Greatest Cricket Moments

John Snow — England's New Fast Bowling Threat Emerges, 1968

1968-06-01England vs AustraliaEngland vs Australia, The Ashes 19681 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

John Snow of Sussex emerged in the 1968 Ashes as England's most genuinely fast bowler since Trueman's peak — a right-arm quick with a classical side-on action, real hostility and the ability to move the ball off the seam. He took 17 wickets in the 1968 series and 31 wickets in the 1970-71 Ashes, England's most famous series win in Australia in a generation.

Background

England's fast bowling after Trueman's retirement had been thin: Brown, Higgs and Knight were workmanlike but not genuinely hostile. Snow's emergence in 1968 filled the gap at exactly the right moment.

What Happened

Snow had made his Test debut in 1965 against New Zealand and taken wickets steadily, but it was in the 1968 Ashes that his pace and quality became internationally evident. He consistently achieved 85-90 mph on good pitches, moved the ball both ways and had a bouncer that rose sharply. He troubled all of Australia's batsmen in 1968, and his 17 wickets in the series at 23.24 were England's best. His most famous series was still to come: in 1970-71 in Australia, under Illingworth's captaincy, he took 31 wickets at 22.83 — the best figures for an England fast bowler on an Australian tour since Harold Larwood in 1932-33 — and was central to England's 2-0 Ashes win. He was also a published poet, an unusual distinction for an England pace bowler.

Key Moments

1

1965: Snow's Test debut

2

1968: 17 wickets in the Ashes at 23.24

3

1970-71: 31 wickets in the Ashes at 22.83 — England win 2-0

4

1971-74: Regular England fast bowler

5

1977: Last Test appearance

⚖️ The Verdict

The fast bowler who gave England a genuine match-winning pace option for the first time since Trueman — and whose 1970-71 Australian tour put England's bowling on a level with any side in the world.

Legacy & Impact

Snow's 202 Test wickets at 26.66 rank him with Trueman and Brian Statham as England's leading post-war pace bowlers. His 1970-71 Ashes was the finest pace bowling performance by an Englishman in Australia since Larwood.

Frequently Asked Questions

What poems did Snow write?▾
Snow published two collections of poetry during his cricket career. They were well-received by literary critics who noted the discrepancy between his physical aggression on the field and his lyrical sensibility on the page.

Tags

#john-snow#fast-bowling#england#ashes#1968#iconic-moment#sussex#pace

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