Second Test, 1948 Ashes series

Second Test, 1948 Ashes series

The Second Test of the 1948 Ashes series was one of five Tests in the Ashes cricket series. The match was played at Lord’s in London from 24 to 29 June, with a rest day on 27 June 1948. Australia won the match by 409 runs to take a 2–0 lead, meaning that England would need to win the remaining three matches to regain The Ashes.

About Second Test, 1948 Ashes series in brief

Summary Second Test, 1948 Ashes seriesThe Second Test of the 1948 Ashes series was one of five Tests in the Ashes cricket series. The match was played at Lord’s in London from 24 to 29 June, with a rest day on 27 June 1948. Australia won the match by 409 runs to take a 2–0 lead, meaning that England would need to win the remaining three matches to regain The Ashes. The tourists had won the First Test convincingly, and decided to field the same team, while England made three changes, mainly to adopt a more attacking bowling strategy. Australia had proceeded through the first two months of the tour of England without defeat. After winning 10 of the first twelve matches before the Tests started, eight of these by an innings—the other two were drawn. The hosts reached 1063 at stumps on the fourth day, but then collapsed on the final morning to be all out for 186. Cyril Washbrook and Tom Dollery top-scored for England with 37 apiece, while Ernie Toshack had the pick of the figures with 540 while Ray Lindwall took 361. Australia closed the third day at 3434 after a productive day of batting, giving them a lead of 478 despite losing three quick wickets late in the afternoon. After the rest day, Australia proceeded to reach 4607—Keith Miller making 74—before Bradman declared, setting England a target of 596 midway through the afternoon of the fourth Test. Australia then set about extending their first innings lead, and opener Sid Barnes led the way, scoring 141.

He put on an opening partnership of 122 with Morris, and added 174 with Bradman. The match set a new record for the highest attendance at a Test in England. The First Test was won by Australia by eight wickets, with Doug Wright, who had withdrawn from the match at late notice due to lumbago, taking the wicket-taking figures of 1107. The Second Test was played in front of a crowd of 17,000, with the home team winning by an hour and a half. The home team made 3 changes; the leg spinner Doug Wright had regained his fitness and was replaced by left arm spinners Alec Coxon and Jim Laker, who was initially the third spinner in the team due to Wright’s lago. England made 4138, including three specialist batsmen but was retained against Australia, taking four middle-order wickets and scoring 21 runs and 21 wickets for Yorkshire, who were not included in the match. England took 16 wickets in the first Test, including four from the pecking order, but took four wickets from the middle order and scored 21 runs from the last two overs of the second Test against Northamptonshire. The Third Test was held at Old Trafford and won by England by a single wicket, with England taking the last wicket from the bowling of Alec Bedser, who took 4100. The Fourth Test was the final match of the Ashes series, and Australia won it by six wickets.