On January 30, 1993, Curtly Ambrose produced one of the great fast-bowling spells of the modern era — 7 for 1 in 32 balls — to demolish Australia from 85 for 2 to 119 all out in the Perth Test. He finished with 7 for 25; West Indies won by an innings and 25 runs to seal the Frank Worrell Trophy 2-1.
Ambrose had been instrumental in West Indies' 1992-93 series — his 5 for 18 at Adelaide had won the fourth Test by one run. Australia, captained by Allan Border, had not held the Frank Worrell Trophy since 1976.
Series 1-1 going into Perth. Australia chose to bat first on a typically quick WACA surface. They reached 85 for 2 with Boon set on 38.
The series was level 1-1 going into the Perth Test, and Australia were favoured by their own quickest pitch. They reached 85 for 2 in their first innings looking comfortable. Then Ambrose came back. From around the wicket, hammering a hostile length on Damien Martyn's middle stump, he removed Martyn for 13. Steve Waugh was leg-before. Mark Waugh went the same way. Allan Border followed for 0 — out to a brute that nipped back. Ian Healy bowled. Merv Hughes leg-before. Mike Whitney caught at slip. In 32 deliveries Ambrose had taken 7 wickets for 1 run — Boon's lone single in the carnage. Australia were 119 all out. West Indies replied with 322 (Richardson 47, Hooper 23) and bowled Australia out a second time for 178. They won by an innings and 25 runs. The series victory was the West Indies' last on Australian soil.
Australia 85/2 — Boon set, Mark Waugh new in
Ambrose changes ends and switches to around the wicket
Damien Martyn caught at slip — wicket 1
Steve Waugh leg-before — wicket 2
Mark Waugh bowled middle stump — wicket 3
Border leg-before for a duck — wicket 4
Healy bowled — wicket 5
Hughes leg-before — wicket 6
Whitney caught — 7/1 in 32 balls; Australia all out 119
January 30, 1993 — afternoon
Australia 85/2; Ambrose begins around-the-wicket spell.
Just before tea
7 wickets fall for 1 run in 32 balls; Australia 119 all out.
January 31, 1993
West Indies reply with 322.
February 1, 1993
Australia 178 all out; West Indies win by an innings and 25 runs and clinch the series.
“He bowled too well. There's not much more you can say.”
“I just kept hitting that one spot. The pitch did the rest.”
Australia were dismissed twice for under 200; the match ended early on day three. West Indies took the series 2-1 — their last on Australian soil. Border, in his on-field interview, simply said 'He bowled too well.' The Australian press described the spell as 'the most fearsome the WACA has ever seen'.
The kind of spell only Curtly Ambrose, in that early-90s peak, could produce. Statistically the most economical great bowling spell in Test history.
Ambrose's 7/1 remains the most economical seven-wicket haul in Test history. Allan Donald, Glenn McGrath and Dale Steyn have all cited it as the spell that defined Caribbean fast bowling at its zenith. The next time Australia toured the Caribbean (1995) they finally broke the West Indies' 15-year unbeaten run.
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.