FROM THE ARCHIVE: England's last Test win against Australia at Lord's for 75 years

In the summer of 1934, England beat Australia to win the Lord's Ashes Test – something they would not do again until 2009...

In the summer of 2009, Andrew Strauss’ side made history by beating Australia in a Lord's Test match. It was the first time an England team had done this since 1934 and the days of Wally Hammond, Herbert Sutcliffe and Donald Bradman.

That famous Test, now 85 years old, started well for England. Maurice Leyland (109) and Les Ames (120) both hit centuries as the hosts posted a first innings score of 440 all out.

After the batsmen had done their job, Hedley Verity ripped through Australia. The spinner, who sadly perished during the Second World War, picked up 15 wickets - 14 of which coming in the same day - to lead England to an innings victory.

Watching on was Pelham Warner, founder of The Cricketer, who penned his reflections in Volume 15, Number 9 of the magazine (30 June, 1934).

1

The toss won the match, but England, or rather Verity, seized his opportunity. Better left-hand bowling on a tricky wicket has seldom been seen. Verity is rather faster than most of his type, and therefore not easy to get at.

His bowling to Bradman without a deep field was a very clever manoeuvre. It tempted the great batsman to try and drive him, with disastrous results.

^{Yorkshire's Hedley Verity picked up 144 wickets in 40 Tests for England}

2

England’s slip fielding was admirable, Hammond’s activity being extraordinary. Patsy Hendren caught a grand catch at silly point and altogether the fielding, encouraged by Verity’s magnificent bowling, was excellent on the third day – a big improvement on anything seen before.

3

Bob Wyatt [the captain] managed his bowling admirably, and his judgement throughout proved supremely correct.

4

We now stand one - all. Good as the Australians are, I think that under equal conditions of weather and wicket we can win the rubber, if we examine very carefully our bowling resources.

Men who may be considered in this respect are Gubby Allen, who is now said to be fit, Stan Nichols and Ian Peebles.

Allen and Nichols would strengthen enormously both the fielding and batting, and with these at 8 and 9 and Verity at 10 we should have no tail; moreover, Nichols would give us another left-handed batsman.

Peebles has not been seen lately in first-class cricket, but he has been bowling well in county cricket this season, particularly in the recent match between Middlesex and Yorkshire at Lord’s.

He is a bowler who would be valuable on any wicket. If sticky, his spin would be an asset, while for a good wicket he has flight and length.

^{The great Donald Bradman was dimissed twice in the match by Verity}

5

Hammond bowled extremely well in the second innings, and was not very fortunate. Now that his back is not troubling him, he can definitely be counted a bowler, and a good one, too.

6

Allen, Nichols, Verity, Hammond and Peebles sound a good combination, and the last named, like Allen and Nichols, is a good field to his own bowling, and also at short leg or backward point.

7

James Langridge should be somewhere about at Old Trafford in case the weather is wet or uncertain. He might replace a fast bowler.

8

Bill Bowes was good at times. He has great height and does a bit both ways, but, as I have repeatedly stated, he must pay attention to length. The Australians are skilled at hooking and cutting, and it will pay our bowlers to always keep the ball well up.

^{England had to wait 75 years for another Test victory against Australia at Lord's}

9

I think our batting is now settling down. Nos. 5, 6 and 7 are very good, and if the cricketers whose names I have mentioned are fortune enough to catch the eyes of the selectors then our batting will be exceptionally strong.

10

The Australians were far from happy on the sticky wicket. They are a fine side under normal conditions and are going to be very difficult to defeat. I imagine, in the next match, Alan Kippax, only just recovering from ‘flu, will be in their XI as he is a good batsman on a tricky wicket.

11

It is a tribute to Bert Oldfield’s skill that his missing of Ames before lunch on the second day was the topic of conversation for the next hour.

I have never seen a better wicketkeeper – and I have seen Jack Blackham, Dick Pilling, William MacGregor, Ernest Halliwell, Percy Sherwell and Dick Lilley.

12

Has any bowler ever beaten Verity’s 14 wickets in one day in an England v Australia Test match? The answer remains no.

This article featured in the June 30, 1934, (Volume 15, Number 9) edition of The Cricketer magazine.

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