← Back to Home

Controversies in 1938

4 incidents documented

Serious

Hammond's 240 at Lord's — Captain's Innings vs Australia, 1938

England v Australia

1938-06-26

Captaining England in his first Ashes home Test in charge, Wally Hammond made 240 at Lord's in June 1938 — at the time the highest score by an England captain against Australia and an innings widely rated alongside his 336* at Auckland and his 251 at Sydney as the finest of his career.

#wally-hammond#ashes#1938
Serious

Len Hutton's 364 at The Oval — England's World Record, 1938

England v Australia

1938-08-23

Across 13 hours and 20 minutes at The Oval in August 1938, the 22-year-old Yorkshire opener Len Hutton scored 364 — surpassing Bradman's 334 as the highest individual Test score and remaining the record for almost 20 years. England declared on 903 for 7; Australia, with Bradman injured and unable to bat, lost by an innings and 579 runs, the largest defeat in Test cricket. Hutton's mark is still the England record 87 years on.

#len-hutton#ashes#1938
Serious

McCabe's 232 at Trent Bridge — 'Come and Look at This,' 1938

England v Australia

1938-06-11

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.'

#stan-mccabe#ashes#1938
Serious

The 1938 Oval Test — England 903/7d, Australia 201 and 123

England v Australia

1938-08-20

The fifth and timeless Test of the 1938 Ashes at The Oval saw England score 903 for 7 declared — then the highest total in Test cricket — including Len Hutton's 364, the new world Test record. Australia, with Bradman injured and McCabe absent, replied with 201 and 123 to lose by an innings and 579 runs, the largest Test margin ever. The series finished 1-1 with two draws; Australia retained the Ashes by virtue of the previous series result.

#1938-ashes#oval#len-hutton