Greatest Cricket Moments

Coronation Ashes — England Regain the Urn at The Oval, 1953

1953-08-19England vs Australia5th Test, England vs Australia, The Oval, 15-19 August 19533 min readSeverity: Moderate

Summary

On 19 August 1953, England regained the Ashes for the first time since the 1932-33 Bodyline series by beating Australia by 8 wickets at The Oval. The Coronation summer of Queen Elizabeth II ended with Denis Compton sweeping Arthur Morris to the boundary at 5.53pm and Brian Johnston shouting 'It's the Ashes!' on BBC radio. The match closed twenty years of Australian dominance and crowned Len Hutton's first full year as captain.

Background

England had not held the Ashes since Douglas Jardine's 1932-33 Bodyline tour. The sides played out a 2-2 draw at home in 1934, then Bradman's Australians dominated. Post-war, Bradman's 1948 Invincibles and Hassett's 1950-51 side had reasserted Australian power. The 1953 series, in Coronation summer, was loaded with cultural expectation.

Build-Up

After the Lord's draw saved by Bailey and Watson, the Headingley draw was rain-affected, and the Old Trafford game ended after one full day's play due to weather. By The Oval, England had Hutton's selection right and Australia had a tiring attack.

What Happened

England, captained by Hutton, came to The Oval after four high-quality draws including the famous Bailey-Watson rearguard at Lord's. Australia, led by Lindsay Hassett with Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall as the spear of the attack, were defending the urn they had held since regaining it in 1934. Hutton lost the toss for the fifth time in the series — a unique distinction for an Ashes-winning captain — and was forced to bowl on a wearing pitch with the spinners Jim Laker and Tony Lock as his weapons of choice.

Australia made 275 in their first innings; Lindwall top-scored with 62 and Lock took 5 for 45, Laker 4 for 75. England replied with 306 thanks to Hutton's 82 and Trevor Bailey's 64. Australia's second innings collapsed to 162 all out — Lock 5 for 45 again and Laker 4 for 75 again, the spinners exploiting the dust at both ends. England needed 132 to win.

Hutton was the third out for 17. Bill Edrich and Peter May fell. Compton, with 78 not out, drove and swept the chase to its conclusion. The winning runs came from a sweep off Morris's part-time left-arm spin. The crowd swarmed the outfield. Compton was carried to the pavilion by spectators. Brian Johnston's shout — 'It's the Ashes! It's the Ashes!' — was preserved as one of cricket's iconic broadcast moments.

Key Moments

1

15 August: Hassett wins the toss for fifth time; Australia bat.

2

Day 1: Lock 4/45; Australia 275.

3

Day 3: England 306; Hutton 82, Bailey 64.

4

Day 4: Australia 162; Lock and Laker share 9 wickets.

5

Day 5: England chase 132; Compton sweeps Morris for 4 to win.

6

Brian Johnston: 'It's the Ashes!' on BBC radio.

7

Crowd carries Compton off the field.

Timeline

15 August 1953

Toss won by Hassett; Australia bat 275.

17 August

England 306.

18 August

Australia 162; England need 132.

19 August 5.53pm

Compton sweeps Morris for 4; Ashes regained.

Notable Quotes

“It's the Ashes! It's the Ashes!”

— Brian Johnston, BBC Test Match Special (19 August 1953)

“I have done my duty.”

— Len Hutton, post-match (1953)

Aftermath

England retained the Ashes in Australia in 1954-55 with Frank Tyson destroying the home batting. They held the urn for the rest of the decade, winning 1956 and 1958-59 (drawn 1956, lost 1958-59 in Australia, but the 1956 series at home was retained). Hutton's reputation was sealed.

Compton's sweep became one of the most replayed pieces of British cricket footage; for years the BBC used the clip in their trade-test transmissions.

⚖️ The Verdict

A profound national moment in Coronation year. England had endured nearly two decades of Australian superiority and had finally turned the tide under Hutton's calm professionalism, supported by world-class spin from Laker and Lock and steady batting from Compton, Bailey and May.

Legacy & Impact

Coronation Ashes remain a touchstone of English cricket history. The win demonstrated that the post-war reconstruction of the side under Hutton, Bedser, Compton and the emerging Laker-Lock spin pair had succeeded. It is regarded as one of the great moments in the cultural pageantry of 1953, alongside the Coronation itself and Hillary's ascent of Everest.

Hutton, who lost every toss of the series, has since been cited as a model of captain who triumphs by quality of side and shrewdness of decision rather than luck.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long had it been since England held the Ashes?▾
Nearly twenty years — since Bodyline in 1932-33.
Who hit the winning runs?▾
Denis Compton, sweeping Arthur Morris's left-arm part-time spin to the boundary.
What were the spinners' figures?▾
Tony Lock 5/45 and 5/45, Jim Laker 4/75 and 4/75.
Did Hutton win any tosses in the series?▾
No — he lost all five.

Tags

#england#australia#ashes#len-hutton#compton#coronation#1953#the-oval#laker#lock#trueman

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