The Ashes of 1972 was the last drawn series between England and Australia until 2019, a fact that enabled the home side to retain the urn.
Following the controversial axing of Bill Lawry as captain and player, Ian Chappell took over as skipper. The touring party contained the nucleus of the side that was to be, along with the West Indies, the dominant force in world cricket in the 1970s. Also on the plane to England was Chappell’s younger brother Greg, fast bowler Dennis Lillee, and wicketkeeper Rod Marsh.
Ray Illingworth continued as England captain.
The series included also three ODIs. The first ODI, between the two sides, had been played in Melbourne in 1970/71 almost by accident. However, that proved to be such a commercial and public success that they were to be an integral part of future tours.
England went on to win the ODI series by two matches to one.
And it was the English who got the series off to a winning start to the Ashes series, at Old Trafford, Manchester. They won the toss and elected to bat. It was not an easy pitch for batting, as evidenced by the fact that only one man, Tony Greig, made more than 50.
In the context of the match, their first-innings score of 249 proved to be important.
That was because, when it came to the Australian turn to bat, despite 53 from Keith Stackpole, they were all out for 142, John Snow and Geoff Arnold claiming four wickets each.
Greig again led the way when England batted again, making 62, although the last three wickets fell without a single run being added. Lillee claimed 6-66 as England were all out for 234. Australia were set 342, but despite 67 from Stackpole and 91 from Marsh, they were bowled out for 252, Snow and Greig with four wickets apiece.
England had won by 89 runs.
Australia hit back with victory at Lord’s in the second Test match, where they already had a good record.
Again, England won the toss and opted to bat, but it needed another half-century from Greig, combined with 43 from Alan Knott, to get then to 272. Debutant Bob Massie took 8-84.
In return, Australia posted 308, thanks to Greg Chappell’s 131, well-supported by his brother who made 56. John Snow was the pick of the English bowlers with 5-52.
Massie then made a name for himself by taking 8-53 in England’s second innings, as they were dismissed for just 116. At that time his 16-137 was a world record for a Test debutant, and meant that Australia needed just 81 to win the match, which they managed for the loss of just two wickets.