TIMELESS BATTLES
Australia versus England at cricket dates back to 1877 in Melbourne. The 150th centenary of the timeless contests will take place at the MCG next March. Following that showpiece clash Australia will go to England mid 2027 for a resumption of the Ashes tests. It is a quarter of a century since the Aussies have won a series in England. The five tests will be played at Trent Bridge, Lords, Edgbaston, Southampton and The Oval. It will be the first ever Ashes test in Southampton, historic venues Headingly (Leeds) and Old Trafford (Manchester) miss out.
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The two London venues, Lords and The Oval, are certainly steeped in history.
Lords is a great place to visit – for a County game or Test match. The spiritual home of cricket holds a unique attraction for players and cricket lovers from round the world.
Situated in leafy St. John’s Wood, North London, it has been a “must” whenever I’ve been in London across more than four decades.
A bus trip from Oxford Street along Edgware Road, alighting at St. John’s Road – then a short walk to the Grace Gates entrance.
Even when empty Lords has that intangible called “atmosphere”. It’s as though the ghosts of the legendary players from the four comers of the globe linger there – as indeed they might.
It is nearly possible to imagine “seeing” the hansom cabs, horse drawn, arriving with the great cricketers of the period 1880 to early nineteen hundreds.
The Australian champion Victor Trumper was an idol at Lords over a hundred years ago, and Aussies of batting or bowling renown have always been held in high esteem by the cosmopolitan Lords crowds.
Bradman’s 252 in the 1930 Test is still regarded as maybe the finest innings ever played there. On a sunlit afternoon the “Don” enthralled a capacity crowd as he put a strong English attack to the sword.
The Gloucestershire master bat Walter Hammond was a huge favourite there between the wars and Denis Compton and Bill Edrich thrilled lock-out audiences immediately following World War II.
Keith Miller, Australia’s finest ever all-rounder, was pretty much adored by Lords crowds.
The debonair, handsome fighter pilot, who bowled fast and hit hard and often, was always accorded a standing ovation both ways at his favourite venue.
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A few kilometres away in South London is the city’s other Test arena, The Oval. The surrounds could not be more contrasting, Downtown Kennington looks third world and its cricket ground is in the shadow of the huge gasometers.
However, once you walk the hundred yards from the underground station and pass the Surrey C.C. Tavern to enter the ground it is quickly apparent that this historic venue has mystique also. It was at The Oval in 1882 the Ashes was born, following England’s shock loss to Australia.
In 1902 the West Country parson Gilbert Jessop hit a whirlwind century to steer England to a remarkable victory. Jessop is regarded as one of the greatest outright hitters of all time.
Yorkshireman Len Hutton’s epic 364 there against Don Bradman’s 1938 team eclipsed the Don’s 334 at Leeds in 1930, and remains the highest score ever in a Test in the UK.
There were tumultuous scenes at the Oval in 1926, 1953 and 2005 as on each occasion the home country regained the coveted Ashes after long years of Australian domination.
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“Fagan’s Way” is a really good read. It pays tribute to maybe the nicest guy of all the coaches – and a very successful one. With the 2024 and 2025 titles under his belt he may well make it three in a row in late September. Chris did not play AFL but he has a deep knowledge of the practice and tactics of the game. He has the greatest asset a coach can have in that the players play for him. This attribute is priceless in team sport.
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RON PICKETT’S PARTY
Former ACK student Ron Pickett celebrated his 90th birthday at Wandong last week. Ron grew up in Wandong and attended ACK as a day student. He formed many friendships with boarders, and those ties have remained strong down the years. A school teacher for nearly four decades. Ron in recent times has provided nearly 20 title books-very readable, on football, cricket, school memories and life in general. A number of well known area identities names among the party goers included Alan Christensen and Bill Boulton.
