Bradman’s Greatest Hour: How Australia Came from 2-0 Down to Win the Ashes
During the 1936-37 Ashes series, England initially took a commanding lead of 2-0 after winning the first two Tests, with Don Bradman captaining Australia. The series featured a remarkable turnaround led by Bradman, who faced immense personal tragedy, having lost his first-born son six weeks prior to the series, and intense scrutiny over his leadership and form.
In the weather-affected Third Test at Melbourne, Bradman made a bold tactical declaration at 200 for 9. England were 76 for 9 when play resumed, amid a crowd of 87,000 spectators. Bradman scored a monumental 270 runs over 437 minutes, partnered with Jack Fingleton to set a world-record sixth-wicket partnership of 346 runs. England were set an improbable target of 689 runs to win but ultimately fell short.
Bradman out-thought England’s captain Gubby Allen by delaying declarations and employing tail-enders to pad up, exerting pressure on the opposition strategically. At the Adelaide Test, Bradman scored 212 in 437 minutes, leading Australia to a 148-run victory and leveling the series at 2-2.
In the final Test, Bradman contributed a vital 169 runs, helping Australia defeat England by an innings and 200 runs to complete a historic comeback. This series marks the only instance of a side overcoming a 2-0 deficit to win, with Bradman central to the revival.
Bradman’s legacy was further cemented when Wisden in 2001 ranked his 270 in Melbourne as the greatest innings. Cricket writer Neville Cardus described the achievement as a test of character and technique. Bradman also holds the record of never having lost a series as captain, marking this comeback as one of the greatest feats in cricket history.
