When Steve Smith reached his double century on the second day of the current Ashes Test, he was the first Australian to do so at Lord’s since another 5 foot 9 inch, right-handed New South Wales batsman 77 years before.
The circumstances surrounding Bill Brown’s innings in 1938 were quite remarkable and ground breaking.
Brown was coming off a hundred in the first Test which was drawn. When he opened the batting in the first innings at the home of cricket, England had already posted a formidable 494.
SECOND ASHES TEST – FULL SCORECARD
Yet apart from Brown, only Lindsay Hassett passed 50 as Australia struggled to avoid the follow on. Brown eventually ran out of partners when his side was dismissed for 422 but not before he had made 206.
It was the highest score by a Test batsman carrying their bat through a completed innings – a record that would last for 34 years when New Zealander Glenn Turner scored 223 against the West Indies.
Brown’s effort remains the highest score for an Australian Test player who has carried their bat – and the third highest ever.
When Brown passed the 100 mark it was the 100th Test century made by an Australian against England. This Test match was also the first to be televised even though there were just 17,000 television sets in the UK at the time.
Unlike Smith, this was not Brown’s first century at Lord’s as he had made 105 there in 1934. Just two days after the 1938 Test, Brown continued his run of form by scoring 265 not out against Derbyshire – his highest first class score.
His performances during the tour led to him receiving recognition as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. The bible of cricket described him as a “cricketer of remarkable powers” who batted with “a charming skill, coolness, thoughtfulness and certainty”. This could well be used when summing up Smith himself.
Bill Brown went on to captain Australia in the first Test match after World War Two and he was a member of the ‘Invincibles’ in 1948 for two Tests, including another one at Lord’s.
When he died in 2008 he was 95, a highly regarded former player and a real gentleman.
And how did that 1938 Test end up? The Australians held on for a crucial draw after which they won two Tests to win the series. Roarers, can you see history repeating itself?
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