Nineteen seventy-five saw the first World Cup, the West Indies beating Australia in the final at Lord’s by 17 runs.
After the conclusion of that match, Australia stayed in England to play a four-Test series, although one of the matches would be abandoned in controversial fashion.
However, having endured a barrage of fire from the Australian fast bowlers the previous winter, the English batsmen again struggled to cope with the hostility of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, backed-up by the nagging medium pace of Max Walker.
However, having been thrashed in the first Test, England did find an unlikely hero in the middle-order batsman David Steele, who was plucked from the obscurity of county cricket and became known as the ‘bank clerk who went to war’ because he appeared the opposite of the popular image of a top athlete.
That though was in the future, as the two sides met in the first Test, at Edgbaston.
England won the toss and opted to field first hoping to make early inroads with the ball. But an opening stand of 80 between Rick McCosker and Alan Turner saw Australia off to a good start, while fifties from McCosker and captain Ian Chappell laid the platform for Australia. Then Rod Marsh made 61 and Ross Edwards 56, helping them to 359.
When it came to England’s turn to bat, it was a familiar story, as they were dismantled by the pace of Lillee who took 5-15, while Walker was a fine foil, taking 5-48. England were all out for 101 in the 46th over.
Asked to follow on, England did slightly better in their second innings, but not much. Keith Fletcher made 51, and Alan Knott and John Snow both got 30s, as Thomson starred with the ball with 5-38. England were dismissed for 175, meaning Australia had won by an innings and 85 runs.
Steele was brought into the side for the Second Test, at Lord’s. It did not take much time for him to make an impact.
England batted after winning the toss, but were 31/3 when Steele came to the crease. He would go on to make his maiden 50, and captain Tony Greig’s 96 and Alan Knott’s 69 helped them reach 315.
At 64/6, Australia were struggling in their reply, but 99 from Edwards and an unbeaten 73 from Lillee, who struck six sixes, helped them close on 268.
The second time round, England found some form with the bat. Barry Wood and John Edrich shared an opening stand of 111. After Wood was dismissed for 52, Edrich went on to make 175. He was well supported by Steele who made 45 and Grieg with 41, enabling Greig to declare the innings at 436/7.
However, any hopes of forcing a result were ended by a determined Australian batting performance. McCosker made 79, Ian Chappell 86, his brother Greg 73 and Edwards an unbeaten 52. Together they helped Australia reach 329/3 when the draw was declared.
As a side note Matthew Angelow became the first streaker in Test cricket on English soil during the course of that match, on 4 August.