although a powerful outfit, had only Hassett and Miller with a future in big cricket. Nevertheless, they had the best of it when play started on Saturday 19 May 1945. England batted on a pitch green after overnight rain, with the outfield slow. Ames (57), Robertson (53) and Edrich (45) were the chief scorers in a total of 267, Australia reaching 82 for two by the close. Whit Monday’s crowd of 30,000 saw Miller (105) and Hassett (77) master the bowling. Despite an interruption for rain, Australia piled up 455, with useful contributions down the order. Stephenson took five for 116 but all the bowlers suffered punishment. More rain fell in the evening and on Tuesday England, 188 behind, batted on turf drying in sunshine. Robertson did well with 84 and Edrich got 50, Australia needing 107 in 70 minutes or what turned out to be 22 overs. Wickets fell and with 12 minutes remaining, 31 were wanted. After two run-outs Cecil Pepper hit an unbeaten 54, including a mighty on-drive for six. Australia won by six wickets, just on seven o’clock. Gover and Stephenson had bowled unchanged and Hammond came in for some criticism for not giving one of them a rest and trying Wright. About 17,000 saw the finish, while altogether 67,660 paid the shilling admission during the three days. The proceeds of £1,935 went to Red Cross and Australian charities, entertainment tax absorbing £957. The euphoria continued. In July, Labour swept to victory in the General Election, Clement Attlee becoming Prime Minister in succession to Winston Churchill. People stoically queued for bread but made the most of August Bank Holiday and their one-week’s holiday with pay. The LMS carried more than 102,000 to Blackpool, in London’s Liverpool Street, 35 trains headed for the seaside. At Lord’s, where the fourth Victory Test began on August Bank Holiday Monday, 34,000 squeezed into the old ground, with some 10,000 locked outside. Australia now led by 2-1 but England again had a strong side: Laurie Fishlock, Hutton, Robertson, Hammond, Washbrook, Edrich, George Pope, Griffith, Dick Pollard, Wright and the Lancashire slow left-hander Bill Roberts. On Monday, when 34,000 attended, Sismey, with Australia seeking to protect their lead, spent four hours over 59 but a blow on the thumb prevented him from keeping wicket. Miller, although troubled by Pope for a time, made 118 and Pepper hit 57. Australia took seven hours over 388, the innings closing at lunch on the second day. England made a rousing reply, 249 for three by the close, and the declaration came on Wednesday at 468 for sevcn: Washbrook 112, Hammond 83, Edrich not out with 73 and Fishlock 69. There was little chance of a win and Australia finished the match, which attracted 93,000 over the three days, at 140 for four. On the second day Mr Attlee was present and Field Marshal Montgomery also attended for a few hours on one afternoon. Warner recalled: “As his car entered the members’ gate he was at once recognised, and on his way to the committee room he was cheered to the echo, the pavilion standing up to welcome him.” England went on to level the series by winning at Old Trafford. Half-a-world away, two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the week hastened the end of the 1939-45 war. Returning to his desk after active service, Bill Connor began his Cassandra column in the Daily Mirror: “As I was saying before I was interrupted…” There was also a refreshing desire to return to normality when the 1946 first-class fixture list was announced, the Whitsuntide matches due to start on Saturday 8 June reading Derbyshire-Warwickshire, Essex-Worcestershire, Glamorgan- India, Hampshire-Kent, Leicestershire-Northamptonshire, Middlesex-Sussex, Wartime Holidays 131