Batting English cricket team in Australia in 1946–47

1 batting

1.1 opening batsmen
1.2 top order batsmen
1.3 middle , lower order batsmen

batting

len hutton practising cover drive @ adelaide oval.

it formidable array of run-getters on past efforts appears tower above put in field, , in absence of o reilly position seemed bleak , without hope. asked kippax thought...he said if hutton, compton , hammond anywhere near pre-war form willing concede them 250 runs innings , ask them not bat .

clif cary


opening batsmen

len hutton had made record 364 in england s 903/7 declared @ oval in 1938, still highest score made batsmen in ashes test. yorkshire batsman unlikely match on first tour of australia , failed expectations until last 2 tests. had broken left arm in accident on commando course while sergeant in army physical training corps sergeant in war , after operation using 46 stitches, grafting bone leg onto arm, left 2 inches (5 cm) shorter , weaker right. hutton managed recraft technique, using specially lightened bat, , improved batting average after war. target of lindwall , miller s opening blitz , batting injury when caught on chin new south wales fast bowler ginty lush , taken hospital before fifth test. suffered tonsillitis , had retire ill after reaching 122 in fifth test @ sydney. absent rest of match , flown england throat operation afterwards. so, topped england , mcc batting averages on tour despite bearing brunt of australian fast bowlers , , washbrook added 138, 137 , 100 first wicket in successive innings, matching record of hobbs , sutcliffe in 1924–25. in 1948–49 put on 359 against south africa, still highest opening stand england in test cricket. cyril washbrook lancastrian half of roses partnership, batsman noted daring hooking , incisive cutting, though proved model of self-denial when england needed him. selector in 1956 famously recalled himself, came in @ 17/3 , made match winning 98. third man laurie fishlock, popular sportsman left-handed batsman surrey , winger crystal palace , southampton. had toured australia in 1936–37, in 1946–47 injured hands, unable play weeks @ time , form suffered result. according 1 selector chosen because public expected him go.

top order batsmen

success never spoiled compton , cheery face out there on boundary made him popular crowd. .

s/l bill edrich had been bomber pilot during war , won dfc in raf s audacious , dangerous low-level bombing raid of 1941. gutsy batsman indifferent own safety. no bowler fast hook; no score large defy challenge , stood bouncers of lindwall , miller. returning england in 1947 became amateur , made record 3,539 runs (80.43) 12 centuries, total exceeded middlesex twin denis compton made 3,816 runs (90.85) , 18 centuries in same season. compton golden boy of post-war cricket illuminating seemingly impossible stroke , playing shots late appear afterthoughts. restricted hammond s orders stick crease liked walk down pitch upset slow bowlers – relying on quick eye keep him out of trouble – , shadow of himself until fourth test when ignored captain s advice , made 2 centuries. famous stroke compton sweep in pivot , drive ball long leg. many others tried copy backward drive fatal results, product of compton s own genius. young joe hardstaff son of joe hardstaff of notts , england , noted stylist ease , elegance had toured australia in 1936–37, failed make century , test career stunted enmity of gubby allen. selection based on innings of 205 not out against india in lords test, had otherwise poor season , failed on tour.

middle , lower order batsmen

the mcc chose number of all-rounders team, none of real quality. balding , bespectacled paul gibb had sensational tour of south africa before in 1938–39, when hit 473 runs (59.12) , 2 centuries, in australia found have weakness against leg-spin , failed. chosen first test ahead of godfrey evans because of batting ability, evans proved decent batsman, perky, attacking player tried take run off every ball, in fourth test went record 95 minutes before scoring while compton made century @ other end. @ 28 jack ikin 1 of younger english players on tour , apart 5 first class matches in 1938 , 1939 post-war player. not noted footwork or strokeplay gritty left-hander picked though made 1 century lancashire in 1946. popular in australia tobruk rat had fought alongside australian 9th division in north africa. norman yardley sensible player liked play strokes on leg-side , though never made test century man in crisis. james langridge, peter smith , bill voce bowlers regularly made runs , centuries counties, doug wright s hundred had become before war , afterwards relegated bottom of batting order. alec bedser tailender capable of hitting few runs on occasion , dick pollard s lack of batting ability cited 1 of reasons why not picked test in series.