Australian cricket team in England in 1972

The Australian cricket team toured England in the 1972 season to play a five-match Test series against England for the Ashes. The series was drawn 2–2 and England retained the Ashes. This was the last drawn series until 2019. The two sides also played a three-match ODI series, which England won 2–1.

Australian squad

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The following squad was selected by Neil Harvey, Sam Loxton and Phil Ridings:

Notable omissions from the squad included Bill Lawry, Graham McKenzie and Ian Redpath.[1]

Test series

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1st Test

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8 – 13 June 1972
Scorecard
v
249 (120.4 overs)
Tony Greig 57 (123)
David Colley 3/83 (33 overs)
142 (58 overs)
Keith Stackpole 53 (85)
John Snow 4/41 (20 overs)
234 (86.2 overs)
Tony Greig 62 (116)
Dennis Lillee 6/66 (30 overs)
252 (85.2 overs)
Rod Marsh 91 (111)
Tony Greig 4/53 (19.2 overs)
England won by 89 runs
Old Trafford, Manchester
Umpires: Charlie Elliott (Eng) and Tom Spencer (Eng)

2nd Test

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22 – 26 June 1972
Scorecard
v
272 (91.5 overs)
Tony Greig 54 (117)
Bob Massie 8/84 (32.5 overs)
308 (122.1 overs)
Greg Chappell 131 (303)
John Snow 5/57 (32 overs)
116 (55.2 overs)
Mike Smith 30 (99)
Bob Massie 8/53 (27.2 overs)
81/2 (26.5 overs)
Keith Stackpole 57* (79)
Basil D'Oliveira 1/14 (8 overs)
Australia won by 8 wickets
Lord's, London
Umpires: David Constant (Eng) and Arthur Fagg (Eng)
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.
  • 25 June was taken as a rest day.
  • Ross Edwards and Bob Massie (both Aus) made their Test debuts.

3rd Test

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13 – 18 July 1972
Scorecard
v
315 (118.4 overs)
Keith Stackpole 114 (255)
John Snow 5/92 (31 overs)
189 (88.3 overs)
John Edrich 37 (122)
Dennis Lillee 4/35 (29 overs)
324/4d (92 overs)
Ross Edwards 170* (290)
John Snow 3/94 (24 overs)
290/4 (148 overs)
Brian Luckhurst 96 (268)
Dennis Lillee 2/40 (25 overs)
Match drawn
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Umpires: Dusty Rhodes (Eng) and Tom Spencer (Eng)
  • England won the toss and elected to field.
  • 16 July was taken as a rest day.

4th Test

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27 – 29 July 1972
Scorecard
v
146 (86.5 overs)
Keith Stackpole 52 (119)
Derek Underwood 4/37 (31 overs)
263 (130.1 overs)
Ray Illingworth 57 (252)
Ashley Mallett 5/114 (52 overs)
136 (56.1 overs)
Paul Sheahan 41* (135)
Derek Underwood 6/45 (21 overs)
21/1 (10 overs)
Brian Luckhurst 12* (37)
Dennis Lillee 1/7 (5 overs)
England won by 9 wickets
Headingley, Leeds
Umpires: David Constant (Eng) and Charlie Elliott (Eng)

5th Test

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10 – 16 August 1972
Scorecard
v
284 (92.2 overs)
Alan Knott 92 (126)
Dennis Lillee 5/58 (24.2 overs)
399 (151.5 overs)
Ian Chappell 118 (267)
Derek Underwood 4/90 (38 overs)
356 (121.2 overs)
Barry Wood 90 (216)
Dennis Lillee 5/123 (32.2 overs)
242/5 (92.2 overs)
Keith Stackpole 79 (163)
Tony Greig 2/49 (25.3 overs)
Australia won by 5 wickets
The Oval, London
Umpires: Arthur Fagg (Eng) and Dusty Rhodes (Eng)
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.
  • 13 August was taken as a rest day.
  • Barry Wood (Eng) made his Test debut.

The series was drawn 2–2, which meant that England retained the Ashes.

ODI series

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1st ODI

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24 August 1972
Scorecard
Australia 
222/8 (55 overs)
v
 England
226/4 (49.1 overs)
Ross Edwards 57 (84)
Bob Woolmer 3/33 (10 overs)
Dennis Amiss 103 (134)
Graeme Watson 2/28 (8 overs)
England won by 6 wickets
Old Trafford, Manchester
Umpires: Charlie Elliott (Eng) and Dusty Rhodes (Eng)
Player of the match: Dennis Amiss (Eng)

2nd ODI

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26 August 1972
Scorecard
England 
236/9 (55 overs)
v
 Australia
240/5 (51.3 overs)
Alan Knott 50 (50)
Ashley Mallett 2/24 (11 overs)
Keith Stackpole 52 (70)
John Snow 3/35 (11 overs)
Australia won by 5 wickets
Lord's, London
Umpires: Arthur Fagg (Eng) and Tom Spencer (Eng)
Player of the match: Greg Chappell (Aus)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to field.
  • David Colley (Aus) made his ODI debut.

3rd ODI

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28 August 1972
Scorecard
Australia 
179/9 (55 overs)
v
 England
180/8 (51.3 overs)
Keith Stackpole 61 (144)
Geoff Arnold 4/27 (11 overs)
Geoffrey Boycott 41 (90)
Dennis Lillee 3/25 (11 overs)
England won by 2 wickets
Edgbaston, Birmingham
Umpires: David Constant (Eng) and Alan Oakman (Eng)
Player of the match: Barry Wood (Eng)

References

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  1. ^ Preston, Norman (1973). "Australians in England, 1972". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via ESPNcricinfo.

Annual reviews

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Further reading

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  • Bill Frindall, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877–1978, Wisden, 1979
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