Tate bowls to Hendry, Sydney Ashes Test 1928
In December 1928, England thrashed Australia in the Second Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The SCG crowd of 58,446 at the 1928 Sydney Ashes Test is a ground record which still stands today. Australia scored 253 and 397, but England made 636 in its first innings, and only needed seven second-innings overs to get the required 16 runs, albeit for the loss of two wickets. England won the 1928 series 4-1.
Seven of England’s touring batsmen got centuries in the series, but none came close to debutante Walter Hammond, with his 251 at Sydney, 200 and 32 at Melbourne, and 119 not out and 177 at Adelaide, amassing 905 runs at an average of 113.12!
Indeed the series record has only been topped once, in the 1930 Ashes, by another 1928 debutante, “Our Don” Bradman.
In Annette Young’s story, A Distant Prospect, Wally Sotheby dreads the mocking he must face from his Australian team mates after England’s massive victory. Lucy’s Irish father playfully chides Wally about his muted reaction to England’s fortunes. If you are wondering whether Wally will switch allegiance to the baggy green of Australia, though, you’ll just have to read the book!