Brisbane Sticky Wicket — England Bowled Out for 141 and 172, Dec 1946

Hammond's England party arrived in Australia in October 1946 weakened by years of war service. Hutton's left arm had been shortened by an army accident; Edrich was a recent DFC pilot; Voce, 37, was past his best.

Bradman had not played a Test in eight years and was on 28 not out when umpire George Borwick rejected an Ikin caught-at-slip appeal — a decision that has its own entry. He went on to 187.

England, captained by Wally Hammond and including Hutton, Edrich, Compton, Washbrook and Voce, won the toss and put Australia in. By stumps on day one Australia were 292 for 4 with Bradman 162; he went on to 187, his first Test century since 1938. Hassett's 128 and Miller's 79 took Australia to 645.

The Brisbane sky had been heavy all afternoon on the third day. At about 4:15 pm a violent storm broke; within thirty minutes the outfield was a lake and water was almost level with the picket fence. Photographs taken from the press box show players wading shin-deep. The Gabba's drainage at the time was crude but the drought-stricken Queensland sub-soil drank most of the water overnight, and a hot Sunday rest day baked the surface to a sticky wicket of the worst kind.

When play resumed on Monday, Miller and Toshack found vicious lift. England were 117 for 5 when Bradman, in a famous moment of captaincy, took Toshack to mid-pitch to point out the cracked patch he wanted bowled at; Toshack hit it. England were 141 all out, Miller's 7 for 60 the figures of his career to that point.

A second storm overnight refreshed the surface. England fared a little better second time around — Edrich made 89 — but Toshack's 6 for 82 wrapped the innings up at 172. Australia won by an innings and 332 runs, then the largest victory margin in Ashes history.

“It was the worst wicket I ever saw in a Test match. The ball stood up like a hand grenade.”

“Hit that spot and they're gone.”

The result echoed through the rest of the series. England, demoralised, lost the second Test at Sydney by an innings and 33; the Ashes were retained at Adelaide. Hammond, ill with fibrositis, played his last Test at Sydney in February 1947.