I’ve been to an Ashes Test at the MCG. It was the third Test of the 1978/79 series played during the World Series days with the weakened Australian team captained by Graham Yallop and England by Mike Brearley. World Series didn’t seem to have much of an impact on England. Can’t remember why. I just ignored WSC and had great affection for those who played for the real Australia team.
My friends and I had driven across the Nullarbor in my 1974 Corolla and attended the fifth day’s play. It lasted about 20 minutes – much like a whole modern Ashes Test. Entry was free. We saw Rodney Hogg dismiss Bob Willis and Mike Hendrick to wrap up Australia’s only win of the series. England won the other five.
Yes, it was a six-Test series and that’s not the only interesting snippet about 1978/79. For instance the Melbourne Test started on 29 December. England and Australia played a One Day International on Boxing Day.
The Test went from Friday 29 December 1978 to Wednesday 3 January 1979 with a quaint rest day on Sunday 31 December. Even true believers like me had to admit the good old ACB didn’t have a grasp of marketing back then.
Australian openers Graeme Wood and Rick Darling got off to a good start with a stand of 65… if you were around during those times you’ll be able to guess that Darling was run out. It was all downhill for batting from then. Australia made 258, England replied with 143, Australia got 167 in their second innings and bowled England out for 179. Wood made 100 and 34 and was named player of the match. Hogg took 5/30 and 5/36. Allan Border made his Test debut scoring 29 and 0 (run out).
In 1978/79 the teams scored 757 runs and 20 wickets fell in just over four days. The just-finished MCG game lasted two days and 572 runs were scored. It was the last season of eight-ball overs in Australia but don’t worry I used calculus or something to work out they scored at 1.93 per six-ball over in 1978/79 and 4.02 in 2025.
Those with an eye on over-rates will be interested to know 2321 balls were bowled in the four and a bit days in 1978/79 and 852 this year in two. There was, of course, time for some overs of spin back then.
Ashes tours were different too.
Before the first Test England organised games against South Australia Country, South Australia, Victorian Country, Victoria, NSW Country, New South Wales, Queensland Country and Queensland. During the tour they also played three ODIs and games against Western Australia, WA Country, Northern NSW, Australia’s One Day Cup winners Tasmania at the MCG, Tasmania (in Launceston and Hobart) and Geelong in Geelong. I can find no reference to a Brearley organised piss-up in Noosa.
australianrules.com.au 