Generations apart, Archie Jackson, Neil Harvey, and Doug Walters were all 19 when they cracked Ashes centuries on debut.
Jackson’s 164 with 15 fours was at Adelaide in a timeless fourth Test over seven days in 1929, that England won by just 12 runs.
Jackson opened the batting with Bill Woodfull who scored 11, followed by Stork Henry (2), Alan Kippax (3), skipper Jack Ryder (63), Don Bradman (40), Ted a’Beckett (36), Ron Oxenham (15), keeper Bert Oldfield (32), Clarrie Grimmett (4), with Don Blackie unbeaten on 3.
In a total of 369, Jackson had a 119 fourth wicket stand with Ryder, and an 83-run fifth-wicket partnership with Bradman.
The England attack was pretty hand. Harold Larwood had 1-42 off 37, Maurice Tate 4-77 off 42, and left-arm orthodox spinner Jack White had 5-130 off 60 that included Jackson’s wicket, leg before.
Jackson was destined to be a great, but sadly died of tuberculosis at just 23 after just six Tests, averaging 47.40.
I had a long conversation with England’s Bodyline firebrand Larwood in the mid-1960s. He had migrated to Sydney in the 1950s.
Larwood played against Jackson in that Test. In fact, as he told me, Jackson was on 97 when he cover-drove Larwood.
“It was one of my fastest deliveries, but Archie’s shot was so magnificent, I hardly saw the ball, it hit the fence in a flash.
“Archie was liked by both sides. All of us visited him in Brisbane at some time during the Bodyline series when he was very sick.
“When he died during the fourth Test we were as depressed as the rest of Australia.
“Archie was a dear friend”.
Harvey’s 112 with 17 fours was at Headingley on the Invincibles 1948 tour in the fourth Test that Australia won by eight wickets to take a 3-0 lead in the five-Test series. But Harvey had scored his first Test ton five months earlier against India at the MCG with 153.
The Australian batting – Arthur Morris (6), Lindsay Hassett (13), Don Bradman (33), Keith Miller (58), Harvey (112), Sam Loxton (93), Ian Johnson (10), Ray Lindwall (77), keeper Ron Saggers (5), Bill Johnston (13),with Ernie Toshack unbeaten on 12.
The England attack – Alec Bedser 3-92 off 31.2, Dick Pollard 2-104 of 38 bowling Bradman, Norman Yardley 2-38 off 30, and Jim Laker 3-113 off 30 bowling Harvey.
Neil Harvey’s career – 79 Tests, 6149 runs at 48.41, with 21 tons, and 24 half-centuries.
And Walters’ 155 with 11 fours and two sixes was in the first Test in 1965 at the Gabba, in a drawn match.
The Australian batting – Bill Lawry (166), Ian Redpath (17), Bob Cowper(22), Peter Burge (0), skipper Brian Booth (16), Walters (155), Tom Veivers (56*), and Neil Hawke (6*).
Peter Philpott, keeper Wally Grout, and Peter Allen did not bat in that innings.
The England attack- David Brown 3-71 off 21, Ken Higgs 2-102 off 30, who had Walters caught behind. and the two offies Freddie Titmus 1-99 off 38, and David Allen 0-108 off 39, both of then given a right royal touch-up by a magnificent Walters.
Doug Walters’ career – 74 Tests, 5365 at 48.26 with 15 tons,and 33 half-centuries.
There have been 320 Tests between Australia and England, but only 14 Australians have scored an Ashes Test ton on debut.
Charles Bannerman’s 165 retired hurt in the very first Test at the MCG in 1877.
Harry Graham’s 107 at Lords in 1893.
Reggie Duff’s 116 at the MCG in 1902.
Roger Hartigan’s 116 at Adelaide in 1908.
Herbie Collins’ 104 at the SCG in 1920.
Bill Ponsford’s 110 at the SCG in 1924.
Archie Jackson’s 164 at Adelaide in 1929.
Jim Burke’s 101* at Adelaide in 1951.
Doug Walters’ 155 at the Gabba in 1965.
Greg Chappell’s 108 at the WACA in 1970.
Dirk Wellham’s 103 at The Oval in 1981.
Kepler Wessels’ 162 at the Gabba in 1982.
Mark Waugh’s 138 at Adelaide in 1991.
And Greg Blewet’s 102* at Adelaide in 1995
Of those 14, only Ponsford, Walters, and Blewett backed up with another century in their second Ashes Test.
Ponsford scored 128 at the MCG, Walters 115 also at the MCG, while Blewett’s 115 was at the WACA.
Interestingly, there hasn’t been an Australian Ashes century on debut for 20 years.
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