Cricinfo | Wisden Almanac
Ray Illingworth led England to a remarkable Ashes success in a series of unprecedented length and bitter exchanges. Illingworth was only chosen when Colin Cowdrey pulled out injured, but he forged a closely-knit side. The tour started badly, and Alan Ward had to be replaced by Surrey's Bob Willis before the first Test. The first two Tests were drawn, and then Melbourne was washed out, leading to a seventh Test being added at the end of the tour. To placate the crowds, a one-dayer was arranged and more than 40,000 turned up to watch Australia win the game's first ODI. England took a vital lead at Sydney where Geoff Boycott (77 and 142*) laid the platform and then John Snow (7 for 40 in the second innings) sealed a 299-run win. The fifth Test was dull and marred by poor crowd behaviour, and while the sixth, which started three days later, was also drawn with Illingworth declining to enforce the follow-on on a pitch getting easier. Australia ditched Bill Lawry, their captain and leading batsman in the series, for the decider back at Melbourne, replacing him with Ian Chappell. Australia gained an 80-run lead but Snow was warned for short-pitched bowling after striking Terry Jenner on the head and resulting crowd trouble - Snow was grabbed by a spectator and bottles and cans thrown at him - led to Illingworth taking England from the field. They returned after warnings from officials, and a doughty second-innings performance left Australia needing 223 to win and retain the Ashes. Even though Snow was out of action after breaking a finger, only Keith Stackpole mastered a crumbling pitch and England won by 62 runs.
Tests Australia 0 England 2 Drawn 4
ODI Australia 1 England 0
Ray Illingworth led England to a remarkable Ashes success in a series of unprecedented length and bitter exchanges. Illingworth was only chosen when Colin Cowdrey pulled out injured, but he forged a closely-knit side. The tour started badly, and Alan Ward had to be replaced by Surrey's Bob Willis before the first Test. The first two Tests were drawn, and then Melbourne was washed out, leading to a seventh Test being added at the end of the tour. To placate the crowds, a one-dayer was arranged and more than 40,000 turned up to watch Australia win the game's first ODI. England took a vital lead at Sydney where Geoff Boycott (77 and 142*) laid the platform and then John Snow (7 for 40 in the second innings) sealed a 299-run win. The fifth Test was dull and marred by poor crowd behaviour, and while the sixth, which started three days later, was also drawn with Illingworth declining to enforce the follow-on on a pitch getting easier. Australia ditched Bill Lawry, their captain and leading batsman in the series, for the decider back at Melbourne, replacing him with Ian Chappell. Australia gained an 80-run lead but Snow was warned for short-pitched bowling after striking Terry Jenner on the head and resulting crowd trouble - Snow was grabbed by a spectator and bottles and cans thrown at him - led to Illingworth taking England from the field. They returned after warnings from officials, and a doughty second-innings performance left Australia needing 223 to win and retain the Ashes. Even though Snow was out of action after breaking a finger, only Keith Stackpole mastered a crumbling pitch and England won by 62 runs.
Tests Australia 0 England 2 Drawn 4
ODI Australia 1 England 0