England team leave for 1920/21 Ashes series in Australia

The MCC touring party board the Osterly ship at Tilbury to depart for Australia. They lost the series 0-5.

The team that toured Australia in 1920–21 was captained by Johnny Douglas and included a mix of experienced and talented players, though the side struggled against Australia’s formidable pace attack.

Key batsmen were Jack Hobbs, who carried the side with over 500 runs, and Phil Mead, providing stability at the top order. Veteran all-rounder Wilfred Rhodes contributed with both bat and occasional spin, while Frank Woolley, Jack Russell, and Cyril Walters supported in the middle order.

The bowling relied on Douglas himself, along with fast-medium bowlers Parkin and Fender, but they were largely outclassed by Australia’s Gregory–McDonald combination. Despite their talent, the side lacked cohesion and confidence after World War I, leading to their historic defeat.