Test Cricket - Records between the two World Wars

 

The rivalry continued between the two World Wars, with Australia overtaking England, largely due the Bradman phenomenon. Here Wally Hammond tosses the coin watched by Don Bradman and the legendary Oval groundsman ‘Bosser’ Martin at the start of the final Test in 1938. The exertions of Bosser’s boys and their use of the heaviest of rollers, dubbed ‘Bosser’s Pet’, turned out a pitch on which Len Hutton batted Australia out of the Test with his record-breaking knock of 364 to level the series.

Australia overtook England as the leading team between the two world wars. South Africa were still way behind, followed by new entrants New Zealand and West Indies, all three quite close together. The newest member India brought up the rear.

TEAM PERFORMANCES

Australia - 1920 to 1938, Tests Played 67, Won 36, Lost 16, Drawn 15, Success % 64.92

England - 1920 to 1939, Tests Played 120, Won 41, Lost 30, Drawn 49, Success % 54.58

South Africa - 1921 to 1939, Tests Played 50, Won 7, Lost 20, Drawn 23, Success % 37.00

New Zealand - 1930 to 1937, Tests Played 14, Won 0, Lost 5, Drawn 9, Success % 32.14

West Indies - 1928 to 1939, Tests Played 22, Won 4, Lost 12, Drawn 6, Success % 31.81

India - 1932 to 1936, Tests Played 7, Won 0, Lost 5, Drawn 2, Success % 14.28

(Success % = Won 2 points, Drawn 1 point)

 

HIGHEST TOTALS

903/7d - England v Australia, The Oval, London, 1938

849 - England v West Indies, Kingston, 1929-30

729/6d - Australia v England, Lord’s, London, 1930

701 - Australia v England, The Oval, London, 1934

695 - Australia v England, The Oval, London, 1930

658/8d - England v Australia, Nottingham, 1938

654/5 - England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

636 - England v Australia, Sydney, 1928-29

627/9d - England v Australia, Manchester, 1934

604 - Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

600 - Australia v England, Melbourne, 1924-25

 

LOWEST TOTALS

30 - South Africa v England, Birmingham, 1924

36 - South Africa v Australia, Melbourne, 1931-32

45 - South Africa v Australia, Melbourne, 1931-32

58 - Australia v England, Brisbane, 1936-37

66 - Australia v England, Brisbane, 1928-29

80 - Australia v England, Sydney, 1936-37

90 - West Indies v Australia, Sydney, 1930-31

93 - India v England, Lord’s, London, 1936

97 - West Indies v England, Lord’s, London, 1933

98 - South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg, 1935-36

99 - West Indies v Australia, Melbourne, 1930-31

 

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES

Len Hutton - 364, England v Australia, The Oval, London, 1938

Wally Hammond - 336*, England v New Zealand, Auckland, 1932-33

Don Bradman - 334, Australia v England, Leeds, 1930

Andy Sandham - 325, England v West Indies, Kingston, 1929-30

Don Bradman - 304, Australia v England, Leeds, 1934

Don Bradman - 299*, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

George Headley - 270*, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1934-35

Don Bradman - 270, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

Bill Ponsford - 266, Australia v England, The Oval, London, 1934

Don Bradman - 254, Australia v England, Lord’s, London, 1930

Wally Hammond - 251, England v Australia, Sydney, 1928-29

 

HUNDRED ON TEST DEBUT

Herbie Collins - 104, Australia v England, Sydney, 1920-21

Bill Ponsford - 110, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Archie Jackson - 164, Australia v England, Adelaide, 1928-29

George Headley - 176, West Indies v England, Bridgetown, 1929-30

Jackie Mills - 117, New Zealand v England, Wellington, 1929-30

Nawab IAK Pataudi - 102, England v Australia, Sydney, 1932-33

Bryan Valentine - 136, England v India, Bombay, 1933-34

Lala Amarnath - 118, India v England, Bombay, 1933-34

Paul Gibb - 106, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1938-39

 

HIGHEST PARTNERSHIP FOR EACH WICKET

1^st Wicket - 283, Jack Hobbs & Herbert Sutcliffe, England v Australia, Melbourne, 1924-25

2^nd Wicket - 451, Don Bradman & Bill Ponsford, Australia v England, The Oval, 1934

3^rd Wicket - 264, Wally Hammond & Len Hutton, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1939

4^th Wicket - 388, Don Bradman & Bill Ponsford, Australia v England, The Oval, 1934

5^th Wicket - 242, Wally Hammond & Leslie Ames, England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1932-33

6^th Wicket - 346, Don Bradman & Jack Fingleton, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

7^th Wicket - 147, Rolph Grant & George Headley, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1934-35

8^th Wicket - 246, Leslie Ames & Gubby Allen, England v New Zealand, Lord’s, 1931

9^th Wicket - 137, Eric Dalton & Arthur Langton, South Africa v England, The Oval, 1935

10^th Wicket - 127, Arthur Mailey & Johnny Taylor, Australia v England, Sydney 1924-25

 

OTHER DOUBLE CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

2^nd Wicket - 382, Len Hutton & Maurice Leyland, England v Australia, The Oval, 1938

2^nd Wicket - 280, Bill Edrich & Paul Gibb, England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

1^st Wicket - 276, Charles Dempster & Jackie Mills, New Zealand v England, Wellington, 1929-30

2^nd Wicket - 274, Don Bradman & Bill Woodfull, Australia v South Africa, Melbourne, 1931-32

1^st Wicket - 268, Jack Hobbs & Herbert Sutcliffe, England v South Africa, Lord’s, 1924

4^th Wicket - 266, Wally Hammond & Stan Worthington, England v India, The Oval, 1936

3^rd Wicket - 262, Wally Hammond & Douglas Jardine, England v Australia, Adelaide, 1928-29

1^st Wicket - 260, Bruce Mitchell & Jack Siedle, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1930-31

4^th Wicket - 249, Leslie Ames & Andy Sandham, England v West Indies, Kingston, 1929-30

3^rd Wicket - 249, Don Bradman & Stan McCabe, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

4^th Wicket - 248, Len Hutton & Dennis Compton, England v West Indies, Lord’s, 1939

3^rd Wicket - 245, Frank Woolley & Bob Wyatt, England v South Africa, Manchester, 1929

3^rd Wicket - 245, Wally Hammond & Joe Hardstaff jr, England v New Zealand, Lord’s, 1937

4^th Wicket - 243, Don Bradman & Archie Jackson, Australia v England, The Oval, 1930

3^rd Wicket - 242, Wally Hammond & Eddie Paynter, England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

4^th Wicket - 237, Leslie Ames & Patsy Hendren, England v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1929-30

2^nd Wicket - 235, Charlie Macartney & Bill Woodfull, Australia v England, Leeds, 1926

1^st Wicket - 233, Bill Brown & Jack Fingleton, Australia v South Africa, Cape Town, 1935-36

2^nd Wicket - 231, Don Bradman & Bill Woodfull, Australia v England, Lord’s, 1930

2^nd Wicket - 230, Herbert Sutcliffe & Ernest Tyldesley, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1927-28

3^rd Wicket - 229, Don Bradman & Alan Kippax, Australia v England, Leeds, 1930

2^nd Wicket - 229, Don Bradman & Bill Ponsford, Australia v West Indies, Brisbane, 1930-31

2^nd Wicket - 227, George Headley & Karl Nunes, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1929-30

4^th Wicket - 222, Wally Hammond & Eddie Paynter, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1938

4^th Wicket - 221, Herbert Sutcliffe & Wally Hammond, England v South Africa, Birmingham, 1929

1^st Wicket - 219, Len Hutton & Charlie Barnett, England v Australia, Birmingham, 1938

2^nd Wicket - 215, Bill Woodfull & Stork Hendry, Australia v England, Sydney, 1928-29

6^th Wicket - 215, Len Hutton & Joe Hardstaff jr, England v Australia, The Oval, 1938

4^th Wicket - 214, Hubert Deane & Herbie Taylor, South Africa v England, The Oval, 1929

3^rd Wicket - 209, Herbie Collins & Jack Gregory, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1921-22

4^th Wicket - 206, Charlie Frank & Dave Nourse, South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg, 1921-22

5^th Wicket - 206, Dennis Compton & Eddie Paynter, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1938

1^st Wicket - 203, Vijay Merchant & Mushtaq Ali, India v England, Manchester, 1936

3^rd Wicket - 202, George Headley & Derek Sealy, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1934-35

2^nd Wicket - 200, George Headley & Ivan Barrow, West Indies v England, Manchester, 1933

 

BEST BOWLING IN AN INNINGS

Arthur Mailey - 9 for 121, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1920-21

Hedley Verity - 8 for 43, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1934

Jack White - 8 for 126, England v Australia, Adelaide, 1928-29

Bert Ironmonger - 7 for 23, Australia v West Indies, Melbourne, 1930-31

George Bissett - 7 for 29, South Africa v England, Durban, 1927-28

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 40, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1935-36

Hedley Verity - 7 for 49, England v India, Madras, 1933-34

Eric Hollies - 7 for 50, England v West Indies, Georgetown, 1934-35

Bill O’Reilly - 7 for 54, Australia v England, Nottingham, 1934

James Langridge - 7 for 56, England v West Indies, Manchester, 1933

Hedley Verity - 7 for 61, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1934

Alfred Hall - 7 for 63, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1922-23

Jack Gregory - 7 for 69, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1920-21

George Geary - 7 for 70, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1927-28

Bill Voce - 7 for 70, England v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1929-30

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman - 7 for 71, England v South Africa, Manchester, 1929

Frank Woolley - 7 for 76, England v West Indies, Wellington, 1929-30

Gubby Allen - 7 for 80, England v India, The Oval, 1936

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 83, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

Lala Amar Singh - 7 for 86, India v England, Madras, 1933-34

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 87, Australia v West Indies, Adelaide, 1930-31

Percival Hornibrook - 7 for 92, Australia v England, The Oval, 1930

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 100, Australia v South Africa, Durban, 1935-36

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman - 7 for 115, England v South Africa, Leeds, 1929

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 116, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

Bill O’Reilly - 7 for 189, Australia v England, Manchester, 1934

 

BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH

Hedley Verity - 15 for 104, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1934

Clarrie Grimmett - 14 for 199, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

Clarrie Grimmett - 13 for 173, Australia v South Africa, Durban, 1935-36

Arthur Mailey - 13 for 236, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1920-21

Jack White - 13 for 256, England v Australia, Adelaide, 1928-29

 

FIVE WICKETS IN AN INNINGS ON TEST DEBUT

James Langridge - 7 for 56, England v West Indies, Manchester, 1933

Alfred Hall - 7 for 63, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1922-23

Clarrie Grimmett - 6 for 37, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Charles Marriott - 6 for 59, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1933

Alexander Bell - 6 for 99, South Africa v England, Lord’s, 1929

Francis Ward - 6 for 102, Australia v England, Brisbane, 1936-37

George Parker - 6 for 152, South Africa v England, Birmingham, 1924

Cedric Smith - 5 for 16, England v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1934-35

Wally Hammond - 5 for 36, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1927-28

George Bissett - 5 for 37, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1927-28

Charles Marriott - 5 for 37, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1933

Maurice Allom - 5 for 38, England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1929-30

Clarrie Grimmett - 5 for 45, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Henry Promnitz - 5 for 58, South Africa v England, Johannesburg, 1927-28

George Macaulay - 5 for 64, England v South Africa, Cape Town, 1922-23

Tim Wall - 5 for 66, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1928-29

Ken Farnes - 5 for 77, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1934

William Copson - 5 for 85, England v West Indies, Lord’s, 1939

Mohammad Nissar - 5 for 93, India v England, Lord’s, 1932

Reginald Perks - 5 for 100, England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

Ken Farnes - 5 for 102, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1934

Norman Gordon - 5 for 103, South Africa v England, Johannesburg, 1938-39

                                                                                                    

TEN WICKETS IN A MATCH ON TEST DEBUT

Clarrie Grimmett - 11 for 82, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Charles Marriott - 11 for 96, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1933

Alfred Hall - 11 for 112, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1922-23

Ken Farnes - 10 for 179, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1934

 

HAT-TRICKS

Maurice Allom - England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1929-30

Tom Goddard - England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1938-39

 

MOST CATCHES BY A FIELDER

Wally Hammond (England) - Tests 77, Catches 101

Bruce Mitchell (South Africa) - Tests 32, Catches 44

Stan McCabe (Australia) - Tests 39, Catches 41

Jack Gregory (Australia) - Tests 24, Catches 37

Frank Woolley (England) - Tests 42, Catches 36

Patsy Hendren (England) - Tests 51, Catches 33

Percy Chapman (England) - Tests 26, Catches 32

Hedley Verity (England) - Tests 40, Catches 30

# In addition, Frank Woolley took 1 catch as wicketkeeper