English cricket team in Australia in 1970-71

Ray Illingworth captained the English cricket team in Australia in 1970–71, playing as England in the 1970-71 Ashes series against the Australians and as the MCC in their other matches on the tour. They had a successful tour, but an acrimonious one as Illingworth's team often argued with their own management and the Australian umpires. When they arrived the Australian selector Neil Harvey called them "rubbish". and others labelled them "Dad's Army" because of the seniority of the players, whose average age was over 30, but these experienced veterans beat the younger Australian team. They are the only touring team to play a full Test series in Australia without defeat.

In 1969-70 Australia were overwhelmed by South Africa in their last series until 1994. The 1970 South African tour of England was cancelled due to the Basil d'Oliveira Affair and concerns over anti-apartheid demonstrations that had led to barbed wire at Lord's. Rather than send an unprepared team to Australia a Rest of the World XI was created mostly from overseas cricketers playing in the County Championship, managed by Freddie Brown, captained by Gary Sobers, and including the South Africans Eddie Barlow, Graeme Pollock, Peter Pollock, Mike Procter and Barry Richards. They could not be regarded as a national Test team and the matches were given the status of 'unofficial Tests', but the runs scored and wickets taken were added to official Test statistics until it was decided by the I.C.C. that they should not count.England were beaten 4-1, but the only surprise was that they managed to win one game and almost won two others against what was arguably the strongest cricket team ever assembled.

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