Lindsay Hassett with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948

About Lindsay Hassett with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948 in brief

Lindsay Hassett was the vice-captain of Don Bradman’s famous Australian cricket team, which toured England in 1948. The Australians went undefeated in their 34 matches; this unprecedented feat by a Test side touring England earned them the sobriquet The Invincibles. A right-handed batsman, Hassett played in all five Tests; he was a middle-order batsman in all but the Fourth Test, when he stood in as an opener due to an injury to Sid Barnes. Under Hassett’s watch, Australia won seven matches, five of these by an innings, while both draws were rain-affected fixtures in which more than half the playing time was lost. Hassett ended the first-class matches with 1,563 runs at a batting average of 74. 22 including seven centuries. Among the Australians, he had the third highest aggregate behind Bradman and Arthur Morris and the second highest average. He took 23 catches on the tour, the most by an Australia excluding wicket-keepers. He was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 1949. His biggest contribution was his 137 in the first innings of the First Test at Trent Bridge, which laid the foundation for the eventual victory. He had three scores between 35 and 50 during the Tests, but was unable to convert his starts into large innings. His highest score was an unbeaten 200 against the Gentlemen of England. He became a regular member of the Test team following the interruption of World War II, playing in all four matches and averaging 110.

66 with the bat, and he was duly selected for the tour of England, continuing in his role as Bradman’s deputy. He made his Test debut during the series and played in his first Test against England in 1938. He led the Australian Services—a military team—in the Victory Tests. He also played in the Test series against England and India in Australia during 1946–47 and 1947–48 respectively. In the latter Test series, he averaged 110.66 with the Bat, and was duly chosen for the series. He scored 310 runs at 44. 28 with one century, which placed him fourth in the Australian aggregates, but only seventh in the averages. His last Test was the Third Test at Lord’s, in which he was bowled out for 17 runs by England. The match resulted in an Australian victory and 17 runs for the tourists, which resulted in a win for the Australians and 17 for the next match against Leicestershire. He then returned to London while Bradman rested himself and led the team to victory against Yorkshire. He retired from cricket at the end of the match with a 124 and was immediately out in 124 for a duck. He later played for Australia against Worcestershire, and took a catch as Australia dismissed the hosts for 233. Australia traditionally fielded its first-choice team in the tour opener, which was customarily against Worcstershire; Hassett thus played as vice- captain of Bradman.