Woodfull averaged 33 after his 5 Bodyline Tests. No centuries, but he did make 3 fifties including a 73 not out in Adelaide. Given the pressure that he must have been under then I reckon that this us a pretty good effort. In fact the only other batsman who did better were Bradman and McCabe. I don't place too much emphasis on Len Darling because he only played 2 Tests.
Ponsford made a really gutzy 85 during the boil-over Test in Adelaide, and in fact it was the equal top score for the match. However, his series average of 23 isn't overly great and seems to back-up the general opinion that his crouching style and poor-ish foot-work were no real match for the English quicks. He was no Stan McCabe.
Cricket Records | The Ashes, 1932/33 | Records | Batting and bowling averages | ESPN Cricinfo
As for Fingleton - he was a stonewaller with a reasonable average. But on the whole he wrote a lot better than he batted. His book 'Masters of Cricket. From Trumper to May' (1958) remains a classic.
Ye fair enough in general, 33 just shows he was respectable in that serious. Speaks to broader argument that I've looked into in the past how how batsmen from the 1900-1939 really were not exposed to high quality pace attacks combinations outside of Bodyline & Gregory/McDonald combo - but that's a whole different topic.
Slater for me has a very curious place in history of AUS openers, his commentary is a bit irritating at times (after starting brightly circa 2000) - but his greatness was not properly fullfilled.
If I were to pick a XI of my favourite players ever, he was would be the first opener I pick & IMO he was easily the most naturally talented AUS opener since Bob Simpson/Bill Lawry era. Taylor, Langer, Hayden would beat him in longevity - but that flair (especially vs good bowling) they never had.
I have a massive soft spot for Slats because more so than his illness & lack of form in the early 2000's cost him a place in the AUS test side - i've always blamed the AUS selectors in the mid 90s for not continuously backing his talent.
When he scored his famous 152 in his second Ashes test @ Lord's 93 - a star was born. He ended his career known more for getting out in the 90s - but after averaging 47 in tests from 1993-1996 -
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/7629.html?class=1;spanmax1=1+nov+1996;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting;view=innings facing the usual top 90s bowlers from windies, pak, s africa and holding his own - this man was on the verge to be one of the great AUS openers.
But then just because he played one reckless shot in the only test vs India 1996 - the selectors decided to drop him for for Matt Elliot & Hayden because they were scoring tones of runs in state cricket and a-team matches.
Hayden & Elliot didn't fear well & after 15 months Slater came back, but this axing messed him up mentally make no question about it. He had some good innings after 98, but he was never the same again. Slater not becoming a great because of this is one of the great tragedies of talent going to waste i've always said.
