Don Bradman's first series as Australia's captain, in 1936-37 against Gubby Allen's England, began with two heavy defeats and a press chorus calling for his replacement. Bradman responded with 270 at the MCG, 212 at Adelaide and 169 at the MCG again, and Australia won the next three Tests to take the Ashes 3-2 — the only time in Test history a side has lost the first two Tests of a five-Test series and recovered to win it. The captaincy that English critics had questioned was suddenly the captaincy of a man who would lead Australia for the next 12 years.
Bradman had moved to Adelaide in 1934 and qualified for South Australia; the captaincy was his after Richardson stepped down. His selection over Bill O'Reilly and Stan McCabe was contested in some quarters but never publicly. The 1936-37 squad combined senior players (O'Reilly, McCabe, Fingleton, Oldfield) with debutants like Ben Barnett and Frank Ward.
England arrived in October 1936 under Gubby Allen, the same Allen who had refused to bowl Bodyline four years earlier. The series opened with rain hammering the Brisbane Test from day two onwards.
Bradman, appointed captain after Vic Richardson's retirement in early 1936, took over a side in transition. The first Test at Brisbane was played on a sticky wicket after a thunderstorm; Australia were rolled for 58 in the second innings, Bradman bowled by Voce for 0. England won by 322 runs.
The second Test at Sydney repeated the pattern: rain, sticky pitch, Bradman caught for 0 in the second innings. Australia lost by an innings and 22. The Australian press began openly questioning the captain's leadership; veteran sources whispered about tensions with Bill O'Reilly and Stan McCabe. England led 2-0 with three to play.
The third Test at Melbourne, beginning 1 January 1937, was the turning point. Bradman won the toss on a soft wicket and, in one of the most famous tactical decisions of his career, batted last on a turning pitch, sending tail-enders in first to absorb the worst conditions. He himself walked in at No. 7, made 270 in 458 minutes, and Australia won by 365 runs. The fourth at Adelaide saw him make 212 and Australia win by 148. The fifth at Melbourne — Bradman 169 — was a 200-run win.
Bradman finished the series with 810 runs at 90.00. Australia had won 3-2 from 0-2 down. The captaincy doubts evaporated and never returned.
Brisbane Test: Australia rolled on sticky for 58; lose by 322.
Sydney Test: Bradman 0; Australia lose by innings and 22.
Press calls for Bradman's removal as captain.
Melbourne, 1 Jan 1937: Bradman juggles batting order on sticky.
Bradman 270 at No. 7 — Australia win by 365.
Adelaide: Bradman 212; Australia win by 148.
Melbourne 5th Test: Bradman 169; Australia win by 200.
Series 3-2 to Australia; 810 runs for the captain at 90.
1936
Bradman appointed Australia's captain.
Dec 1936
Brisbane Test lost on sticky.
Dec 1936
Sydney Test lost; series 0-2.
1 Jan 1937
Melbourne 3rd Test; Bradman 270.
Jan 1937
Adelaide 4th Test; Bradman 212.
Mar 1937
Melbourne 5th Test; series won 3-2.
“I do not think any side has ever fought back from such a position.”
“Bradman seemed to relish the pressure of being two down.”
Bradman's captaincy was ratified for life in everything but title; he led Australia until his retirement in 1948. The 1936-37 series remains the only Ashes (and the only five-Test Test series) to be lost from 0-2 up. Allen, who had captained England with grace, was generous in defeat. The series produced 24,578 runs and 211 wickets — most of the runs Bradman's.
The greatest series comeback in Test history, executed by a captain in his first series in charge — and a result that ended any internal Australian debate about Bradman's leadership for the rest of his career.
The 1936-37 comeback is referenced in every captaincy debate involving early-series losses. Bradman's batting-order rejig at Melbourne is a textbook example of reading a wicket. The 270 itself is sometimes ranked among Bradman's three greatest innings, alongside the 254 at Lord's and the 334 at Headingley.
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.