Last year England also overturned a chastening drubbing at Lord’s in the first Test, surprising an over-confident Australia in the next four games, but staging such a fightback in hot and alien conditions Down Under is on another level altogether.
In 1954 England fared slightly worse in the Australia’s first innings. Having been put in by Len Hutton, Australia made 601 for eight in 129 overs, 26 fewer than the current lot needed this time. Hutton had hoped to blast Australia out with his pace attack, with much resting on Frank Tyson, a bowler who was, while unquestionably fast, yet to master the disciplines of line and length. In short, he could go for a few. Tyson delivered 29 overs at a cost of 160 runs, with Richie Benaud his only wicket. That’s less effective than Steve Harmison was on Wednesday and Thursday.
England lost by an innings — in those days the follow-on was routinely enforced — and considered dropping Tyson for the next Test. But Hutton kept faith and Tyson delivered the Ashes.
Unfortunately, the remarkable turnaround conjured by Hutton’s side is a lonely example of England losing the first Test yet winning the series in the post-war period. In all Ashes history Down Under they have done it only twice. In 1911-12, the days of Rhodes, Trumper, Barnes and Hobbs, they lost the first Test and won the series 4-1.
But we’re dealing in selective history here, so even if England struggle to start with in the second Test, keep the faith — they were skittled for 154 in the second Test in 1954-55 and still came back to win as the Typhoon found his second wind. Cue Hurricane Harmison . . .