, OAM was an Australian cricketer who played 22 Tests between 1934 and 1948, captaining his country in one Test. A right-handed opening batsman, his partnership with Jack Fingleton in the 1930s is regarded as one of the finest in Australian Test history...
, Sid Barnes
Sid Barnes
Sidney George Barnes was an Australian cricketer and cricket writer, who played 13 Test matches between 1938 and 1948. Able to open the innings or bat down the order, Barnes was regarded as one of Australia's finest batsmen in the period immediately following the Second World War...
and 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...
. Brown had been an Australian batsman for most of the 1930s, coming in at number three after Bill Woodfull
Bill Woodfull
William Maldon "Bill" Woodfull OBE was an Australian cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s. He captained both Victoria and Australia, and was best known for his dignified and moral conduct during the tumultuous bodyline series in 1932–33 that almost saw the end of Anglo-Australian cricketing ties...
and Bill Ponsford
Bill Ponsford
William Harold "Bill" Ponsford MBE was an Australian cricketer. Usually playing as an opening batsman, he formed a successful and long-lived partnership opening the batting for Victoria and Australia with Bill Woodfull, his friend and state and national captain...
or opening with Jack Fingleton
Jack Fingleton
John "Jack" Henry Webb Fingleton OBE was an Australian cricketer who was trained as a journalist and became a political and cricket commentator after the end of his playing career...
. He captained Australia on their tour of New Zealand in 1945-46, which unlike other such tours had one of hits matches belatedly recognised as a Test. Brown missed the 1946-47 series through injury and with Barnes was promoted to open with Morris in 1946-47, they were soon established as Australia's opening pair and when Brown returned he again batted at number three. Barnes played one Test before the war - at the Oval in 1938 - so hardly rates as a pre-war player even though he made his first class debut in 1936. He was a back-foot strokeplayer known for his off-side cuts and drives before the war, but so improved his on-side play that Alec Bedser
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
changed his bowling grip so as to avoid bowling in-swingers at his legs. It is as an eccentric that he is best remembered, playing in Don Bradman's testimonial match using a miniature bat, serving drinks in a state match wearing a lounge suit instead of whites and leaping over the turnstiles at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. In the Second Test in 1946-47 he threw away his wicket when he reached 234 so that he would make the same score as his captain. He was dropped from the Australian team because of his antics, and unsuccessfully took the case to court. Barnes made 846 runs (70.50) against England in the 1940s, his opening partner 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...
made 1,199 (79.93), but his Test average suffered as unlike Barnes he faced the powerful England attacks of the 1950s. A stylish left-hander who uniquely made 148 and 111 on his first class debut in 1940-41 Morris had excellent footwork which made him a good player against spin, but was vulnerable to in-swinging balls aimed at his leg-stump. As a result he was labelled "Bedser's Bunny"
Alec Bedser
Sir Alec Victor Bedser, CBE was a professional English cricketer. He was the chairman of selectors for the English national cricket team, and the president of Surrey County Cricket Club...
in 1950-51 until he made 206 in the Fourth Test. In 1946-57 he made three centuries in a row, 155 in the Third Test at Melbourne and 122 and 124 not out in the Fourth at Adelaide. Only Bradman made more than his 503 runs and in 1948 he made the most runs (696) and topped the averages (87.00), but as E.W. Swanton wrote "what the figures do not say is that few more charming men have played for Australia, and I cannot name one who was more popular with his opponents". Merv Harvey
Merv Harvey
Mervyn Roye Harvey was a cricketer who played in one Test match for Australia in 1947. His younger brother, Neil, was one of Australia's finest batsmen since the Second World War, and the pair played together for Victoria during the latter part of Merv’s career.Merv Harvey broke into the Victorian...
was a middle order strokeplayer who was called up to open with Morris when Sid Barnes
Sid Barnes
Sidney George Barnes was an Australian cricketer and cricket writer, who played 13 Test matches between 1938 and 1948. Able to open the innings or bat down the order, Barnes was regarded as one of Australia's finest batsmen in the period immediately following the Second World War...
was unfit to play in the Fourth Test. He made 12 and 31 and never played for Australia again, though his younger brother 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...
became a famous Test batsman.
The Top Order Batsmen
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...
, a dimulative (5'6") batsman who had been a great strokemaker before the war and had made his Test debut in England in 1938. He captained the scratch Australian Services cricket team
Australian Services cricket team
The Australian Services XI was a cricket team comprising solely military service personnel during World War II. They became active in May 1945 after the defeat of Nazi Germany. The team played matches against English cricket sides of both military and civilian origins to celebrate the end of the war...
which drew the Victory Tests
Victory Tests
The Victory Tests were a series of cricket matches played in England from 19 May to 22 August 1945, between a combined Australian Services XI and an English national side...
2-2 against England in 1945. After the war he took his batting more seriously and was more defensive, though never dull, and he never failed in a series. He had an impish good humour, but this stopped when he walked onto the field and "there is no better team man in Australia". 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...
had been a young batsmen before the war better known for playing Aussie Rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in his native Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. In the war he was a Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in the RAAF
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, and inured his back crash-landing a de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
, which affected the rest of his playing career. He was the star of the Victory Tests, having decided that "The people of England wanted an escape from the hellish suffering they had experienced for so many years. Those who turned up to watch cricket deserved something better than grim, unentertaining stonewalling, and I was determined to go for runs every time I went in to bat," He hit a swashbuckling 185 in 165 minutes for the Dominion XI vs England at Lords with 7 towering sixes and became a cricketing star. Miller kept to this philosophy throughout his career, becoming one of the world's most entertaining strokemakers and a magnet for the crowds. Although an all-rounder Miller saw himself as a batsman first and batted in the top order throughout his career, though it suffered as he was often spent from bowling. Ron Hamence
Ron Hamence
Ronald Arthur Hamence was a cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. A short and compact right-handed batsman, Hamence excelled in getting forward to drive and had an array of attractive back foot strokes...
was the nearly man of the Australian team, he made his Test debut after his career best 145 vs the MCC and was stranded on 30 not out in their first innings collapse to Doug Wright
Doug Wright (cricketer)
Douglas Vivian Parson Wright, better known as Doug Wright was an English cricketer. A leg-spinner for Kent and England from 1932 to 1957 he took a record seven hat-tricks in first class cricket. He played for Kent for 25 years and was their first professional captain from late 1953 to 1956...
. He played India in 1947-48 and toured England in 1948, but played only two more Tests as he could not force his way into the strong Australian team.
The Middle Order Batsmen
One of the great strengths of the team was its plentiful all-rounders, apart from Keith MillerKeith 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...
, there was 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...
, Colin McCool
Colin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
, 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...
and the wicketkeeper Don Tallon
Don Tallon
Donald "Don" Tallon was an Australian cricketer who played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953...
. Lindwall took to fast bowling after seeing Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood was an English cricket player, an extremely accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous "bodyline" Ashes Test series of 1932–33....
as a boy, but was a strong striker of the ball and a menace to parked cars in grade cricket
Grade cricket
Grade cricket is the name of the senior inter-club or district cricket competitions in each of the Australian states. The term may refer to:*Brisbane Grade Cricket *South Australian Grade Cricket League*Sydney Grade Cricket...
. In the Third Test he hit exactly 100 off 90 balls with 14 fours and a six and added 154 in an hour and a half with Tallon, whose 92 off 108 balls with 10 fours was the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper until Rod Marsh
Rod Marsh
Rodney William Marsh MBE is a former Australian wicketkeeper.A colourful character, Marsh had a Test career spanning from the 1970–71 to the 1983–84 Australian season. In 96 Tests, he set a world record of 355 wicketkeeping dismissals, the same number his pace bowling Western...
made 132 against New Zealand in 1973–74. Like Tallon Ian Johnson never quite batted as well as expected, but topped the averages in the 1954-55 Ashes series by making 116 runs (58.00). McCool made 95 in the First Test and 104 not out in the Third, when he came in at 188/5 and dominated the strike. He was a good player of spin with wristy cuts and vigorous hooks.
The Bowling
Strange as it may seem when the veteran leg-spinner Bill O'ReillyBill O'Reilly (cricketer)
William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...
announced his retirement at the beginning of the season there were fears that Australia's untried bowlers would suffer against the much-vaulted England batting line up of Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
, Cyril Washbrook
Cyril Washbrook
Cyril Washbrook was an English cricketer, who played for Lancashire and England. He had a long career, split by World War II, and ending when he was aged 44. Washbrook, who is most famous for opening the batting for England with Len Hutton, which he did fifty one times, played a total of 592...
, Bill Edrich
Bill Edrich
William John "Bill" Edrich DFC was a distinguished cricketer who played for Middlesex, MCC, Norfolk and England.Edrich's three brothers, Brian, Eric and Geoff, and also his cousin, John, all played first-class cricket...
, Denis Compton
Denis Compton
Denis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
and Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
. The opposite became true as the English batsmen initially failed and Australia won the First and Second Tests by an innings.
The Pace Bowlers
Keith MillerKeith MillerKeith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
and Ray LindwallRay LindwallRaymond 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...
handsomely exemplified the axiom that great fast bowlers win matches. For a decade they were a magnificent bowling combination for Australia, and in the immediate post-war years they were devastating...Lindwall and Miller took thirty-five wickets in that 1946/7 series and at last Australia had a winning combination. The havoc wrought by LarwoodHarold LarwoodHarold Larwood was an English cricket player, an extremely accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous "bodyline" Ashes Test series of 1932–33....
and company a decade eariler still rankled; the nation wanted genuine fast bowlers to repay the humiliation.
- Bob Willis
Bob 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
At the forefront of the bowling attack was 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 decide to become a fast bowler after watching Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood was an English cricket player, an extremely accurate fast bowler best known for his key role as the implementer of fast leg theory in the infamous "bodyline" Ashes Test series of 1932–33....
. His whose smooth run up and perfect delivery produced swing and control and bouncers at a lethal pace, though he dropped the ball short less than Miller. Neville Cardus
Neville Cardus
Sir John Frederick Neville Cardus CBE was an English writer and critic, best known for his writing on music and cricket. For many years, he wrote for The Manchester Guardian. He was untrained in music, and his style of criticism was subjective, romantic and personal, in contrast with his critical...
later wrote that "He has so many brains it's a wonder why he ever went in for fast bowling" and working hand-in-glove with his captain Don Bradman he would think batsman out and catch them in carefully seleected field-placings. A. P. Herbert
A. P. Herbert
Sir Alan Patrick Herbert, CH was an English humorist, novelist, playwright and law reform activist...
was moved to poetry to describe his bowling action 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...
wrote "Watching him bowl was one of the most satisfying spectacles the game has ever produced". Even so his arm was thought to be too low (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...
thought him almost a round-arm bowler) and his long drag could have produced numerous no balls, though he was rarely called for this. His parner 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...
had been a batsmen, but in the Victory Tests
Victory Tests
The Victory Tests were a series of cricket matches played in England from 19 May to 22 August 1945, between a combined Australian Services XI and an English national side...
the Australian Services XI
Australian Services cricket team
The Australian Services XI was a cricket team comprising solely military service personnel during World War II. They became active in May 1945 after the defeat of Nazi Germany. The team played matches against English cricket sides of both military and civilian origins to celebrate the end of the war...
were short of bowlers and Hassett used Miller initially as a change bowler and then gave him the new ball. To everyone's surprise he picked up wickets and soon his strength and natural talent made him into a genuine fast bowler. Bradman knew Australia needed this more than another batsman and encouraged Miller to develop his new talent, though due an injury to his back crashlanding the war limited him to short spells. Unlike his new-ball partner Miller liked to drop the ball short and lacked consistency, sometimes bowling leg-breaks or off-spin. Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)
William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...
wrote "The value of Miller's bowling lies wholly and solely in its surprise element. Just when he appears to be well under the control of the batsman he comes to light with a ball that can upset anyone". Together they formed the best fast bowling duo in post-war cricket, perhaps the greatest of any era, and were the spearhead of Australia's success. Ernie Toshack
Ernie Toshack
Ernest Raymond Herbert Toshack was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Tests from 1946 to 1948. A left arm medium paced bowler who was known for his accuracy and stamina in his application of leg theory, Toshack was best known for being as member of Don Bradman's Invincibles that toured...
, a left-arm medium pace bowler who bowled with a packed leg-side field and tied up the batsmen when Lindwall and Miller were resting. In the First Test he had the perfect pace to unhinge the English batting on a Brisbane sticky, but failed to understand Bradman's instructions. In the end Bradman took him to the middle, pointed to the spot where he wanted Toshack to bowl, and made him practice alongside the wicket until he understood what was required. Once this was done 9 of the last 15 wickets fell to his bowling and Australia won by an innings. Fred Freer
Fred Freer
Frederick Alfred William Freer was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1946. He was a fast-medium bowler more accuarte than Keith Miller. He was called into the team for the Second Test in Sydney after Ray Lindwall was struck down by chickenpox...
was a steady fast-medium swing bowler who liked to drop the ball short and replaced Ray Lindwall in the Second Test when the fast bowler had chickenpox
Chickenpox
Chickenpox or chicken pox is a highly contagious illness caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus . It usually starts with vesicular skin rash mainly on the body and head rather than at the periphery and becomes itchy, raw pockmarks, which mostly heal without scarring...
.
The Spin Bowlers
The game was all but decided in an evil hour HuttonLen HuttonSir 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...
, ComptonDenis ComptonDenis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
and HammondWally HammondWalter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
himself - the flower of England's batting - went one by one to the high, slow, teasing spin of Colin McCoolColin McCoolColin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
and Ian JohnsonIan 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...
, each giving the ball more and more air as though trying to discover whether there was any parabola they could not describe without impelling the forward step that would have allowed the ball to be met on the full-pitch or the half-volley.
- E.W. Swanton
The England captain Wally Hammond
Wally Hammond
Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
ordered his batsmen to stay within their crease when facing the Australian spinners, whose figures were flattered as a result. In the Second Test 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...
took 6/42 off 241 balls with his off-spin, including one spell of 1/3 off 88 balls, of which 85 were not scored from. Johnson's off spin
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...
was a rarity in Australia, where the pitches work better to leg-spin, and was not a big spinner of the ball, but he used flight to deceive the batsmen and could tie down one end. Colin McCool
Colin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
was "a better fieldsman than a batsman, and a better batsman than he was a bowler" But before the MCC team had even landed in Australia he snapped up 35 wickets (28.82) with his flighty leg-spin
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...
for 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...
with help from Don Tallon
Don Tallon
Donald "Don" Tallon was an Australian cricketer who played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953...
behind the stumps. He dismissed Hammond, Hutton, Washbrook, Compton, Yardley, Edrich and Voce in his 7/106 for an Australian XI against the MCC, 5/109 in the Third Test and 5/44 in the Fifth and "the English batsmen seemed like rabbits fascinated in the presence of a snake". Bruce Dooland
Bruce Dooland
Bruce Dooland was an Australian cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 1947 to 1948....
was another leg-spinner who was brought into the 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...
side after one club match in 1945. He was not overawed and soon earned a place on the tour of New Zealand. He was not as deadly as McCool and by the end of the tour he suffered as the England batsman became used to his flighted leg-breaks. George Tribe
George Tribe
George Edward Tribe was an Australian cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 1946 to 1947, as well as an Australian rules footballer with the Footscray Football Club in the VFL....
was a rare specialist Chinaman
Chinaman
Chinaman is a contentious term referring to a Chinese person* whether of Han Chinese ethnicity* or a citizen of China, Chinese people.Or the term may also refer to:* A colloquial term for a square hay baler overhead feeding plunger...
bowler who took more first class wickets than any other Australian bowler in 1945-46 and 1946-47. He suffered from uneven form, taking 6/49 for Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
vs the MCC, but costly in the Tests.
The Fielding
Hawk-eyed, swift in action after sure reception, TallonDon TallonDonald "Don" Tallon was an Australian cricketer who played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953...
goes for everything...many of his deeds he has accomplished have been remarkable for sheer speed of thought and execution and his only fault in his early matches was impetuous appealing.
- Clif Cary
Clif CaryClif Cary was an Australian cricket reporter of the 1930s and 1940s. He was the "sports editor on the commercial radio network with the largest sports audience in the Commonwealth" and in 1946 he published Test Cricket and Records, "a splendid, authentic and comprehensive history of the many great...
Don Tallon
Don Tallon
Donald "Don" Tallon was an Australian cricketer who played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953...
first appeared as a wicket-keeper in 1933 and was a shock exclusion for the Ashes tour in 1938
Australian cricket team in England in 1938
The 1938 Ashes series between Australia and England was drawn. England and Australia won a Test each, with two of the other Tests drawn and the third game of the series, scheduled for Manchester, abandoned without a ball being bowled, only the second instance of this in more than 60 years of Test...
. In 1939 he equalled Ted Pooley
Ted Pooley
Edward William 'Ted' Pooley was an English cricketer. Ted Pooley's greatest claim to fame is that he should have been England's first Test match wicket keeper...
's record by dismissing 12 batsman in a first class match and another when he held 7 catches in another match. He was 30 when he made his Test debut and proved to be an excellent keeper, but in his eagerness would move in front of the slips, denying them the full view of the ball. Tallon was also "one of the most notorious appealers of all time" and "was often roaring before he had studied facts and it was his over-eagerness that brought about the shocking decision which so greatly affected Washbrook". Tallon had scooped up a ball from the ground which the batsmen and other observers thought touched the ground, but having made the appeal Bradman backed Tallon and Washbrook was given out. However he improved on his performances and Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (cricketer)
William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...
wrote "I have never seen a better keeper than Tallon as he was in England in 1948. Otherwise Australia had a fine fielding team which was younger and quicker than their English opponents. Bradman himself has been a good mid-fielder, but was probably restricted by fibrositis and was unable to field in the Second Test due to a pulled leg muscle. 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...
"was a captain's dream, because he is alert, sure and fast in no matter what position he is placed". 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...
and Colin McCool
Colin McCool
Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against...
were noted slip fielders and Sid Barnes
Sid Barnes
Sidney George Barnes was an Australian cricketer and cricket writer, who played 13 Test matches between 1938 and 1948. Able to open the innings or bat down the order, Barnes was regarded as one of Australia's finest batsmen in the period immediately following the Second World War...
was a good catcher close to the wicket at short-leg.
The Australian Team
| Test Statistics of Australian Team in 1946-47 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | State | Age | Role | Tests | Runs | Highest | Average | 100s | 50s | Ct | St | Wickets | Best | Average | 5 Wt | 10 Wt |
| A.R. 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... |
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... |
24 | Left-Hand Opening Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
46 | 3353 | 206 | 46.48 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 2 | 1/5 | 25.00 | |||
| S.G. Barnes Sid Barnes Sidney George Barnes was an Australian cricketer and cricket writer, who played 13 Test matches between 1938 and 1948. Able to open the innings or bat down the order, Barnes was regarded as one of Australia's finest batsmen in the period immediately following the Second World War... |
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... |
30 | Right-Hand Opening Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
13 | 1072 | 234 | 63.05 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 2/25 | 54.50 | |||
| M.R. Harvey Merv Harvey Mervyn Roye Harvey was a cricketer who played in one Test match for Australia in 1947. His younger brother, Neil, was one of Australia's finest batsmen since the Second World War, and the pair played together for Victoria during the latter part of Merv’s career.Merv Harvey broke into the Victorian... |
Victoria Victorian Bushrangers The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition... |
28 | Right-Hand Opening Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
1 | 43 | 31 | 21.50 | |||||||||
| D.G. Bradman (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... |
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... |
38 | Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
52 | 6996 | 334 | 99.94 | 29 | 13 | 32 | 2 | 1/8 | 36.00 | |||
| R.A. Hamence Ron Hamence Ronald Arthur Hamence was a cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. A short and compact right-handed batsman, Hamence excelled in getting forward to drive and had an array of attractive back foot strokes... |
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... |
30 | Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
3 | 81 | 30* 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... |
27.00 | 1 | ||||||||
| A.L. 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... (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... |
Victoria Victorian Bushrangers The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition... |
33 | Right-Hand Top Order Batsman Batting order (cricket) In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time... |
43 | 3073 | 198* 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... |
46.56 | 10 | 11 | 30 | 0/4 | |||||
| D. Tallon Don Tallon Donald "Don" Tallon was an Australian cricketer who played 21 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1946 and 1953... |
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... |
30 | Wicket-Keeper Wicket-keeper The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike... |
21 | 394 | 92 | 17.13 | 2 | 50 | 8 | ||||||
| R.R. 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... |
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... |
25 | 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... |
61 | 1502 | 118 | 21.15 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 228 | 7/38 | 23.03 | 12 | ||
| K.R. 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... |
Victoria Victorian Bushrangers The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition... |
27 | 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... |
55 | 2958 | 147 | 36.97 | 7 | 13 | 38 | 170 | 7/60 | 22.97 | 7 | 1 | |
| F.A.W. Freer Fred Freer Frederick Alfred William Freer was an Australian cricketer who played in one Test in 1946. He was a fast-medium bowler more accuarte than Keith Miller. He was called into the team for the Second Test in Sydney after Ray Lindwall was struck down by chickenpox... |
Victoria Victorian Bushrangers The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition... |
31 | 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... |
1 | 28 | 28* Not out In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress... |
3 | 2/49 | 24.66 | |||||||
| E.R.H. Toshack Ernie Toshack Ernest Raymond Herbert Toshack was an Australian cricketer who played in 12 Tests from 1946 to 1948. A left arm medium paced bowler who was known for his accuracy and stamina in his application of leg theory, Toshack was best known for being as member of Don Bradman's Invincibles that toured... |
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... |
31 | Left-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... |
12 | 73 | 20* 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... |
14.60 | 4 | 47 | 6/29 | 21.04 | |||||
| G.E. Tribe George Tribe George Edward Tribe was an Australian cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 1946 to 1947, as well as an Australian rules footballer with the Footscray Football Club in the VFL.... |
Victoria Victorian Bushrangers The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition... |
26 | Chinaman Bowler 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... |
3 | 35 | 25* 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... |
17.50 | 2 | 2/48 | 165.00 | ||||||
| B. Dooland Bruce Dooland Bruce Dooland was an Australian cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 1947 to 1948.... |
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... |
22 | 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... |
3 | 76 | 29 | 19.00 | 3 | 9 | 4/69 | 46.55 | |||||
| C.L. McCool Colin McCool Colin Leslie McCool was an Australian cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1946 to 1950. McCool, born in Paddington, New South Wales, was an all-rounder who bowled leg spin and googlies with a round arm action and as a lower order batsman was regarded as effective square of the wicket and against... |
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... |
29 | 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... |
14 | 459 | 104* 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... |
35.30 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 36 | 5/41 | 26.61 | 3 | ||
| I.W.G. 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... |
Victoria Victorian Bushrangers The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition... |
29 | 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... |
45 | 1000 | 77 | 18.51 | 6 | 33 | 109 | 7/44 | 29.19 | 6 |
First Test – Brisbane
See Main Article - 1946-47 Ashes seriesSecond Test – Sydney
See Main Article - 1946-47 Ashes seriesThird Test – Melbourne
See Main Article - 1946-47 Ashes seriesFourth Test – Adelaide
See Main Article - 1946-47 Ashes seriesFifth Test – Sydney
See Main Article - 1946-47 Ashes seriesFurther reading
- John ArlottJohn ArlottLeslie Thomas John Arlott OBE was an English journalist, author and cricket commentator for the BBC's Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer in Hampshire...
, John Arlott's 100 Greatest Batsmen, MacDonald Queen Anne Press, 1986 - Peter Arnold, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Cricket, W. H. Smith, 1985
- Ashley Brown, The Pictorial History of Cricket, Bison, 1988
- 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 - Tom GraveneyTom GraveneyThomas William Graveney in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5. He went to Bristol Grammar School...
and Norman Miller, The Ten Greatest Test Teams Sidgewick and Jackson, 1988 - Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993
- Alan Hill, The Bedsers: Twinning Triumphs, Mainstream Publishing, 2002
- Ray Robinson, On Top Down Under, Cassell, 1975
- E.W. Swanton (ed), Barclay's World of Cricket, Willow, 1986