Australia hosted England in 1964, hoping to regain the Ashes. It ultimately proved to be a frustrating series for England, with four Tests ending in a draw and Australia winning the other one.
The action began at Trent Bridge, Nottingham in a match affected by the weather, with no play possible on the third day.
England batted first and reached 216/8, Geoff Boycott top-scoring with 48. They had then bowled Australia out for 168, despite 50 from Bobby Simpson.
In their second innings, ‘Garth’ McKenzie took 5-53, but 68 from Ted Dexter helped England declare on 193/9. But Australia saw out the rest of the game, reaching 40/2 before draw was declared.
Weather also had a big part to play in the Second Test at Lord’s as well, wiping out the first two days. When play finally got underway, Australia were bowled out for 176, Tom Veivers making 54 and Fred Trueman taking 5-45.
When England batted, 120 from John Edrich helped them to 248. There was only time though for Australia to reach 168/4 in their second innings before the umpires removed the bails.
The teams had better weather In the Third Test at Headingley, Leeds, but that proved to be of greater advantage to the Australians. England once again won the toss and chose to bat, making 268, with Jim Parks making 68 of them. Neil Hawke took 5-75 for Australia, who made 389 in reply, Peter Burge scoring 160.
Ken Barrington made 85 from England when they batted again. Left to score 109 for a win, Australia got there with seven wickets in hand.
The fourth Test was a run-fest on a flat pitch at Old Trafford, Manchester. It was a memorable match for Australia’s Simpson: not only did he record his first Test century but he went on to make 311, while Bill Lawry scored 106 and Brian Booth 98 out of a total of 656/8 declared.
But England, too, made 611, Barrington scoring 256, Dexter 174 and Parks 60. There was just tor Australia to score four without loss second time round before the match ended.
Australia virtually ensured themselves of the series by bowling England out for 192 in the fifth Test, at The Oval, Hawke with 6-47. Lawry’s 94, Booth’s 74, and Veivers’ 67 helped them post 379 in reply.
England reached 381/4 in their second innings, Boycott with 113, but a draw was the best they could manage in the end.