The fifth and timeless Test of the 1938 Ashes at The Oval saw England score 903 for 7 declared — then the highest total in Test cricket — including Len Hutton's 364, the new world Test record. Australia, with Bradman injured and McCabe absent, replied with 201 and 123 to lose by an innings and 579 runs, the largest Test margin ever. The series finished 1-1 with two draws; Australia retained the Ashes by virtue of the previous series result.
The 1938 Ashes had been a tight series. Trent Bridge produced McCabe's 232 and a draw; Lord's was drawn (Hammond 240, Bradman 102 and 144); Manchester was washed out without a ball bowled; Headingley went to Australia by five wickets (Bradman 103, O'Reilly 5/66 and 5/56). The Oval was the timeless decider.
Hammond won the toss and batted on a perfect Oval pitch. Hutton, then 22, opened with Charles Barnett. Barnett went for 41, Hutton stayed.
England's last home Test of the summer was a timeless Test — played to a finish — to break the deadlock of the series. Wally Hammond, in his first series as England's amateur captain, won the toss on 20 August 1938 and chose to bat. Hutton walked out at No. 1 and stayed for over 13 hours, scoring 364 from 847 balls — the new world Test record, surpassing Bradman's 334 from 1930. Maurice Leyland made 187, Joe Hardstaff 169 not out.
The innings ended only when Bradman, bowling a few overs of leg-spin to give his bowlers a rest, fractured his ankle in the bowling crease and had to be carried off. Hammond, with England 903 for 7 and his attack tiring, declared. He had no choice; Australia were a bowler down and Bradman would not bat in either innings.
With Bradman absent and McCabe also injured, Australia were 201 all out (Barnes 41) and 123 (Hassett 42). England won by an innings and 579 runs — still the largest victory margin in Test history. Hutton's 364 stood as the world Test record for nearly 20 years until Sobers' 365* in 1958.
The series ended 1-1 with two draws (one washed out at Manchester); Australia, holders, retained the Ashes 1-1, with the 1938 result asterisked in the record books for Bradman's absence from the deciding match.
Hammond wins toss; bats.
Hutton bats on through three days.
Passes Bradman's 334 on day three.
Hutton out for 364 — new world record.
Bradman fractures ankle bowling.
Hammond declares 903/7 — highest Test total at time.
Australia 201 and 123 without Bradman.
England win by an innings and 579 — largest Test margin.
20 Aug 1938
Hammond wins toss; bats.
22 Aug
Hutton passes Bradman's 334.
23 Aug
Hutton out 364; Bradman injured.
23 Aug
Hammond declares 903/7.
24 Aug
England win by innings and 579.
“I had not the heart to tell Hutton to get out.”
“Hutton scarcely played a ball in the air all innings.”
The largest Test innings, the largest Test victory, and the world Test record score — all on one card, with Bradman injured and unable to do anything about it.
The 1938 Oval Test is the high-water mark of pre-war Test batting. England's 903/7 stood as the highest Test total until Sri Lanka's 952/6 in 1997. Hutton's 364 stood as the world Test record for 20 years and as the England Test record for 52, until broken by Brian Lara among others. The innings-and-579 margin is still the largest in Test history.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.