The 1930 Ashes series were when Don Bradman really made a name for himself as one of the all-time greats. Glimpses had already been seen when England last toured Australia, but this tour put it beyond doubt.
Not that was obvious after the first Test, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. England won by 93 runs, despite his best efforts. England batted after winning the toss and made 270, Jack Hobbs top-scoring with 78. Walter Robins then took 4-51 as Australia were bowled out for 144.
Batting again, Hobbs made 74 and Patsy Hendren 72, as England were all out for 302, setting Australia 429 to win. Bradman made 131 but they were dismissed for 335.
The second Test, at Lord’s saw a festival of runs. England again batted first and made 425, K.S. Duleepi with 173, and Maurice Tate with 54. In reply, Australia posted a massive 729/6 before declaring. Bradman scored 254, captain Bill Woodfull 155, Alan Kippax 83, and Bill Ponsford 81.
When it was England’s turn to bat again, their captain Percy Chapman scored his own century as they closed on 375. Australia needed 72 to win, which they managed for the loss of three wickets.
Bradman’s dominance with bat was underlined in the third Test, where he set the record for an individual score in a Test match.
He made 334. He raced to his triple hundred on Day 1 alone, becoming the first – and till date, only – cricketer to score three hundred runs in a single day.
Australia were dismissed for 566. Wally Hammond made 113 as England posted 391 in response. Following on, they reached 95/3 in their second innings before weather brought a premature end to proceedings.
Bradman failed in the first innings of the fourth Test, making only 14, out of a total of 345. Ponsford set the example with 83, whilst there were half-centuries for Woodfull and Kippax.
England then reached 251/8 in reply, Sutcliffe with 74, but again bad weather ensured there would be no result.
The destiny of the series and the Ashes themselves rested on the outcome of the fifth Test, at The Oval.
England batted first and seemed to put themselves into a strong position by making 405, Sutcliffe top-scoring for them with 161. But Bradman was again in imperious form, making 232, whilst Ponsford scored 110, and Archie Jackson 73. They helped the tourists close on 695, giving them a first innings lead of 290.
They then managed to bowl England out for 251 in their second innings, Percy Hornbrook taking 7-92. Australia won by an innings and 39 runs.