Bradman's Greatest Hour: How Australia Came From 2-0 Down to Win the Ashes
Australia achieved a historic comeback by overturning a 2-0 deficit to win the 1936-37 Ashes series 3-2, marking the only time a side has recovered from such a position to claim the urn.
The England team was captained by Gubby Allen and included players such as Bill Voce, Wally Hammond, Hedley Verity, Maurice Leyland, Les Ames, and George Duckworth. Notably absent were Harold Larwood, as well as Len Hutton and Herbert Sutcliffe, who were left at home.
Australia's captain, Don Bradman, endured personal tragedy with the death of his first-born son six weeks before the series began.
The third Test at Melbourne featured rain-affected conditions. Bradman declared at 200/9 and then England were dismissed for 76. This set the stage for Bradman's later remarkable innings.
Bradman and Jack Fingleton put together a world-record 346 runs for the sixth wicket in Melbourne. Bradman scored 270 runs in 437 minutes as Australia built a 221-run lead, leaving England to face a daunting target of 689 to win.
In the fourth Test at Adelaide, 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 scored 169 runs, helping Australia secure a 200-run win to complete their extraordinary comeback.
Wisden in 2001 ranked Bradman’s 270 at Melbourne as the greatest innings of all time, placing it ahead of Brian Lara’s 153 not out.
Neville Cardus described Bradman's performance as not only a test of technique but a profound test of character.
Throughout his captaincy, Bradman never lost a series, cementing his legacy as one of cricket's greatest leaders.
