Lindwall 6/20 — England 52 All Out at The Oval, 1948

Lindwall, then 26, had emerged from the 1945 Victory Tests as Australia's premier fast bowler. By the 1948 tour he had refined a high, classical action — body sideways, arm fully over — and could bowl the bouncer, the inswinging yorker and the slower ball in any over. He took 86 first-class wickets at 15.68 on the 1948 tour.

Australia had already taken the Ashes 3-0 with the Headingley chase. The Oval pitch, after rain, was uncovered overnight and was tacky on the first morning. Yardley elected to bat. England lined up: Hutton, Dewes, Edrich, Compton, Crapp, Yardley, Watkins, Evans, Bedser, Young, Hollies. By lunch they were 47/4.

Norman Yardley won the toss on a damp Oval pitch and chose to bat. The decision proved disastrous against the Australian new-ball pair of Lindwall and Keith Miller, supported by Bill Johnston. Hutton was the only England batsman to suggest he could play the bowling: he made 30 in 124 minutes before being last man out, caught Tallon bowled Lindwall.

Lindwall's spell after lunch was the centrepiece. Operating from the Vauxhall End with a strong south-westerly breeze behind him, he bowled at sustained 90mph-plus, using late inswing, the bouncer and the yorker in sequence. Eight of his 16.1 overs came in the post-lunch session; in that spell he took 5 wickets for 8 runs. Four of his six dismissals were either bowled or LBW.

The collapse — 47/4 at lunch became 52 all out by mid-afternoon — was so quick that Bradman, watching from the balcony, was rumoured to have ordered tea sandwiches early. Australia's reply opened with Sid Barnes (61) and Arthur Morris (196), Bradman bowled second ball for 0 by Hollies in between. Lindwall finished with 6/20 in the innings; the match ended in an Australian win by an innings and 149 runs.

“The most devastating and one of the fastest spells I ever saw in Test cricket.”

“Ray was simply too quick for us on the day. We had no answer.”

England's 52 was their lowest home Test total since being bowled out for 53 by Australia at Lord's in 1888. The collapse exposed how deep the post-war batting weakness ran for England — Hutton excepted. Australia replied with 389; Bradman was bowled second ball by Hollies for 0 between Barnes (61) and Morris (196). England were bowled out again for 188 (Hutton 64) and lost by an innings and 149.