On the 14 August 1891, the Victorian cricketer Johnny Mullagh [13 August 1841] died aged 50. A skillful all-rounder, he was born Unaarrimin, but was given the name ‘Mullagh’ to identify him with his place of birth, on Mullagh Station, about 16 kilometres north of Harrow, Victoria. Mullagh led the famous Aboriginal cricket tour of England in 1868.
On the same day, the 5th and final Test of the Ashes series of 1948 began at The Oval in London, Australia won the match by an innings and 149 runs, to complete a 4–0 series win. It was the last Test in the career of the Australian captain Don Bradman. Bradman only needed only four runs from his final innings to achieve a Test batting average of 100, but was bowled out second ball for a duck by leg spinner Eric Hollies.
English skipper Norman Yardley won the toss and elected to bat on a rain-affected pitch.
After a delayed start due, the Australian pace attack, led by Ray Lindwall, dismissed England on the first day for 52 runs. Lindwall taking 6 wickets for 20 runs. Len Hutton was the only English batsman to resist, making 30 before being dismissed.
In Australia’s reply the opening pair, Arthur Morris and Sid Barnes, passed England’s score on the same afternoon, in an opening stand which was ended at 117 when Barnes fell for 61. Australia reached 153 for 2 at stumps on the first day. On the second day Morris had contributed 196, more than half his team’s total, before being run out, with the Aussies finally dismissed for 389.
By lunch on the third day England had reached 121 for 2, with Hutton and Denis Compton batting steadily, but suffered a late collapse to be 178 for the loss of 7 wickets when bad light and rain stopped the day’s play.
The next morning, Bill Johnston took the last 3 wickets for Australia and England were bowled out for 188, bringing the match to an end.
After the match the crowd sang ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ in Bradman’s honour.
England Scorecard:
First Innings Second Innings
L Hutton c Tallon b Lindwall 30 c Tallon b Miller 64
J.G. Dewes b Miller 1 b Lindwall 10
W.J. Edrcih c Hasslett b Johnston 3 b Lindwall 28
D.C.S. Caompton c Morris b Miller 4 c Lindwall b Johnston 39
J.F. Crapp c Tallon b Miller 0 b Miller 9
N.W.D. Yardley [Capt.] b Lindwall 7 c Miller b Johnston 9
A.J. Watkins lbw b Johnston 0 c Hassett b Ring 2
T.G. Evans [Wkt] b Lindwall 1 b Lindwall 8
A.V. Bedser B Lindwall 0 b Johnston 0
J.A. Young b Lindwall 0 not out 3
E.W. Hollies not out 0 c Morris b Johnston 0
Extras 6 16
Total [42.1 overs] 52 [105.3 overs] 188
14 August, 2019