Seven of the worst
In light of England's dire start to the series, Freddie Auld looks back at seven other dismal series first days
Freddie Auld
24-Jul-2003
In light of England's dire start to the series, Freddie Auld looks back at seven other dismal series first days.
Australia 364 for 2, Brisbane 2002-03
Scorecard
The day started well enough when Nasser Hussain had a change of luck and won the toss, but things then got immediately worse when he bizarrely opted to bowl on a typically good Brisbane batting track. In among a host of dropped catches and wayward bowling, Matthew Hayden raced to 186 not out and Ricky Ponting smashed 123. Add to that a horrendous knee injury to Simon Jones, and it couldn't hardly have been any worse. England lost the match by 384 runs, and predictably the series, 4-1.
Scorecard
The day started well enough when Nasser Hussain had a change of luck and won the toss, but things then got immediately worse when he bizarrely opted to bowl on a typically good Brisbane batting track. In among a host of dropped catches and wayward bowling, Matthew Hayden raced to 186 not out and Ricky Ponting smashed 123. Add to that a horrendous knee injury to Simon Jones, and it couldn't hardly have been any worse. England lost the match by 384 runs, and predictably the series, 4-1.
England 122, South Africa 64 for 1, Johannesburg 1999-00
Scorecard
England took a new-look squad to South Africa and included three debutants in the series opener at The Wanderers. But their youthful optimism soon turned into a horrible realism when Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock blew the top order away to leave England in tatters at 2 for 4. One of the new faces, Michael Vaughan (33), along with Andrew Flintoff (38), managed to creep the score to 122, but South Africa reached to 64 for 1 at the close and they didn't look back. England went down by an innings and 21 runs.
Scorecard
England took a new-look squad to South Africa and included three debutants in the series opener at The Wanderers. But their youthful optimism soon turned into a horrible realism when Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock blew the top order away to leave England in tatters at 2 for 4. One of the new faces, Michael Vaughan (33), along with Andrew Flintoff (38), managed to creep the score to 122, but South Africa reached to 64 for 1 at the close and they didn't look back. England went down by an innings and 21 runs.
England 175, Pakistan 13 for 0, Lahore 1987-88
Scorecard
They were out for revenge after Pakistan had edged the five-Test series earlier that year, but Mike Gatting's team were torn apart by Adbul Qadir, who took a breathtaking 9 for 56 as England crashed to 94 for 8. Neil Foster and Bruce French saved some face with 57 for the ninth-wicket, but 175 all out from 83 overs was not the best of starts. They could not recover and lost the game by an innings and 87 runs, and lost an ill-tempered series 1-0.
Scorecard
They were out for revenge after Pakistan had edged the five-Test series earlier that year, but Mike Gatting's team were torn apart by Adbul Qadir, who took a breathtaking 9 for 56 as England crashed to 94 for 8. Neil Foster and Bruce French saved some face with 57 for the ninth-wicket, but 175 all out from 83 overs was not the best of starts. They could not recover and lost the game by an innings and 87 runs, and lost an ill-tempered series 1-0.
England 159, West Indies 85 for 0, Sabina Park 1985-86
Scorecard
Riding high after series wins against Australia and India, England were brought back down to earth with a bump by an awesome West Indies pace attack. Patrick Patterson took 4 for 30 on an opening day in which England collapsed from 120 for 5 to 159 all out in just over 45 overs. And to make things worse, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes ended the day on 85 for no wicket to set up a 10-wicket win in a 5-0 clean sweep.
Scorecard
Riding high after series wins against Australia and India, England were brought back down to earth with a bump by an awesome West Indies pace attack. Patrick Patterson took 4 for 30 on an opening day in which England collapsed from 120 for 5 to 159 all out in just over 45 overs. And to make things worse, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes ended the day on 85 for no wicket to set up a 10-wicket win in a 5-0 clean sweep.
England 131, West Indies 14 for 0, Trinidad 1973-74
Scorecard
England travelled to the Caribbean looking to make amends after a 2-0 series defeat to West Indies that summer, but it didn't quite go to plan. In the series opener at Port-of-Spain, Keith Boyce (4 for 42) started the rot as England were skittled out for 131, despite a fighting 37 from Tony Greig. Roy Fredericks and Lawrence Rowe ended the day on 14 for 0 and West Indies went on to win the Test by seven wickets. However, England later fought back to win the fifth and final Test, drawing the series 1-1.
Scorecard
England travelled to the Caribbean looking to make amends after a 2-0 series defeat to West Indies that summer, but it didn't quite go to plan. In the series opener at Port-of-Spain, Keith Boyce (4 for 42) started the rot as England were skittled out for 131, despite a fighting 37 from Tony Greig. Roy Fredericks and Lawrence Rowe ended the day on 14 for 0 and West Indies went on to win the Test by seven wickets. However, England later fought back to win the fifth and final Test, drawing the series 1-1.
England 134, Australia 8 for 0, Brisbane 1958-59
Scorecard
England travelled to Australia in 1958-59 as clear favourites having not lost a series for seven years. Many considered the England side one of the best of all time. But Peter May's team received a rude awakening in the Brisbane opener when they were rattled out for a miserable 134. Alan Davidson, Ian Meckiff and Richie Benaud took three wickets each, and Australia went on to a win a low-scoring Test, and made a mockery of their underdog tags in a 4-0 series win.
Scorecard
England travelled to Australia in 1958-59 as clear favourites having not lost a series for seven years. Many considered the England side one of the best of all time. But Peter May's team received a rude awakening in the Brisbane opener when they were rattled out for a miserable 134. Alan Davidson, Ian Meckiff and Richie Benaud took three wickets each, and Australia went on to a win a low-scoring Test, and made a mockery of their underdog tags in a 4-0 series win.
Australia 292 for 2, Brisbane 1946-47
Scorecard
The scoreline wasn't too bad for England, but the fact that Don Bradman was not given out when England thought they had him caught by Jack Ikin at second slip when he had made a scratchy 28 was. It was a big moment in the series and later proved to be a turning point. Bradman ended the day on 162 not out, and went on to make 187, while Lindsay Hassett also cashed in with a hundred. Australia were eventually bowled out for 645 and England capitulated to an embarrassing loss of an innings and 332 runs, and lost the series 3-0.
Scorecard
The scoreline wasn't too bad for England, but the fact that Don Bradman was not given out when England thought they had him caught by Jack Ikin at second slip when he had made a scratchy 28 was. It was a big moment in the series and later proved to be a turning point. Bradman ended the day on 162 not out, and went on to make 187, while Lindsay Hassett also cashed in with a hundred. Australia were eventually bowled out for 645 and England capitulated to an embarrassing loss of an innings and 332 runs, and lost the series 3-0.