The Fourth Test of the 1948 Ashes series was one of five Tests in a cricket series between Australia and England. The match was played at Headingley Cricket Ground at Leeds from 22 to 27 July with a rest day on 25 July. Australia won the match by seven wickets to take an unassailable 3–0 series lead. In successfully chasing a target of 404, they set a new world record for the highest victorious runchase in Test history.
About Fourth Test, 1948 Ashes series in brief
The Fourth Test of the 1948 Ashes series was one of five Tests in a cricket series between Australia and England. The match was played at Headingley Cricket Ground at Leeds from 22 to 27 July with a rest day on 25 July. Australia won the match by seven wickets to take an unassailable 3–0 series lead. In successfully chasing a target of 404, they set a new world record for the highest victorious runchase in Test history, a record lasting until 1976. Australia had gone through the first two months of their tour of England undefeated, winning 10 of 12 games. After the first Test, they defeated Northamptonshire by eight wickets before crushing England by 409 runs in the Second Test at Lord’s. The Third Test was drawn amid rain interruptions that cost a day and a half of play. The Fourth Test was the only Test not to end in a draw, with Australia winning by ten wickets with 15 minutes remaining. Australia went on to win the Test by an innings and 363 runs, their highest score of the season. England had been in a strong position, having been 316 runs ahead in their second innings when rain stopped play at the end of the third day of the second Test. The Test was played in front of a crowd of 17,000, the highest attendance at a Test in England since the Second World War. Australia’s bowlers were heavily criticised for their performance, which was seen as lethargic. England’s openers were able to withstand the Australian new ball attack, and the partnership of Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook put on 168 for the opening stand, but England clearly had the better of the play, ending at 2682 by stumps.
Australia then reached 631 in reply at stumps on day two, but were bowled out for 458 early on the fourth morning after the rest day, and England set about extending their lead, adding 129 for the first wicket, until both openers fell without further addition. England then collapsed and lost 873 to be all out for 496 late in the day, declaring at 3658. For the third time in a row, the match set anew record for a Test attendance in England, as cricket became less popular in the UK. The England selectors were criticised after the match for failing to include a leg spinner in the team to exploit the favourable conditions. They were later supported by Sam Loxton —who hit five sixes—and Ray Lindwall, who both struck the ball powerfully. Australia ended the day at 4579, having added 394 runs in one day, and 102 runs for the last two wickets. England batted on for two overs on the final day, declared at 3628. This left Australia a target of 404 in less than a day, which would require a world record runch Chase, and allowed Yardley to use the heavy roller to break up the pitch, making batting even harder for the tourists. Most observers predicted an easy win on a deteriorating surface.
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