On Thursday 27 November 2025 our speaker was Richard Whitehead, whose topic was the Ashes tour of 1954/55. He has just published a book on this tour, entitled Victory in Australia. The Remarkable Story of England’s Greatest Ashes Triumph 1954-55. He was accompanied by David Woodhouse, the author of Who Only Cricket Know: Hutton’s Men in the West Indies 1953/54. They did not present a formal question-and-answer session but rather a conversation, led by Richard with David chipping in at appropriate times. This format worked extremely well.

The subject was presented in a well-structured fashion. Richard began by discussing the issue of the captaincy, describing how the MCC hierarchy were keen to replace Len Hutton, then England’s skipper but a professional, with David Sheppard, an amateur with impeccable credentials. However, their plan failed to come to fruition and Hutton remained in post. Richard then described how the omission of Fred Trueman from the touring squad was greeted with hostility from some sources and pointed out that the largely forgotten Jim McConnon was selected as an off-spinner ahead of Jim Laker.

Richard then dealt with the Tests in order. He pointed out that Hutton made a very poor decision by going into the first Test with no spinner and putting the Australians into bat: the hosts totalled 601 for eight before declaring and won by an innings and 154 runs. He then described how the quick bowling of Frank Tyson (famously) and Brian Statham, and the batting of the young amateurs, Peter May and Colin Cowdrey, enabled the tourists to turn the series around and win by a margin of three Tests to one. Richard justified his choice of subtitle for his book, providing evidence that this was indeed ‘England’s Greatest Ashes Triumph’.

Hutton came in for more criticism for his handling of Alec Bedser. The latter had been England’s finest bowler since the War and was expecting to play in the second Test. He only learned of his omission when he read the team-sheet posted in the dressing room immediately before the match. Richard justifiably described this as a very poor piece of man-management by Hutton, whose somewhat eccentric behaviour during the tour clearly indicated that he felt under considerable pressure.

Tailoring his presentation to his location, Richard discussed the involvement in the tour of Bill Edrich, a ‘bad boy’ whose fighting, if not his drinking, qualities apparently endeared himself to Hutton.

Questions were then taken. It is an indication of the interest generated that these were many in number and detailed in nature. Richard answered these questions in a most knowledgeable fashion, and it was apparent that he had researched this tour in a most exhaustive and praiseworthy fashion. David’s book was a multi-award-winner and, if there’s any justice, Richard’s work will be similarly lauded.

All-in-all this was one of the most memorable evenings that the Norfolk Cricket Society has hosted for many a long year.

Words by Stephen Musk

Photos by Pete Golland