In November 1947 - January 1948, India played a four Test series against Australia in Australia. Lala Amarnath was Captain of India and Don Bradman was Captain of Australia. The Tests were:
- First Test: Brisbane - 28 November to 4 December: Australia won by an innings and 226 runs. Bradman's 185 (out hit wicket) exceeded the two Indian totals of 58 and 98.
- Second Test: Sydney - 12 - 18 December: Match drawn.
- Third Test: Melbourne - 1 - 5 January 1948: Australia won by 233 runs. Bradman (batting at 3 in 1st innings) scored 132 before being lbw in first innings and (batting at 6 in 2nd innings) was 127 not out.
- Fourth Test: Adelaide - 23 to 28 January 1948: Australia won by an innings and 16 runs. Bradman bowled for 201 and Lindsay Hassett not out 198.
Remarkably there are four cables sent from Melbourne to Madras which are still known which describe parts of the Melbourne Test.
All four are Collect cables.
All four cables are reproduced below with kind permission of Malcolm Brown (W,A.).
|
Melbourne Cricketground Collect
Press GOENKA INDIAN EXPRESS MADRAS.
FROM FREELY: Take one. Amarnath appeared
disappointed after they had inspected a perfect
wicket. Weather conditions were ideal and above thirty thousand present when play began.
Morris and Barnes opened Australia's
innings ??? Harvey was
???
Has a Madras date stamp of 1 Jan 1948.
|
|
Australia's twelth man
stood with Pressphotographer and took pictures
of Indian tgeam taking ? STOP.
so far on our tour
taking ? STOP Biggest
as Phadkar opened India's
who scored three when
drive off
Phadkar
not drive by
|