With the Ashes delicately poised after the first two tests of the 1972 tour, England and Australia each with one win, the two sides headed to Trent Bridge, Nottingham, for the third Test.
Australia were full of confidence after winning at Lord’s in the previous match, and had the better of proceedings in the first part. Winning the toss, they made 315, opener Keith Stackpole with 114, and Ian Chappell and Doug Walters both making fifties. John Snow was the best of the English bowlers with 5-52.
In reply, Dennis Lillee and Bob Massie (the Australian hero from Lord’s) took four wickets each as England were bowled out for 189.
Australia looked to press home their advantage, with Ross Edwards making an unbeaten 170 and Greg Chappell 72, enabling them to declare on 324/4. But thanks to 96 from Brian Luckhurst and an undefeated 50 from Basil D’Oliveira, England managed to save the game, reaching 290/4 in the second innings when the two captains shook hands.
England guaranteed that the Ashes would remain with them with a thumping victory in the fourth Test, at Headingley, Leeds.
The win was built on their bowling, particularly the left-arm spin of Derek Underwood, who took 10 wickets in the match.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat, but the decision backfired as they were bowled out for 146, with five wickets falling for just five runs in the middle of the innings.
In reply, Australia’s own spinner Ashley Mallett took 5-114, but England were still able to muster 263, thanks to captain Ray Illingworth’s 57 and Snow’s 48. Australia hardly helped their own cause by conceding 46 extras.
Underwood then claimed 6-45 as the Australians were bowled out for just 136, leaving England needing 20 to win, something they managed for the loss of one wicket.
Australia did at least had the satisfaction of drawing the series by winning the fifth Test, at The Oval.
England batted after winning the toss, making 284, led by wicketkeeper Alan Knott with 92. However, both the Chappell brothers, captain Ian and Greg, hit centuries and Edwards made 79 as Australia were dismissed for 399.
Barry Wood then scored 90 for England and Knott 63 out of a total of 356 in England’s second innings. But, needing 242, Australia got there with five wickets in hand, Stackpole leading the way for them with 79.