Barnes 234, Bradman 234 — The Identical-Score 405 at Sydney, December 1946

After the bump-ball decision had saved Bradman at Brisbane, the Don arrived at Sydney still privately doubting whether his back would survive a five-day Test. Barnes, by contrast, had built his post-war Test reputation on stamina: famously prepared to bat all day for 80.

England's 255 — built around Edrich and Compton — was modest but not embarrassing on a true SCG pitch. By the second evening Australia were 4/159 and the Test was finely poised when Bradman walked out.

Australia, replying to England's 255, were 4/159 when Bradman joined Barnes at the crease late on the second afternoon. Barnes was already in a long, watchful innings — he eventually batted 642 minutes — and Bradman, only weeks past the bump-ball reprieve at Brisbane, was determined to consolidate his comeback.

The pair added 405 in 393 minutes against an England attack of Bedser, Voce, Edrich, Wright and Yardley. Barnes was caught Yardley bowled Bedser for 234 after ten and a half hours at the crease; Bradman, four balls later, was caught Yardley bowled Edrich for 234 having batted six and a half hours. The score-line of 'Barnes 234, Bradman 234' on the SCG board produced gasps in the press box.

In his 1953 autobiography It Isn't Cricket Barnes admitted that, when he saw he was approaching Bradman's score, he chose to throw his wicket: 'It wouldn't be right for someone to make more runs than Sir Donald Bradman.' Bradman, asked about the coincidence, gave only a thin smile.

“It wouldn't be right for someone to make more runs than Sir Donald Bradman.”

Australia retained the Ashes with the win, going 2-0 up in the series. The 405 stood as the highest Test partnership for any wicket until Hutton and Leyland were rivalled by later pairs; for the fifth wicket it has never been beaten.