Biggest test series upset of all time

[Coronis]

Really? Granted it didn't look likely when England went 2-0 ahead, but Aus must have been favourites before the series having won the previous Ashes in England reasonably comfortably.

Australia had lost both previous home Ashes. They also lost Grimmett after the South Africa series, and both Ponsford and Woodfull since the last Ashes. There were serious question marks about Bradman as a captain.

I’m not sure how they were further perceived going into the series (maybe @peterhrt or someone could shed some more light on that). But to come back like they did from where they were - 0-2 down, losing by margins of 322 runs and an innings and 22 runs - is nothing short of remarkable.

 

[wpdavid]

Australia had lost both previous home Ashes. They also lost Grimmett after the South Africa series, and both Ponsford and Woodfull since the last Ashes. There were serious question marks about Bradman as a captain.

I’m not sure how they were further perceived going into the series (maybe @peterhrt or someone could shed some more light on that). But to come back like they did from where they were - 0-2 down, losing by margins of 322 runs and an innings and 22 runs - is nothing short of remarkable.

Interesting, as tbf I had no idea about the guys they had lost. I'm not sure about the relevance of the previous two home Ashes series as there wasn't going to be a repeat of Bodyline, and the home Ashes before that was a long time before the one we're discussing. I suppose my take on it is that the win in England a couple of years earlier was the dominant factor in terms of establishing pre-series expectations. But as you say, it would be interesting to hear from someone who knows more than I do about how they were preceived going into the series. And as you quite rightly say, the turnaround from 0-2 was quite something.

 

[Coronis]

Interesting, as tbf I had no idea about the guys they had lost. I'm not sure about the relevance of the previous two home Ashes series as there wasn't going to be a repeat of Bodyline, and the home Ashes before that was a long time before the one we're discussing. I suppose my take on it is that the win in England a couple of years earlier was the dominant factor in terms of establishing pre-series expectations. But as you say, it would be interesting to hear from someone who knows more than I do about how they were preceived going into the series. And as you quite rightly say, the turnaround from 0-2 was quite something.

Well it had actually been quite a pattern established. The last home series win by either team was 10 years prior.

28-29 in Australia, England win 4-1
30 in England, Australia win 2-1
32-33 in Australia, England win 4-1
34 in England, Australia win 2-1

After the first 2 tests (heck even after the first 3 maybe) you’d have been forgiven for thinking we’d end up with the same scoreline.

 

[wpdavid]

Well it had actually been quite a pattern established. The last home series win by either team was 10 years prior.

28-29 in Australia, England win 4-1
30 in England, Australia win 2-1
32-33 in Australia, England win 4-1
34 in England, Australia win 2-1

After the first 2 tests (heck even after the first 3 maybe) you’d have been forgiven for thinking we’d end up with the same scoreline.

Yeah, that bit in bold is unquestionably true. I suppose my take on the matter is that once Bradman came along, it took a one-off tactic for England to win in 1932-33, which wasn't going to happen again. But my perspective is dominated by hindsight of course, so I just find it hard to think that Aus would have been anything other than favourites in the Bradman era against an England side that wasn't going to use Bodyline again. But I might be wrong. As you've said, it would be fascinating to read pieces about how the series was viewed beforehand.

 

[govinda indian fan]

Nz last match

 

[peterhrt]

I’m not sure how they were further perceived going into the series (maybe @peterhrt or someone could shed some more light on that).

Both sides had issues going into the series. Australia were probably narrow favourites - provided Bradman was back to full health which wasn't certain. Bodyline tactics had been outlawed. The hosts introduced four new caps for the first Test. Larwood headed the English first-class bowling averages in 1936 then announced he wouldn't tour. Paynter wasn't selected when he should have been.

Rain affected the pitches at times during the first three Tests and helped the side than won. Bradman was out to poor shots in the first two matches and there was a mini-rebellion against his captaincy. When the pitches improved McCabe and Bradman batted brilliantly to turn the series round, helped by Australia's wrist-spinners. All attendance records were broken.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

You would think the only team that could beat India in India would be Australia. Nobody expected NZ to win at all.

 

[Coronis]

Both sides had issues going into the series. Australia were probably narrow favourites - provided Bradman was back to full health which wasn't certain. Bodyline tactics had been outlawed. The hosts introduced four new caps for the first Test. Larwood headed the English first-class bowling averages in 1936 then announced he wouldn't tour. Paynter wasn't selected when he should have been.

Rain affected the pitches at times during the first three Tests and helped the side than won. Bradman was out to poor shots in the first two matches and there was a mini-rebellion against his captaincy. When the pitches improved McCabe and Bradman batted brilliantly to turn the series round, helped by Australia's wrist-spinners. All attendance records were broken.

Oh yeah I completely forgot the health stuff too. Appendicitis after the 34 tour and missing that season of Shield.

Then he opted out of the SA tour citing fitness and played a full season of Shield cricket that summer instead.

 

[subshakerz]

I think with the term upset it implies that there was a clear gulf between the teams at the outset if the series in terms of who can win. On that score, I think India losing to NZ may be the score. However I will go with SL SA unless NZ manage to whitewash.

 

[Coronis]

I think with the term upset it implies that there was a clear gulf between the teams at the outset if the series in terms of who can win. On that score, I think India losing to NZ may be the score. However I will go with SL SA unless NZ manage to whitewash.

Imagining worst case scenario here - India gets whitewashed at home by NZ but then wins the B/G trophy away.

Australia or India, who would be most embarrassed?

 

[Son Of Coco]

Bodyline. Close thread.

The fact the Aussie board wrote complaining to their English counterparts because they were getting beaten shows how they couldn't handle it. Plus they still moan about it now.

Started a long history of England bigging themselves up for series they won by cheating.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Imagining worst case scenario here - India gets whitewashed at home by NZ but then wins the B/G trophy away.

Australia or India, who would be most embarrassed?

Probably India . Australia are used to losing to us by now .

 

[reyrey]

Sorry but 2005 is a terrible shout.

Eng went into that series unbeaten in 18 mths.......there has never been such a hyped lead up for the series. There was a massive belief in Eng that this was our best chance to take down that great Aussie side.

Not saying we started as favourites but it was by no means a massive upset.

England were around 4/1 to win that series on betfair.

That was just the deluded English mindset though.

He's right. And I'm saying this as a huge fan of that England Ashes side.

 

[Days of Grace]

As posted in another thread, here are the biggest series upsets I have found so far:

1. New Zealand beating India away in 2024/25: 33.42 point difference between the two sides.
2. Sri Lanka beating South Africa away in 2018/19: 33.29
3. India beating England away in 1971: 30.07
4. India beating West Indies away in 1970/71: 29.56

Let me know if you want any others checked.

Did the Indian team fly straight to England after touring the West Indies in 1971? That was a vintage year for Indian cricket.

 

[Adders]

England were around 4/1 to win that series on betfair.

I'm calling BS on that. 4:1???? And after we beat them in the ODI series prior??

The lead up to that series was like nothing seen in an Ashes series mate. There was massive interest and belief in Eng that we had a side that finally was going to be competitive against them.

The odds may have blown out to 4:1 after Lords but id bet my left nut they were not prior to the series start.

 

[subshakerz]

Imagining worst case scenario here - India gets whitewashed at home by NZ but then wins the B/G trophy away.

Australia or India, who would be most embarrassed?

India. Aus have already been embarassed.

 

[reyrey]

I'm calling BS on that. 4:1???? And after we beat them in the ODI series prior??

The lead up to that series was like nothing seen in an Ashes series mate. There was massive interest and belief in Eng that we had a side that finally was going to be competitive against them.

The odds may have blown out to 4:1 after Lords but id bet my left nut they were not prior to the series start.

Well you're wrong. They were actually closer to 5/1 at betfair before the first test

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[TheJediBrah]

Adders is so cute

 

[ankitj]

Bangladesh 2-0 Pakistan?

 

[_00_deathscar]

Imagining worst case scenario here - India gets whitewashed at home by NZ but then wins the B/G trophy away.

Australia or India, who would be most embarrassed?

England