Australian cricket team in England in 1953

Hassett, Morris, Harvey, Johnston, Lindwall, Miller, Ring and Tallon had toured England with the 1948 Australian team, known as "The Invincibles". Davidson, de Courcy and Hill had not played Test cricket before this tour: all three made their debuts during the 1953 Ashes series.

{{Test match |

date = 11–16 June 1953|

team1 = {{cr|Australia}}|

team2 = {{cr|England}}|

score-team1-inns1 = 249|

runs-team1-inns1 = AL Hassett (c) 115
AR Morris (vc) 67
KR Miller 55|

wickets-team1-inns1 = AV Bedser 7/55|

score-team2-inns1 = 144|

runs-team2-inns1 = L Hutton (c) 43|

wickets-team2-inns1 = RR Lindwall 5/54
JC Hill 3/35|

score-team1-inns2 = 123|

runs-team1-inns2 = AR Morris (vc) 60|

wickets-team1-inns2 = AV Bedser 7/44|

score-team2-inns2 = 120/1|

runs-team2-inns2 = L Hutton (c) 60*|

wickets-team2-inns2 = |

result = Match Drawn|

venue = Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England|

umpires = D Davies (ENG) & H Elliott (ENG)|

motm = |

report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20667.html scorecard]|

rain = 15 June 1953|

}}

Rain washed out play entirely on the fourth day and prevented a resumption until half past four on the last day. Before that, Alec Bedser, with seven wickets in each innings, had bowled England into a strong position after they trailed by 105 on the first innings. In Australia's first innings, Morris, who made 67 and Hassett put on 122 for the second wicket and then Hassett and Miller made 109 for the fourth wicket, Miller making 55. Hassett's 115 was his ninth century in Test cricket. From 243 for four at lunch on the second day, Australia lost their remaining six wickets for six runs, Bedser finishing with seven for 55. The Australian scorecard is one of the more unbalanced in Test history – a century, two half centuries, two single figure scores, single figure extras, and six batsmen failing to score.{{cite book|last1=Walmsley|first1=Keith|title=Mosts Without in Test Cricket|date=2003|publisher=Keith Walmsley|location=Reading, England|isbn=0947540067|pages=356}}

England, apart from Leonard Hutton, with 43, struggled and Lindwall took five wickets for 57 runs. In Australia's second innings, only Morris, who made 60, was confident against Bedser, who took seven for 44 to have match figures of 14 for 99. Hutton was 60 not out in England's weather-interrupted reply.{{Cite book | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack | edition = 1954 | publisher = Wisden | chapter = Australians in England, 1953| pages = 234–237 }}

{{Test match |

date = 25–30 June 1953|

team1 = {{cr|Australia}}|

team2 = {{cr|England}}|

score-team1-inns1 = 346|

runs-team1-inns1 = AL Hassett (c) 104
AK Davidson 76
RN Harvey 59|

wickets-team1-inns1 = AV Bedser 5/105
JH Wardle 4/77|

score-team2-inns1 = 372|

runs-team2-inns1 = L Hutton (c) 145
TW Graveney 78
DCS Compton 57|

wickets-team2-inns1 = RR Lindwall 5/66|

score-team1-inns2 = 368|

runs-team1-inns2 = KR Miller 109
AR Morris (vc) 89
RR Lindwall 50|

wickets-team1-inns2 = FR Brown 4/82
AV Bedser 3/77|

score-team2-inns2 = 282/7|

runs-team2-inns2 = W Watson 109
TE Bailey 71|

wickets-team2-inns2 = RR Lindwall 2/26|

result = Match Drawn|

venue = Lord's Cricket Ground, London, UK|

umpires = HG Baldwin (ENG) & FS Lee (ENG)|

motm = |

report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20705.html scorecard]|

rain = |

}}

Hassett opened with Morris and made his second century of the series, though he retired hurt at 101. Harvey made 59, but Johnny Wardle removed the middle order batsmen before Davidson, with 76, coaxed 117 runs out of the last six wickets. Hutton and Tom Graveney put on 168 for the second wicket, and after Graveney was out for 78, Denis Compton (57) added a further 102 with Hutton, who scored 145. But England lost their last seven wickets between lunch and tea on the third day, and the first innings lead was only 26. Morris and Miller regained the initiative for Australia in a second wicket partnership of 165 and when Morris was out for 89 Miller went on to 109, with useful runs also from Hole (47) and Lindwall (50). Set 343 to win, England lost three wickets for 12 runs, and Willie Watson was missed before the end of the fourth day. On the last day, Watson battled to 109 and shared a fifth wicket stand of 163 with Trevor Bailey (71), which saved the match for England.{{Cite book | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack | edition = 1954 | publisher = Wisden | chapter = Australians in England, 1953| pages = 239–242 }}

{{Test match |

date = 9–14 July 1953|

team1 = {{cr|Australia}}|

team2 = {{cr|England}}|

score-team1-inns1 = 318|

runs-team1-inns1 = RN Harvey 122
GB Hole 66|

wickets-team1-inns1 = AV Bedser 5/115
JH Wardle 3/70|

score-team2-inns1 = 276|

runs-team2-inns1 = L Hutton (c) 66
DCS Compton 45
TG Evans (wk) 44*|

wickets-team2-inns1 = JC Hill 3/97|

score-team1-inns2 = 35/8|

runs-team1-inns2 = |

wickets-team1-inns2 = JH Wardle 4/7|

result = Match Drawn|

venue = Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester, England|

umpires = D Davies (ENG) & H Elliott (ENG)|

motm = |

report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20744.html scorecard]|

rain = 13 July 1953|

}}

More than half the scheduled playing time was lost to rain. In an innings spread over three days, Harvey made 122 and Hole with 66 and de Courcy on his Test debut also made useful runs. England's innings was also made disjointed by rain, which prevented any play at all on the fourth day. Hutton top-scored with 66. With the match dead, Wardle, Bedser and Jim Laker took eight Australian second-innings wickets, with none of the batsmen reaching double figures.{{Cite book | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack | edition = 1954 | publisher = Wisden | chapter = Australians in England, 1953| pages = 245–248 }}

{{Test match |

date = 23–28 July 1953|

team1 = {{cr|England}}|

team2 = {{cr|Australia}}|

score-team1-inns1 = 167|

runs-team1-inns1 = TW Graveney 55|

wickets-team1-inns1 = RR Lindwall 5/54|

score-team2-inns1 = 266|

runs-team2-inns1 = RN Harvey 71
GB Hole 53|

wickets-team2-inns1 = AV Bedser 6/95
TE Bailey 3/71|

score-team1-inns2 = 275|

runs-team1-inns2 = WJ Edrich 64
DCS Compton 61
JC Laker 48|

wickets-team1-inns2 = KR Miller 4/63
RR Lindwall 3/104|

score-team2-inns2 = 147/4|

runs-team2-inns2 = AR Morris (vc) 38
RN Harvey 34
GB Hole 33|

wickets-team2-inns2 = |

result = Match Drawn|

venue = Headingley, Leeds, England|

umpires = F Chester (ENG) & FS Lee (ENG)|

motm = |

report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20779.html scorecard]|

rain = |

}}

On a pitch affected by damp, England batted very cautiously, making just 142 for seven in five-and-a-half hours on the first day, Graveney top-scoring with 55. Lindwall took five for 54. Australia batted more enterprisingly, with Harvey making 71 and Hole 53 and were all out at the end of the second day with a lead of 99. Light rain prevented play for more than four hours on the third day, and across the Monday England batted doggedly, with Bill Edrich making 64, Compton 61 until he had to retire hurt, and Bailey 38 in more than four hours. In all, England's innings occupied nine hours and 40 minutes, and left the Australians 115 minutes in which to score 177. Despite 30s from Morris, Harvey and Hole, they finished 30 runs short. Bailey restricted the scoring by bowling wide of the leg stump.{{Cite book | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack | edition = 1954 | publisher = Wisden | chapter = Australians in England, 1953| pages = 249–252 }}{{Cite book | author = Ralph Barker & Irving Rosenwater | title = England v Australia: A compendium of Test cricket between the countries 1877-1968 | edition = 1969 | publisher = BT Batsford | page = 220 }}

{{Test match |

date = 15–19 August 1953|

team1 = {{cr|Australia}}|

team2 = {{cr|England}}|

score-team1-inns1 = 275|

runs-team1-inns1 = RR Lindwall 62
AL Hassett (c) 53|

wickets-team1-inns1 = FS Trueman 4/86
AV Bedser 3/88|

score-team2-inns1 = 306|

runs-team2-inns1 = L Hutton (c) 82
TE Bailey 64|

wickets-team2-inns1 = RR Lindwall 4/70
WA Johnston 3/94|

score-team1-inns2 = 162|

runs-team1-inns2 = RG Archer 49|

wickets-team1-inns2 = GAR Lock 5/45
JC Laker 4/75|

score-team2-inns2 = 132/2|

runs-team2-inns2 = WJ Edrich 55*|

wickets-team2-inns2 = |

result = {{cr|England}} won by 8 wickets|

venue = The Oval, London, UK|

umpires = D Davies (ENG) & FS Lee (ENG)|

motm = |

report = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20833.html scorecard]|

rain = |

}}

The series being undecided, six days were allowed and the match began, unusually for a Test in England, on a Saturday. Hassett won the toss for the fifth time. He made 53 and Harvey and Hole made 30s, but Lindwall top-scored with 62 and last five wickets more than doubled the score. Fred Trueman, in his only match of the series, took four wickets. Hutton scored 82, but at the end of the second day England, at 235 for seven, were still 40 behind. The lead was not gained until the last pair, Bailey and Bedser, were together; Bailey made 64. When Australia batted for the second time, Hutton turned very quickly to the Surrey spin-bowling pair, Laker and Tony Lock, and they took nine of the 10 wickets to fall, the other being a run-out. Lock finished with five for 45 and Laker four for 75. Australia's lack of a spinner – though Johnston bowled slows from one end – meant England got the 132 needed for victory easily, if slowly. The match was finished in mid-afternoon on the fourth day and the Ashes had been won.{{Cite book | title = Wisden Cricketers' Almanack | edition = 1954 | publisher = Wisden | chapter = Australians in England, 1953| pages = 258–262 }}

[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_British_Isles_1953/Team_Averages.html source]

[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/AUS/Marylebone_Cricket_Club_in_Australia_1954-55/f_Marylebone_Cricket_Club_Bowling.html source]

The Australians had a stopover in Colombo en route to England and played a one-day single-innings match there against the Ceylon (later Sri Lanka) national team, which at that time did not have Test status.{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/137/137135.html |publisher=CricketArchive |title=Ceylon v Australia 1953 |access-date=30 June 2014}}

{{reflist}}

• Playfair Cricket Annual 1954
• Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1954

• Bill Frindall, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877-1978, Wisden, 1979
• {{cite book|last=Harte |first=Chris |author2=Whimpress, Bernard |title=The Penguin History of Australian Cricket |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-670-04133-6 |orig-year=2003 |publisher=Andre Deutsch}}
• {{cite book |title=On Top Down Under : Australia's cricket captains |first=Ray |last=Robinson |author-link=Ray Robinson (cricket writer) |publisher=Cassell Australia |year=1975 |isbn=0-7269-7364-5}}
• {{cite book |title=The Ashes Crown the Year |first=Jack |last=Fingleton |author-link=Jack Fingleton |publisher=Collins |year=1954 |asin=B0017VYB5G}}

{{Ashes Test series}}

{{International cricket tours of England}}

{{International cricket tours of Sri Lanka}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Cricket Team in England in 1953}}

Category:1953 in Australian cricket

Category:1953 in English cricket

Category:1953 in Ceylon

1953

1953

Category:International cricket competitions from 1945–46 to 1960

Category:Sri Lankan cricket seasons from 1880–81 to 1971–72

1953