1956 Ashes
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The Ashes, the legendary cricket series between England and Australia, began in 1877 with the first-ever Test match played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The rivalry quickly grew after England lost to Australia on home soil in 1882, prompting a satirical obituary in The Sporting Times declaring that “English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.”
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The Australian team under Ian Johnson toured England in the 1956 summer and played a five-match Test series. Peter May's team won the series 2-1 to retain The Ashes.
The pivotal moment in the series was in the 4th Test at Old Trafford. England retained the Ashes with a bowling performance from off-spinner Jim Laker that is unlikely to ever be matched - let alone bettered. Laker finished the Test with astounding match figures of 19-90. The spinner took 9-37 as the visitors were skittled for 84, and when they followed on he claimed all 10 scalps to seal an innings and 170-run victory.
Laker's achievements was a touch overshadowed by the furore surrounding the pitch. Arthur Morris wrote "I complain, not on behalf of Australia but on behalf of cricket, that the pitch was not properly prepared for a match of this kind.". Richie Benaud later stated that "a terrible pitch but a terrible pitch on which England made 459".
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