England regain the Ashes after a two-decade wait

Though England’s Bodyline tactics had fetched them the urn in the 1932-33 Ashes series, the widespread criticism that their unsportsmanlike, fiendish strategy received had seemingly punctured the team’s conscience.

The commencement of the Second World War thereafter further allowed them to retrospect their actions, and the result was hesitance. The three Ashes series post World War II - in 1946-47, 1948 and 1950-51- resulted in England getting thrashed 3-0, 4-0 and 4-1 respectively.

What England needed was optimism, and the summer of 1953 gave them exactly that. As vague as it might seem, but a 25-year-old Queen Elizabeth getting crowned lent the nation a youthful exuberance that it desperately needed. With black and white television making its way into England, people in thousands spent their fortunes on getting one in their households to watch the King’s coronation.

The zeitgeist of the time breathed freshness into the English cricket team as well, and new skipper Leonard Hutton had a side having both experience and hunger at his disposal. It was arguably the wettest summer England had seen, and despite some brilliant performances by both teams, the first four matches had ended in draws.

The lack of outcome, however, didn’t leave a corrosion in players as some of them were having their best series. Starring with the ball was England’s Alec Bedser, who had taken 14 wickets in the first Test to turn heads, while middle-order batsman Trevor Bailey’s resolute willow work had earned him the label of “The Barnacle”.

England and Australia had lost close chances to win matches owing to the uncertain rain, leaving the fifth Test at The Oval as a potential series decider. Choosing to bat first, Australia put up a competitive target of 275 runs, banking on half-centuries from captain Lindsay Hassett and Ray Lindwall, apart from significant 30s by Neil Harvey and Graeme Hole.

England had brought in Fred Trueman for this match to partner Bedser, and his 4/83 had given England an early chance to dominate proceedings. England would kick off well with Hutton scoring 82, forging a 100-run stand with Peter May, but the skipper’s dismissal triggered a middle-order crumble that was so characteristic of England.

Though Bailey’s 64 steadied the ship in the middle, England would end up having a slim lead of 31 runs after their first dig. The match was progressing towards another draw when the pitch started turning on the third day, something the Australians weren’t prepared for. 

After dominating the first four Test matches with the ball, where he had managed 36 wickets, fast bowler Bedser was suddenly stopped in his strides during the second innings at The Oval. Instead, it was Surrey’s spin duo of Tony Lock and Jim Laker who bowled 38 overs between them.

The move by Hutton worked like magic as they reduced Australia to 85/6 in no time before Ron Archer showed composure. However, it wasn’t enough as the visitors were bundled for 162, with England needing 131 runs to win their first Ashes series in almost 20 years.

The nervousness was evident, and when Hutton was run out for 17, the capacity crowd at Oval feared the worst. However, Bill Edrich and Dennis Compton sailed home the ship as millions of viewers watched the historic series from their televisions on August 19, 1953. 

Brian Johnston screaming, “The Ashes! It’s the Ashes!” on Test Match Special remains iconic even today.