McCabe's 232 at Trent Bridge — 'Come and Look at This,' 1938

The 1938 Ashes was Bradman's first as captain in England. Australia held the urn from 1936-37 and only needed to draw the series to retain it. Trent Bridge was the first Test; England came in confident under Walter Hammond, who had switched from professional to amateur status to take the captaincy in winter 1937-38.

England's first innings of 658/8 declared featured four centuries, including Compton on debut at 20. Australia's first-innings 411 still trailed by 247. McCabe came in at first wicket down in the follow-on innings.

England had piled up 658 for 8 declared at Trent Bridge, with Eddie Paynter 216*, Charlie Barnett 126, Len Hutton 100 and Denis Compton 102 on debut. Australia, on a flattening pitch, replied with 411 — Bradman 51, McCabe 38 — and were forced to follow on, 247 behind.

In the second innings Australia again struggled. Wickets fell around McCabe; Bradman went for 144 fighting a rearguard, but the tail collapsed, and at 5 for 250 the match looked over. McCabe, at the other end, decided to attack rather than block. He took on Wright, Verity, Sinfield and Farnes, drove off front and back foot, hooked, cut square, and ran a stream of singles. He reached 200 from 220 balls.

When Bradman saw McCabe's 200 he turned to the dressing room and called everyone out: 'Come and look at this; you'll never see the like of it again.' McCabe was last out for 232, having added 72 in 28 minutes with the tail. Bill O'Reilly batted with him for the last 30 of those runs and made 9. The innings ended with Australia 427 all out; England needed 144 to win and were 6 for 78 at stumps before rain saved the draw.

When McCabe walked back into the pavilion Bradman shook his hand and reportedly said, 'If I could play an innings like that, I'd be a proud man, Stan.' Wisden recorded the innings as one of the great innings of all time. Neville Cardus called it 'a meeting of beauty and lion-heartedness.'

“Come and look at this; you'll never see the like of it again.”

“If I could play an innings like that I'd be a proud man, Stan.”

England, with 144 to win, were 6 for 78 in the second innings before rain wiped out the rest of the match. The series ran 1-1 with two draws; Australia retained the urn. McCabe never made another Test century after 1938 and retired in 1939 when war intervened. His 232 remained the high-water mark of his career.