As the people of England endured one of the worst winters in living memory, their cricket team, captained by Ted Dexter, left for Australia to try and regain the Ashes. Among their number was David Sheppard, a reverend, who combined his cricketing duties with preaching in cathedrals across Australia.
But if his prayers included regaining the Ashes, they fell on deaf ears because the series was drawn, meaning they stayed in Australia.
The series began with a high-scoring draw in Brisbane. Australia batted and made 404, Brian Booth top-scoring with 112 while Ken Mackay made an unbeaten 86. England, though, virtually matched them by making 389 in reply, Peter Parfitt top-scoring with 80 while Dexter scored 70.
Australia then made 362/4 before declaring, Bill Lawry with 98 and Bobby Simpson with 71. But England were able to secure a draw, making 278/6 when the two captains shook hands. Dexter fell one short of his century, and there were half-centuries for Geoff Pullar and Sheppard.
England enjoyed much better fortune in the second Test, in Melbourne, despite losing the toss and seeing the Australia bat first, make 316, although Lawry was the only one of their players to score a fifty.
England lost early wickets before Dexter and Colin Cowdrey shared a 175-run stand for the third wicket. After Dexter fell for 93, Cowdrey went on to score 113 as England finished on 331.
The second time round, Fred Trueman’s 5-62 helped restrict Australia to 248 despite Booth’s 103. Set 234, England got there for the loss of three wickets, Sheppard with 113, while both Dexter and Cowdrey scored half centuries.
Australia, though, stung by that loss, hit back strongly in the third Test, in Sydney. England again won the toss and batted, making 279, Cowdrey again leading the way with 85. For Australia, Alan Davidson and Simpson took four wickets each.
Australia then took a first-innings lead by making 319, Simpson starring with the bat with 91, while there was 64 from Neil Harvey. The Australian bowlers then decided the match, bowling England out for just 104 second time round, Davidson taking 5-25.
That left Australia the simple task of knocking off the 65 they needed to win, which they did for the loss of two wickets.
It was on to Adelaide for the fourth Test, where Australia batted again. They lost both openers early, but were rescued by Harvey (154) and Norman O’Neill (100), helping them reach 363. England replied with 331, Ken Barrington with 63, Dexter with 61, and Fred Titmus with an unbeaten 59.
In their second innings, 77 from Booth and 71 from Simpson helped Australia reach 293. But hopes they then might be able to bowl England out were thwarted by Barrington, who made an undefeated 132 as England reached 223/4 when the draw was declared.
Australia needed just a draw in the final Test in Sydney to retain the Ashes and they duly achieved it.
Barrington again starred for the English with bat in their first innings, making 101 out of 321. Australia then took a slight led by making 349 in reply, Peter Burge leading the way with 103, and captain Richie Benaud with 57.
The second time round, Barrington scored 94 and Sheppard 68 as England reached 268/8 before declaring in the hope of forcing a win. But Australia reached 152/4 second time round to salvage the draw.