England v Australia 4th Test at Manchester 1961 Ashes
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00:00Hello everybody.
00:29Brent and Julie with you again for another Ashes Classic match.
00:32Today we wind back the clock to July 1961 for the fourth test between Australia and
00:37England at Old Trafford.
00:39A win for the Tourists in Manchester would see Australia retain the famous urn after
00:43sweeping England aside 4-0 at home in 1959.
00:48Heading into this match, the 1961 series was locked at 1-1 after Australia won the Lords
00:53Test by five wickets, while England counted with an eight-wicket win in Leeds.
00:59Richie Beno won the toss and chose to bat first.
01:02We join play in the opening over.
01:06Truman to Laurie.
01:12And what we're looking for, I think, is to see whether this wicket has got pace in it.
01:18It's been promised to be a good, fast, true wicket, and it's got a certain amount of grass
01:24on it, so it could possibly help the opening bowlers.
01:29It's got a bit of green on it.
01:38Mayfield's there.
01:43Friendly full pitch.
01:44And there's Flavel chasing it down to the Pavilion boundary.
01:47He'll catch it all right.
01:48They've taken two runs, so that's three to Laurie.
01:54Australia three for naught, having won the toss here at Old Trafford.
02:01And that's gone down to the third-man boundary, a very lucky one.
02:08He'd just got a bat to it.
02:10He had his bat and pads close together, and he got a very thick edge, and it went racing
02:13down there, as you saw.
02:14A lucky one there for Simpson.
02:21He's caught at the wicket.
02:23Simpson caught Murray.
02:25Bells trade them for four.
02:27Australia eight for one.
02:39And there's Dexter.
02:42A good short run there.
02:45Harvey off the mark.
02:47Nine for one, Australia.
02:54That's a better one.
02:55Played square.
02:56Puller running around from third-man, and they've taken two runs.
03:02Nice return.
03:03Stay them to Harvey.
03:06Nicely turned around.
03:07There's a long leg there.
03:08That's the one run.
03:09That's a 50 up.
03:11Australia's 50 up in a tricky morning session.
03:14Neil Harvey fell just one run later, but the ever-stoic Bill Laurie dug in to keep the
03:18visitors on course.
03:21That'll come down for four, down to the side screen.
03:24Peter May just making a token chase.
03:31Statham comes in.
03:40There's a heartless laugh all around the field.
03:45That went, as you could see, off the bat onto the groin.
04:02I wonder what was in that drink.
04:07Four runs to him.
04:14That's gone through.
04:16And there's his 50.
04:33That's a splendid 50, that one by Laurie.
04:36Good batting.
04:37Plenty of courage.
04:39He's been up against some good bowling here this morning.
04:46Notice that he takes that bottom hand off the bat a great deal.
04:51Perhaps he's jarred it.
04:53It looks like that, doesn't it?
04:56It's a habit.
04:57Ken McKay's got two, hasn't it?
04:59I should think Laurie's fingers are pretty sore there from those hits he got from Truman.
05:05And he's bowled him.
05:18Or has he knocked his wicket over?
05:23Anyway, he can only be out, can't he?
05:27Yes, he's given him out.
05:30The only possible decision.
05:37Norman O'Neill coming off second best to a pretty handy ball from fiery Fred Truman.
05:42Australia three for 89 at the time.
05:45Peter Burge came and went in a flash, cutting and pulling it down.
05:50That brought another debutant to the crease in Brian Booth,
05:53who faced a hostile welcome to international cricket.
05:57Another nasty one, which just gets him in the midriff.
06:03But Brian Booth, a physical fitness expert,
06:06is going to have to get back to training.
06:10Another nasty one, which just gets him in the midriff.
06:16But Brian Booth, a physical fitness expert,
06:21can seem to mind a bit.
06:25Flayville to Booth.
06:27Oh, he nearly got through with that. He just got his bat down.
06:32Flayville to Booth.
06:35And that's his first run.
06:37And the four of them there for him.
06:39Four, his first scoring stroke in Test cricket.
06:43Booth now not out four.
06:45So rain had the final say in the opening day at Old Trafford.
06:48Australia four for 124 when play was abandoned.
06:52But conditions improved overnight.
06:54We return to the middle with Booth taking strike to Flayville.
06:58They'll take possibly two runs there.
07:00Puller after it to mid wicket.
07:01They go for a second.
07:04Puller running a little bit gingerly on this turf,
07:08which must be still a little bit damp.
07:10Stay them.
07:12Burling to Lorry.
07:14Nice drive there. It's beaten cover.
07:17Decks are chasing it down.
07:18They've taken two runs.
07:22Lorry goes up to 66.
07:27Australia 149 for four.
07:30And that was our fisher game, but quite safe.
07:32Wide of Truman.
07:34Down to long leg.
07:36Statham running up to Burling to Lorry.
07:39Nice drive.
07:40Dexter's there though in the covers.
07:42No run.
07:44Statham to Lorry.
07:48He's out. LBW.
07:50Lorry LBW Burling Statham for 74.
07:54Australia 150 for five.
07:57First blow of the morning to England.
08:05He was in for 176 minutes.
08:07Hit 11 fours.
08:12Flayville to Booth.
08:14They'll get one there.
08:15Down to third man.
08:16David Allen running in.
08:20Booth goes to 23.
08:21Australia 151 for five.
08:24Flayville to bowler Ken Mackay who's just come in.
08:27His first ball from Flayville.
08:31Down on that one quickly into the covers.
08:32Dexter the fieldsman.
08:33Mackay with two good innings in the first and second test match.
08:3764 and 54 facing Flayville.
08:40Nice cut down to third man.
08:42Statham feels it.
08:43They'll just take a single.
08:52Statham to Mackay.
08:56He's out. Caught at the wicket by Murray.
08:59Mackay caught Murray.
09:01Bell Statham for 11.
09:03Australia 174 for six.
09:06Statham's fourth wicket.
09:09Just got the faintest touch there on the leg side.
09:13And off goes Mackay.
09:14And you notice he again, like so many batsmen these days,
09:17caught even before the umpire had raised his finger.
09:26Dexter to Booth.
09:29That's a nice on drive.
09:30Four runs beautifully timed in between mid-on and mid-wicket.
09:38Dexter to Davidson.
09:39This is Davidson's first ball from Dexter.
09:42And Jolly nearly his last.
09:46Straight outside that.
09:49Booth has been remarkably composed and free.
09:58That again wasn't a stroke as intended.
10:08He's out.
10:10Caught at short leg by Close.
10:14For 46.
10:20Good innings by the new New South Welshman.
10:26And now it's Australia's captain coming in at 185 for seven.
10:40Davidson caught.
10:43Barrington bowled.
10:45Dexter north.
10:47Caught behind the wicket.
10:55Another wicket to Dexter.
10:59Australia added just one more run before Richie Benham was bowled by Ted Dexter.
11:04The visitors all out for only 190 after winning the toss.
11:08Dexter wrapped up the turn with three for 16.
11:11While Brian Statham was the pick of England's bowlers with five for 53.
11:16So the pressure falling squarely on the Australian quicks Alan Davidson and Graham McKenzie to make some inroads with the new ball.
11:23They picked up Romain Sabouraud and Ted Dexter cheaply to leave England two for 43.
11:29But as the pitch flattened out Jeff Puller and Peter May cashed in.
11:35McKenzie to May.
11:38That's a nice stroke for four.
11:40Should get through.
11:42He was chasing it.
11:43He won't catch it.
11:49McKenzie to May.
11:52Nicely kept down all along the ground.
11:55Lorry running round from Longleg.
11:57And that's a 50 up.
12:06Benno to May.
12:13Nice stroke by May.
12:20May on 49 facing Benno.
12:24And there's his 50.
12:42Benno to Puller.
12:44Oh he's hit that very firm.
12:46Oh and he's been misfielded by Lorry.
12:49And it's going down for two runs.
12:57And that's Puller's 50.
13:03Giving Peter May some anxious moments today.
13:07It's come down to Longleg.
13:10Just chasing it down.
13:12Another four to Puller.
13:16Nine off that over from Benno.
13:18And the England score goes up to 149 for two.
13:2163 to Puller.
13:2266 to May.
13:24Puller and May added 111 for the third wicket before the opener was dismissed for 63.
13:29Brian Close kept the pace up.
13:31And that was England closed in on Australia's first innings total.
13:36Terrific fight to throw it back to Norman O'Neill.
13:39What a lovely one.
13:42Friendly full pitch.
13:43That's four runs.
13:47And McKenzie just starting his run now.
13:50No mid-off.
13:51Just Harvey in the covers.
13:54That one's gone down not for four because Lorry's down there.
13:57He takes a single.
13:59Down to third man.
14:0014 to close now.
14:02England 183 for three.
14:05Two more balls from McKenzie.
14:08And England just seven runs short of the Australia total.
14:12This looks like the last ball of the day coming up from McKenzie.
14:28Oh, that's four runs.
14:30Four runs off the last ball of the day to May.
14:32So he goes up to 90.
14:34And England 187 for three.
14:37Just three runs short of the Australia total.
14:40Thank you, Jack.
14:41And Benno runs in to bowl the first ball to close.
14:43It's outside the off stump.
14:44He comes back and drives it through the covers.
14:45He'll take one, probably two for this.
14:47It's being chased by Byrds.
14:48They come back for the second.
14:49Byrds gathers it about five yards in from the fence.
14:51And that's two to close off the first ball of the day.
14:54Davidson bowls again to May.
14:56And May forward.
14:57Goes for a quick single.
14:58Well run.
15:03That brings the scores level.
15:04England three for 190.
15:06May moves to 91.
15:08And that one May just came forward to
15:10and just dropped it away in front of him on the offside.
15:12And he was running as soon as he hit the shot.
15:14And close responded well to the call.
15:16And there was never any danger in it at all.
15:18They were through before the fieldsman had really moved towards the ball.
15:24And Benno setting his field for the left-handed close.
15:26And he's bringing in two short legs.
15:30Harvey only about six yards from the bat.
15:33Forward of square leg.
15:34Booth about ten yards, twelve yards from the bat.
15:37At backward square leg.
15:42And Davidson bowls to close.
15:45Over-pitched and close drives on the onside.
15:47They take a single.
15:48And he picks it up.
15:49Bangs a beautiful return back.
15:50But May had gone quickly for the run.
15:52And that puts England one in front.
15:55In he comes.
15:56Bowls again.
15:57Plenty of air.
15:58And it's hit high back over the bowler's head.
16:01And it's six, I think.
16:02Yes, six.
16:11Close 23.
16:13Three for 197.
16:14What a lovely shot.
16:17He was to it.
16:18Picked it up on the rise.
16:19And hit it high over towards the sight board.
16:23Benno bowls to him again.
16:24A faster one down the offside.
16:26And places across.
16:27Slips his bat and allows it to go through to Grout.
16:30And McKenzie runs up again now.
16:32And bowls to close.
16:33A full toss.
16:34And close has hit it.
16:35And I should think before.
16:36The ball is bouncing towards the square leg boundary.
16:38Yes, four runs to close.
16:40Now here's Davidson to close.
16:42Bowls to him.
16:43Oh, and that lifted.
16:44And that's a lucky four to close.
16:46And a good ball by Davidson.
16:47It lifted.
16:48And he got the edge.
16:50The outside edge.
16:51And it went between gully.
16:53And second slip.
16:55Between Benno and Harvey.
16:57For four runs.
16:59It obviously did something a little bit unusual.
17:01And close was not right behind it.
17:04It was reasonably wide.
17:06And he was jolly lucky to get four runs.
17:0932 now.
17:10And 211 for three.
17:12England.
17:16So Davidson bowls again to close.
17:18And this one he's turned nicely off the pads.
17:20And the ball is going scudding over this green outfield.
17:24Down to Burge.
17:26Away on the long leg boundary.
17:28A single to close.
17:3033 he is.
17:31Davidson runs in again.
17:32Bowls to May.
17:33Oh, and he's edged it.
17:34Is he caught?
17:35Is he caught?
17:36He's caught.
17:37Yes.
17:38A double-handed conjuring trick.
17:39And May is out for 95.
17:41Deflected by Grout to Simpson.
17:43A first slip off the bowling of Davidson.
17:46And England are 212 for four.
17:54212 for four.
17:55May caught Simpson off Grout.
17:59Off the bowling of Davidson.
18:0195.
18:04McKenzie to close.
18:07Out.
18:12LBW.
18:21And here comes Murray of Middlesex to join Barrington.
18:28Oh, that's a nice stroke and it's gone for four.
18:32I think it just hit Simpson's left boot.
18:38But Murray got well on top of it.
18:43It's his fourth four in his innings of 22.
18:49Both batsmen on 22 now.
18:50England leading by 68.
18:52258 for five.
19:10McKenzie, mid-on, deep.
19:12So they can take a single.
19:15Murray goes to 23.