Lives in Cricket No 30 - MJK Smith

95 and 92 from Edrich brought runs at a similar pace in the match against a Combined Eleven. There were three declarations and a whirlwind hundred from Barber before the match ended with the home side 31 adrift and MCC needing four more wickets. South Australia, bowled out for 103 in their first innings, were beaten by six wickets with runs coming from Boycott and Barrington, but 158 from Barrington in MCC’s second innings against Victoria could not prevent a first defeat for Mike’s team, by the narrow margin of 22 runs in another absorbing match. Seven of the top eight batsmen passed 50 as MCC posted 527 for seven on the way to a nine-wicket victory over New South Wales, and there was another run feast against Queensland with hundreds for Russell and Edrich before rain prevented a conclusion. It had been an exhilarating start to Mike’s campaign, but the mood did not extend through the First Test at Brisbane, the inclement weather at the Gabba helping decree that Australia should still be batting at the start of the fourth day. Bill Lawry, who escaped the umpire’s finger after nicking a ball in David Brown’s first over, went on to 166 and Doug Walters made 155 on debut before Brian Booth, deputising for the injured Bobby Simpson, declared at 443 for six. There were fifties for Barrington, Parks and Titmus, but a disappointing 280 allowed Australia to enforce the follow-on, though with too little time to cause serious alarm. Ashes frustration Mike diving to stop a Bob Cowper shot off David Brown in the First Test at Brisbane in December 1965.