Another Test match scorecard I purchased was England
v Australia on 17 August 1961.It has been signed by Geoff
Pullar, Ted Dexter, David Allen and John Murray by English
players and Bob Simpson and Alan Davidson by Australian
players.
This was the fifth test match and the Australians had already
won the Ashes but if England drew the match they could draw
the rubber. They won the toss and England were three wickets
down , for 20 runs . By lunch they were 67 for 4 with May and
Barrington batting. Peter May, the England captain ,occupied
the crease for over three hours for an excellent 71 and hit
eleven fours.
By evening England finished on 210 for 8 having averaged only
35 runs an hour. Next morning they reached 256 but the Australian
passed it in four hours and twenty minutes some two and half
hours less time. Norman O'Neill spent three hours and twenty
minutes for an excellent 117 .A sheer joy to watch .By the end
of the Second day they had scored 290 for 4.
Despite two breaks for rain Booth batted stylish for his 71.
The other major ran maker was Peter Burge who scored 181
in six hours and fifty minutes .Australian held a lead of 238
.
Rain on Monday reduced the play to three hours Subba Row
required a runner as he had a groin injury but still was able
to score 137 which enabled England to get to 370 for 8
by the end of Tuesday so drawing the series.
During the five days no bowler was no balled on either side.
Twelve months previously the problem of the throw and drag
confronting the cricketing world. An interesting fact on this
test match there was no Yorkshire players. Trueman had been
dropped for Flavell and Ray Illingworth place was taken by
David Allen. Brian Close only played one match and that was
at Old Trafford where Benaud took six wickets in the second
innings so winning the match and it was the first victory
for Australia there since 1902. Along time between drinks.
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