# Australian cricket team in England in 1972

The Australian cricket team toured England in the 1972 season to play a five-match Test series against England for the Ashes. The series was drawn 2–2 and England retained the Ashes. This was the last drawn series until 2019. The two sides also played a three-match ODI series, which England won 2–1.

## Australian squad

The following squad was selected by Neil Harvey, Sam Loxton and Phil Ridings:
* Batsmen – Ian Chappell (captain), Greg Chappell, Ross Edwards, Bruce Francis, Doug Walters, Paul Sheahan, Keith Stackpole
* Wicket-keepers – Rod Marsh, Brian Taber
* Fast bowlers – Dennis Lillee, Bob Massie, David Colley, Jeff Hammond
* All-rounders – John Inverarity, Graeme Watson
* Spinners – John Gleeson, Ashley Mallett
Notable omissions from the squad included Bill Lawry, Graham McKenzie and Ian Redpath.

## Test series
### 1st Test

* 8 – 13 June 1972 Scorecard
* England won by 89 runs Old Trafford, Manchester Umpires: Charlie Elliott (Eng) and Tom Spencer (Eng)
* England won the toss and elected to bat.
* 11 June was taken as a rest day.
* David Colley, Bruce Francis (both Aus) and Tony Greig (Eng) made their Test debuts.

### 2nd Test

* 22 – 26 June 1972 Scorecard
* Australia won by 8 wickets Lord's, London Umpires: David Constant (Eng) and Arthur Fagg (Eng)
* England won the toss and elected to bat.
* 25 June was taken as a rest day.
* Ross Edwards and Bob Massie (both Aus) made their Test debuts.

### 3rd Test

* 13 – 18 July 1972 Scorecard
* Match drawn Trent Bridge, Nottingham Umpires: Dusty Rhodes (Eng) and Tom Spencer (Eng)
* England won the toss and elected to field.
* 16 July was taken as a rest day.

### 4th Test

* 27 – 29 July 1972 Scorecard
* England won by 9 wickets Headingley, Leeds Umpires: David Constant (Eng) and Charlie Elliott (Eng)
* Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
* The fungus that floored the Aussies

### 5th Test

* 10 – 16 August 1972 Scorecard
* Australia won by 5 wickets The Oval, London Umpires: Arthur Fagg (Eng) and Dusty Rhodes (Eng)
* England won the toss and elected to bat.
* 13 August was taken as a rest day.
* Barry Wood (Eng) made his Test debut.
The series was drawn 2–2, which meant that England retained the Ashes.

## ODI series
### 1st ODI

* 24 August 1972 Scorecard
| Australia 222/8 (55 overs) | v | England 226/4 (49.1 overs) |
| Ross Edwards 57 (84) Bob Woolmer 3/33 (10 overs) | | Dennis Amiss 103 (134) Graeme Watson 2/28 (8 overs) |
* England won by 6 wickets Old Trafford, Manchester Umpires: Charlie Elliott (Eng) and Dusty Rhodes (Eng) Player of the match: Dennis Amiss (Eng)
* Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
* Ross Edwards, Dennis Lillee, Bob Massie, Paul Sheahan, Graeme Watson (all Aus), Dennis Amiss, Geoff Arnold, Brian Close, Tony Greig and Bob Woolmer (all Eng) made their ODI debuts.
* Dennis Amiss (Eng) recorded the first century in ODI history.

### 2nd ODI

* 26 August 1972 Scorecard
| England 236/9 (55 overs) | v | Australia 240/5 (51.3 overs) |
| Alan Knott 50 (50) Ashley Mallett 2/24 (11 overs) | | Keith Stackpole 52 (70) John Snow 3/35 (11 overs) |
* Australia won by 5 wickets Lord's, London Umpires: Arthur Fagg (Eng) and Tom Spencer (Eng) Player of the match: Greg Chappell (Aus)
* Australia won the toss and elected to field.
* David Colley (Aus) made his ODI debut.

### 3rd ODI

* 28 August 1972 Scorecard
| Australia 179/9 (55 overs) | v | England 180/8 (51.3 overs) |
| Keith Stackpole 61 (144) Geoff Arnold 4/27 (11 overs) | | Geoffrey Boycott 41 (90) Dennis Lillee 3/25 (11 overs) |
* England won by 2 wickets Edgbaston, Birmingham Umpires: David Constant (Eng) and Alan Oakman (Eng) Player of the match: Barry Wood (Eng)
* England won the toss and elected to field.
* Jeff Hammond (Aus) and Barry Wood (Eng) made their ODI debuts.