Five 'unknown' Ashes successes Down Under
Being welcomed to Australia as a "no-name" Ashes no-hoper doesn't have to mean that success is out of the question
Alan Gardner
31-Oct-2017
England were greeted upon arrival in Australia with one local news outlet calling half of the squad unrecognisable and saying they would need a "miracle" to win the Ashes. It went on to provide a "brief wrap of the no-names you've probably never heard of", which included Mark Stoneman (three Tests), Dawid Malan (five Tests) and James Vince (seven Tests). Does that lack of experience mean they are destined to fail? History suggests that isn't necessarily the case... Here are five examples of Englishmen enjoying instant success Down Under.
Frank Tyson
Tests before first Ashes tour: 1
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 28 wickets at 20.82
Known as the "Typhoon", Frank Tyson was a raw quick who emerged with Northamptonshire in the early 1950s. He made an impression on the touring Australians in 1953, although his England debut had to wait until the following summer, against Pakistan; he was then selected in Len Hutton's touring party for the 1954-55 Ashes. After taking 1 for 160 in Brisbane, where Hutton inserted Australia and England lost by an innings, Tyson shortened his run-up and roared back - partly inspired by a Ray Lindwall bouncer that put him in hospital in Sydney - to help England to a 3-1 victory and cement his reputation as the fastest bowler the world had ever seen.
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 28 wickets at 20.82
Known as the "Typhoon", Frank Tyson was a raw quick who emerged with Northamptonshire in the early 1950s. He made an impression on the touring Australians in 1953, although his England debut had to wait until the following summer, against Pakistan; he was then selected in Len Hutton's touring party for the 1954-55 Ashes. After taking 1 for 160 in Brisbane, where Hutton inserted Australia and England lost by an innings, Tyson shortened his run-up and roared back - partly inspired by a Ray Lindwall bouncer that put him in hospital in Sydney - to help England to a 3-1 victory and cement his reputation as the fastest bowler the world had ever seen.
Brian Luckhurst
Tests before first Ashes tour: 0
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 455 runs at 56.87
Brian Luckhurst had been a stoic performer with Kent when he was summoned, at the age of 31, to tour Australia in 1970-71. Picked for the hastily arranged England v Rest of the World series in 1970 (the matches eventually had their Test status revoked), he impressed at opener, scoring a match-winning century in the second match at Trent Bridge. Come the winter, Ray Illingworth lobbied for his inclusion on the grounds that England had to succeed against the new ball. Luckhurst did not let his captain down, recording the first-ever hundred at the WACA in his second Test and adding another (with a broken finger) in Melbourne; Illy's reward was to regain the urn for first time since the '50s.
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 455 runs at 56.87
Brian Luckhurst had been a stoic performer with Kent when he was summoned, at the age of 31, to tour Australia in 1970-71. Picked for the hastily arranged England v Rest of the World series in 1970 (the matches eventually had their Test status revoked), he impressed at opener, scoring a match-winning century in the second match at Trent Bridge. Come the winter, Ray Illingworth lobbied for his inclusion on the grounds that England had to succeed against the new ball. Luckhurst did not let his captain down, recording the first-ever hundred at the WACA in his second Test and adding another (with a broken finger) in Melbourne; Illy's reward was to regain the urn for first time since the '50s.
Chris Broad
Tests before first Ashes tour: 5
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 487 at 69. 57
Chris, father of Stuart, was the original Broad to irk Australians. Having been capped in 1984, during the first West Indies "Blackwash", he fell off the England selection merry-go-round for a couple of years before forming a new opening partnership with Bill Athey for the 1986-87 Ashes tour, when Mike Gatting's squad of old lags and glory boys unexpectedly romped to victory. A tall, correct batsman with a combustible streak, Broad was well suited to succeeding in Australia. In the second Test, in Perth, he racked up 162 for his maiden hundred and then peeled off two more in successive matches, equalling the record of Hobbs, Hammond and Woolmer for England against Australia.
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 487 at 69. 57
Chris, father of Stuart, was the original Broad to irk Australians. Having been capped in 1984, during the first West Indies "Blackwash", he fell off the England selection merry-go-round for a couple of years before forming a new opening partnership with Bill Athey for the 1986-87 Ashes tour, when Mike Gatting's squad of old lags and glory boys unexpectedly romped to victory. A tall, correct batsman with a combustible streak, Broad was well suited to succeeding in Australia. In the second Test, in Perth, he racked up 162 for his maiden hundred and then peeled off two more in successive matches, equalling the record of Hobbs, Hammond and Woolmer for England against Australia.
Chris Tremlett/Tim Bresnan
Tests before first Ashes tour: 3/5
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 17 wickets at 23.35/11 at 19.54
Such was the success of England's 2010-11 tour that England had a pair of unheralded conquerors in their XI - at least by the end of the series. Chris Tremlett's imposing physicality had caught the eye from early on but, aside from three Tests against India in 2007 and a handful of ODIs, he was an unfulfilled talent when a solid season for Surrey got him on the plane. Tim Bresnan was also an understudy, thanks to the rapid rise of Steven Finn, and neither started the first two Tests. Both had key roles to play, however: Bresnan broke the MCG Test open with reverse swing and took the wicket that retained the Ashes, before Tremlett sealed England's first win in Australia in 24 years at the SCG.
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 17 wickets at 23.35/11 at 19.54
Such was the success of England's 2010-11 tour that England had a pair of unheralded conquerors in their XI - at least by the end of the series. Chris Tremlett's imposing physicality had caught the eye from early on but, aside from three Tests against India in 2007 and a handful of ODIs, he was an unfulfilled talent when a solid season for Surrey got him on the plane. Tim Bresnan was also an understudy, thanks to the rapid rise of Steven Finn, and neither started the first two Tests. Both had key roles to play, however: Bresnan broke the MCG Test open with reverse swing and took the wicket that retained the Ashes, before Tremlett sealed England's first win in Australia in 24 years at the SCG.
Ben Stokes
Tests before first Ashes tour: 0
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 279 runs at 34.87, 15 wickets at 32.80
He is the name mentioned at every media opportunity this time around, due to his current unavailability, but four years ago Ben Stokes was just a promising allrounder who had featured in a handful of ODIs, unlikely to play much of a part as England took an experienced side in pursuit of a fourth consecutive Ashes series win. Then Mitchell Johnson happened, England were hammered in Brisbane and Jonathan Trott left the tour suffering from burnout. Stokes was pitched into the side for the Adelaide Test, made a thrillingly defiant hundred in Perth and then claimed a six-wicket haul at the SCG. England lost 5-0 but Australia certainly knew who the fiery redhead was by the end.
Maiden Ashes in Australia: 279 runs at 34.87, 15 wickets at 32.80
He is the name mentioned at every media opportunity this time around, due to his current unavailability, but four years ago Ben Stokes was just a promising allrounder who had featured in a handful of ODIs, unlikely to play much of a part as England took an experienced side in pursuit of a fourth consecutive Ashes series win. Then Mitchell Johnson happened, England were hammered in Brisbane and Jonathan Trott left the tour suffering from burnout. Stokes was pitched into the side for the Adelaide Test, made a thrillingly defiant hundred in Perth and then claimed a six-wicket haul at the SCG. England lost 5-0 but Australia certainly knew who the fiery redhead was by the end.
Alan Gardner is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick