The 1948 tour of England was the last international series for 40-year-old Don Bradman. Under him, Australia developed a formidable squad which remained unbeaten throughout the tour in all their matches to be known ‘The Invincibles’. Australian batting included greats like Bradman, Arthur Morris, vice-captain Lindsay Hassett, Neil Harvey, and Sid Barnes, and for the fast bowling, they had Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller, and Bill Johnston.
The team had great bonding and even greater quality. They prepared themselves through warm-up matches in Australia and England and remained unbeaten. The first test started on 10th June at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. England won the toss but their batting was a disaster. Lindwall, Miller, and Johnston ran through the English batting line up. They were at one stage 74/8 but thanks to a gritty half-century by Jim Laker who added 89 runs in a partnership with Alek Bedser and took England to 165. Johnston was the pick of the bowler and finished with 5/36.
Australia then came all guns blazing. Bradman led the way with a masterful 138, his 28th test hundred, and Lindsay Hassett provided the support with 137. Except for a duck from Keith Miller, all the other 10 players scored in double digits and Australia posted 509 and got a lead of 344 runs.
England were ready to fight in their second innings. Len Hutton scored 74 at the top, wicketkeeper Godfrey Evans scored 50 and Joe Hardstaff scored 43. The best innings came from Denis Compton who scored a brilliant stroke-filled 184. This time Miller and Johnston took four wickets each and Johnston’s match analysis was 9 for 183.
On 15th June, the target of 98 was chased by Australia easily by losing just two wickets. One of those was of Don Bradman who was caught by Hutton of Bedser for a duck, although much less popular one than the duck he would score in two months’ time during his last innings.
