Ashes in England: Pre World War-II Series

The Australians visited England nine-times during the pre-WW II period, 1900 - 1938 in 1902, 1905, 1909, 1912, 1921, 1926, 1930, 1934 and 1938. During this period Australia won five matches in 1902, 1909, 1921 and 1930 while England won three in 1905, 1912 and 1926. The 1938 series ended in a draw.

Notable performers of the era:
The emergence of Sir Donald Bradman on the World Cricket scene assumed prominence over any other personality or performance thereafter. He simply glittered and came up with amazing performances and set records, still unsurpassed.

Other notable performers in the two sides during this era:
For England: Sir Jack Hobbs, Wally Hammond, Sir Len Hutton, Eddie Paynter, Gilbert Jessop, Hedley Verity, Charlie Barnett, Bill Lockwood, Charlie Blythe and Frank Woolley.

For Australia: Bill Ponsford, Stan McCabe, Bill Brown, Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney, Hugh Trumble, Monty Noble and Bill O'Reilly.

Significant features of the Ashes series of the era:

1. The most significant feature of this era was the highest total for Ashes Tests recorded at the Oval in 1938 by England, 903 for 7 declared. Sir Len Hutton played the longest innings for England consuming 797 minutes for his 364 and England went on to win by the greatest margin of victory in Test cricket, an innings and 579 runs.

Australia recorded their highest innings Ashes total at Lords, 729 for 6 in 1930 and their lowest at Edgbaston, 36 in 1902.

Don Bradman's unique feats:

1. His 974 runs (avg. 139.14), the highest number of runs in a test-rubber in 1930. During this series he scored 334 at Headingley, Leeds. In the process he scored 105 before lunch as well as the fastest double century in 214 minutes and provided the only instance in test cricket of scoring 300 runs in a single day by a batsman. In his series he scored two other double centuries - 254 at Lords and 232 at the Oval.
2. He produced yet another mammoth aggregate of 758 runs (with two double centuries) in the 1934 series.

Closest victories:
Two closest victories of Test cricket were recorded in this era. England won at the Oval in 1902 by one wicket and lost at Old Trafford by 3 runs in the same series.

Highest partnerships:

1. The highest partnership in Ashes Test was recorded between Bill Ponsford (266) and Don Bradman (249) at the Oval in 1934, yielding 451 runs in 316 minutes for the second wicket.
2. Len Hutton and Maurice Leyland were associated in the highest partnership for any wicket for England in Ashes Test also at the Oval in 1938. The pair produced 385 runs for the second wicket.

Wrapping of a match in two days:
The Trent Bridge Test in 1921 was wound up in two days with England at 112 and 147 and Australia at 232 and 30-0.

Best bowling in an innings:
Frank Laver recorded the Best bowling in an innings with 8 for 31 at Old Trafford in 1909 for Australia and Hedley Verity with 8 for 43 at Lord's in 1934 for England.

Leadership:
The following players captained England and Australia during the era.

England:
Archie MacLaren, Charles Fry, Lionel Tennyson, Johnny Douglas, Arthur Carr, Percy Chapman, Bob Wyatt, Cyril Walters and Wally Hammond.

Australia:
Joe Darling, Hugh Trumble, Monty Noble, Syd Gregory, Warwick Armstrong, Herbie Collins, Warren Bardsley, Bill Woodfull, and Sir Donald Bradman.

Note:Test Cricket was interrupted later by World War II till 1945.