Lives in Cricket No 30 - MJK Smith

100 Ashes frustration home of Sir Donald Bradman and his wife Jessie. ‘How many people would give their right arm for an evening talking cricket with Don Bradman?’ he says, delighted that their mild contretemps at Sydney was of no serious consequence. ‘The first thing he said to me, no doubt to get me going, was that he never hit through the ball. Well, that’s a mantra of MCC coaching books – the first thing you’ve got to do. What he meant was he just hit the ball – end of story.’ Mike is left wondering what damage some of the dominant coaches he has encountered might have done to the Don. ‘If he had listened, of course!’ Mike adds. ‘He was dropped after his first Test. I’ve often wondered which selectors had that on their cv.’ On the eve of the final Test there were disturbing headlines that the England captain might not be fit to play. Mike had a viral infection, but in the morning he felt strong enough to take his place in a team in which Knight replaced Allen. England had an early stutter, losing their opening pair for 41. Boycott, having monopolised the strike and eager to retain it, paid no heed to Barber’s entreaties to get back. This was the only misfortune Barber suffered in partnering Boycott, who survived only briefly before offering a catch to slip. Barrington then took on the cavalier mantle of Barber, still following the guiding principle of the tour: score big runs and score them fast to give the bowlers the time they need. Barrington’s hundred came with a trade-mark six, his 115 taking less than three hours before he became the first of three wickets for the occasional medium pace of Walters. Edrich, who had given solid support, was Walters’ second victim for 85, and Mike was then caught behind for a duck. Cowdrey and Parks held firm overnight, extending their stand next day to 138, and the wicketkeeper might have scored another hundred had he not found Titmus unresponsive to his call. With Parks’ departure for 89 the momentum went out of the innings. Even so, when Mike declared at 485 for nine, his team were on course to regain the Ashes. When Simpson and Grahame Thomas fell early to Brown and Jones, hopes rose. This was England’s high point. Lawry had been a thorn in their side all winter and he now plodded to 108, his third century of the series, in over six hours. At his side on a day when only five boundaries were hit was Bob Cowper, who was able to put his feet up on the fourth day as rain prevented any play. The lost day meant the game had died long before Knight ended Cowper’s twelve-hour marathon for 307, still the highest Ashes score in Australia.