Lives in Cricket No 2 - Johnny Briggs

on the second day, going past the Australian total with only four wickets down. Briggs appeared on the scene with the England score 178 for 7 – a lead of 34 – and he and Abel attacked freely in a stand of 57 to which Briggs contributed a valuable 28 before he was adjudged lbw to a Harry Trott leg break. With help from the tail, and especially from No.11 John Sharpe, who had only one eye and who played in only three Tests, Abel managed to complete a magnificent unbeaten 132 and in so doing became the first Englishman to carry his bat in a Test innings. England, all out for 307, had a more than healthy lead of 163 runs. By the close of day two the Australians were in further trouble at 1 for 1 with Trott, promoted from No.7 to open the innings, caught by Sharpe at mid-on off the bowling of Lohmann. However, by the end of day three the Australians were fighting back magnificently and closed on 263 for 3 with John Lyons having compiled a marvellous 134 and the obdurate Alec Bannerman on 67 not out, having batted the whole day. On a rain-interrupted fourth day, the Australians continued to pile on the runs with Bannerman proving difficult to dislodge. Briggs was introduced into the attack and finally got rid of Bannerman, caught at point by Grace, for 91, an innings which had occupied 448 minutes and contained only three boundaries. By now Charlie Turner had joined Bob McLeod at the crease and the pair struggled against the bowling of Peel and Briggs. It was at this point that Briggs wrote his name into Test history, becoming the first man to add to an Ashes century with a hat-trick although the Wisden Almanack of the following year completely failed to mention his momentous achievement in its match report! Briggs struck first when he had Turner bowled; next ball he won an lbw decision against the Australian captain Blackham and then he applied the coup de grace with the wicket of Sydney Callaway – named after the city of his birth – caught at point by Grace. Australia had been bowled out for 391, but unfortunately Briggs’ work was undone when England could muster only 156, leaving Australia with a 72-run margin of victory. With the series already won by Australia, England were easy winners of the third and final Test at the Adelaide Oval, amassing an unassailable 499 all out in the first innings with Stoddart scoring 134 and Briggs making 39. This time Briggs’ work with the ball wasn’t wasted as he took 6 for 49 and 6 for 87 as England A Test hat-trick 54