MCC tour of Australia in 1954-55

The Marylebone Cricket Club tour of Australia in 1954-55 under the captaincy of Len Hutton was its eleventh since it took official control of overseas tours in 1903-1904. The touring team played as England in the 1954-55 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games. In all there were 23 matches; 5 Test matches (which they won 3-1), 12 other First Class matches (which they won 5-1) and 6 minor matches (which they won 5-0). It was the only time that a professional cricketer captained a MCC tour of Australia. It was one of the MCC's most successful tours, the Ashes being retained and the team winning five of their victories by an innings.

The MCC team gathered at Lord's for an eve of departure dinner during which the "Success of the Team" was toasted. In those days the MCC saw tours as a means of encouraging overseas cricket and strengthening the ties that bound the Commonwealth. Lord Cobham gave a speech in which he reminded the team that it was more important to not disgrace the face of English cricket even at the cost of series, though several young players had other ideas about this. The party was a large one of 18 players, Denis Compton suffered a recurrence of his knee trouble which had plagued him on the 1950-51 tour and required remedial surgery. Yorkshire's "Farmer Vic" Wilson was a surprise choice as his replacement and Compton was later flown out to join the team in Australia. The other 17 were seen off by family, friends and well-wishers on the ’’Orsava’’. Frank Tyson saw "a spare, stooped old man, dressed immaculately in a pin-stripe suit" telling the young Colin Cowdrey "..when you reach Australia, just remember one thing - Hate the Bastards!". He spoke with such vehemence that Tyson asked George Duckworth who the old gent was, "That was Douglas Jardine", the reason behind Lord Cobham's speech on good sportsmanship. They travelled first class on the ‘’Orsova’’ which took six weeks to arrive in Western Australia, after stopping for a one-day game against Ceylon. Unused to the lavish fare and freed of rationing the players soon added weight and Frank Tyson increased his weight from 161 lbs (73 kg) to 182 lbs (83 kg). Unfortunately for the Australians he exercised regularly so the extra weight was turned into muscle. Soon after the voyage began Vic Wilson, Colin Cowdrey, Peter Loader, Jim McConnon, Keith Andrew and Frank Tyson were warned by Len Hutton that they were secondary players who were expected to play little part in the Test matches.

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