The Ashes Series of 1965 – 1966 was characterised by the high number of runs scored by both sides, a fact that was attributed to the batting orders being much stronger than the combined bowling attacks.
It meant for high scoring games, although it also tended to favour draws rather than a direct result for one side or the other.
The action began at the Gabba in Brisbane where Australia had the better of things without being able to force a result. They batted first having won the toss and racked up 443 for the loss of six wickets before retiring. Bill Lawrey made 166, Doug Waters 155, and Tom Veivers an unbeaten 56 as the English bowlers suffered, However, one of them, Fred Titmus made 60 with the bat, which together with 53 from Ken Barrington and 52 from Jim Parks, helped England to 280 all out.
Following on, Geoff Boycott’s 63 not out Helped England salvage a draw as they reached 186 for the loss of three wickets in their second innings.
Bat again dominated ball in the Second Test at the MCG in Melbourne. Australia again batted first, ,making 358 in their first innings, Robert Cowper falling one short of his century, Lawrey with 88 and captain Bobby Simpson with 55.
England then responded by making 558 of their own, John Edrich with 109, Colin Cowdrey making 1o4, and four other men making half-centuries,.
However, ay hopes the tourists had of securing a win were ended when Australia racked up 426 in their second innings, Peter Burge, and Walters both making centuries, whilst Simpson and Lawrey again made valuable contributions, England reached four without loss in their second innings when the match ended.
The tourists had better luck in the Third Test in Sydney, where it was their turn to win the toss and bat first. Bob Barber scored 185 and Edrich 103, whilst Boycott scored 84 out of a total of 488. Paceman David Brown then took 5-63 as Australia were bowler out for 221. Following on, Australia were all out second time round for 174, Titmus wit 4 – 40 and David Allen taking 4 – 47. England had won by an innings and 93 runs.
Australia hit back immediately in the Fourth Test in Adelaide. England won the toss and decided to bat first, but the decision back-fired as they were bowled out for 241, despite 60 from Ken Barrington, Garth McKenzie taking 6 – 48. Australia then batted themselves in to a winning position by making 516, captain Simpson leading from the front with a double century, and Lawrey with 119.
In their second innings, Barrington scored 102 and Titmus 53 for England, but 5 – 54 from Neil Hake helped reduce them to 266 all out. Australia had levelled he series by winning by an innings and 9 runs.
They only needed to draw the last match at the MCG to retain the Ashes which they duly did. Again, England batted first, compiling 485 for the loss of 9 wickets before declaring. Barrington again top scored for them with 115, whilst Parks made 89, Edrich 85, and Cowdrey 79.
But Australia did even better when they batted, with Cowper leading the way with 307, and Lawrey making 108, whilst there was a 60 from Walters. They helped Australia declare on 543/8 and there was just time for England to reach 69 for the loss of three wickets in their second innings when the match ended.