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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

England	v	Australia
249 (120.4 overs) Tony Greig 57 (123) David Colley 3/83 (33 overs)		142 (58 overs) Keith Stackpole 53 (85) John Snow 4/41 (20 overs)
234 (86.2 overs) Tony Greig 62 (116) Dennis Lillee 6/66 (30 overs)		252 (85.2 overs) Rod Marsh 91 (111) Tony Greig 4/53 (19.2 overs)

• 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

England	v	Australia
272 (91.5 overs) Tony Greig 54 (117) Bob Massie 8/84 (32.5 overs)		308 (122.1 overs) Greg Chappell 131 (303) John Snow 5/57 (32 overs)
116 (55.2 overs) Mike Smith 30 (99) Bob Massie 8/53 (27.2 overs)		81/2 (26.5 overs) Keith Stackpole 57* (79) Basil D'Oliveira 1/14 (8 overs)

• 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

Australia	v	England
315 (118.4 overs) Keith Stackpole 114 (255) John Snow 5/92 (31 overs)		189 (88.3 overs) John Edrich 37 (122) Dennis Lillee 4/35 (29 overs)
324/4d (92 overs) Ross Edwards 170* (290) John Snow 3/94 (24 overs)		290/4 (148 overs) Brian Luckhurst 96 (268) Dennis Lillee 2/40 (25 overs)

• England won the toss and elected to field.
• 16 July was taken as a rest day.

4th Test

Australia	v	England
146 (86.5 overs) Keith Stackpole 52 (119) Derek Underwood 4/37 (31 overs)		263 (130.1 overs) Ray Illingworth 57 (252) Ashley Mallett 5/114 (52 overs)
136 (56.1 overs) Paul Sheahan 41* (135) Derek Underwood 6/45 (21 overs)		21/1 (10 overs) Brian Luckhurst 12* (37) Dennis Lillee 1/7 (5 overs)

• Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
• The fungus that floored the Aussies

5th Test

England	v	Australia
284 (92.2 overs) Alan Knott 92 (126) Dennis Lillee 5/58 (24.2 overs)		399 (151.5 overs) Ian Chappell 118 (267) Derek Underwood 4/90 (38 overs)
356 (121.2 overs) Barry Wood 90 (216) Dennis Lillee 5/123 (32.2 overs)		242/5 (92.2 overs) Keith Stackpole 79 (163) Tony Greig 2/49 (25.3 overs)

• 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

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)

• 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

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 the toss and elected to field.
• David Colley (Aus) made his ODI debut.

3rd ODI

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 the toss and elected to field.
• Jeff Hammond (Aus) and Barry Wood (Eng) made their ODI debuts.

References

1. Preston, Norman (1973). "Australians in England, 1972". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via ESPNcricinfo.

Annual reviews

• Playfair Cricket Annual 1973
• Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1973

Further reading

• Bill Frindall, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877–1978, Wisden, 1979

External links

• The Ashes, 1972 at ESPN Cricinfo
• CricketArchive – tour itineraries

v t e The Ashes
List of Ashes series
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