Following on 247 behind at Trent Bridge in June 1938, Stan McCabe played what Don Bradman would call the greatest innings he ever saw. With wickets falling at the other end, McCabe scored 232 in 235 minutes, the last 72 of those runs in just 28 minutes; he reached his double-hundred from 220 balls. Bradman called his team mates onto the pavilion balcony with the words, 'Come and look at this, you'll never see the like of it again.'
The 1938 Ashes was Bradman's first as captain in England. Australia held the urn from 1936-37 and only needed to draw the series to retain it. Trent Bridge was the first Test; England came in confident under Walter Hammond, who had switched from professional to amateur status to take the captaincy in winter 1937-38.
England had piled up 658 for 8 declared at Trent Bridge, with Eddie Paynter 216*, Charlie Barnett 126, Len Hutton 100 and Denis Compton 102 on debut. Australia, on a flattening pitch, replied with 411 — Bradman 51, McCabe 38 — and were forced to follow on, 247 behind.
In the second innings Australia again struggled. Wickets fell around McCabe; Bradman went for 144 fighting a rearguard, but the tail collapsed, and at 5 for 250 the match looked over. McCabe, at the other end, decided to attack rather than block. He took on Wright, Verity, Sinfield and Farnes, drove off front and back foot, hooked, cut square, and ran a stream of singles. He reached 200 from 220 balls.
When Bradman saw McCabe's 200 he turned to the dressing room and called everyone out: 'Come and look at this; you'll never see the like of it again.' McCabe was last out for 232, having added 72 in 28 minutes with the tail. Bill O'Reilly batted with him for the last 30 of those runs and made 9. The innings ended with Australia 427 all out; England needed 144 to win and were 6 for 78 at stumps before rain saved the draw.
When McCabe walked back into the pavilion Bradman shook his hand and reportedly said, 'If I could play an innings like that, I'd be a proud man, Stan.' Wisden recorded the innings as one of the great innings of all time. Neville Cardus called it 'a meeting of beauty and lion-heartedness.'
England 658/8d in the first innings; Australia 411 a.o.
Australia follow on 247 behind.
McCabe in early; Bradman 144 anchors but tail collapses.
McCabe takes on Wright and Verity; reaches 200 from 220 balls.
Bradman calls team to balcony: 'Come and look at this.'
Last 72 runs come in 28 minutes; McCabe out 232.
Australia 427; England 6/78 at stumps; rain saves draw.
10 Jun 1938
England 658/8 dec; Australia begin reply.
11 Jun
Australia 411 a.o.; follow on 247 behind.
11 Jun, p.m.
McCabe begins second innings; Bradman 144.
11 Jun, late
McCabe reaches 200 from 220 balls.
Bradman
Calls team to balcony: 'Come and look at this.'
Out
McCabe last out 232; Australia 427.
14 Jun
Rain saves match for Australia.
“Come and look at this; you'll never see the like of it again.”
“If I could play an innings like that I'd be a proud man, Stan.”
England, with 144 to win, were 6 for 78 in the second innings before rain wiped out the rest of the match. The series ran 1-1 with two draws; Australia retained the urn. McCabe never made another Test century after 1938 and retired in 1939 when war intervened. His 232 remained the high-water mark of his career.
The innings Bradman regarded as the greatest he ever watched, and the centrepiece of Stan McCabe's career.
Bradman's words that day — 'come and look at this' — entered the cricket lexicon. The innings is part of McCabe's three-piece legacy alongside Sydney 1932 and Johannesburg 1935-36. Wisden Cricketers of the Century in 2000 and the ICC Hall of Fame inducted him on the strength of those three innings rather than career bulk.
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.