Australian cricket to celebrate 1958-59 Ashes winners

Australian cricket will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its 1958-59 Ashes success at a lunch on the opening day of the 3 Mobile Test at the SCG tomorrow.

The nine surviving members of the victorious 1958-59 team will be special guests of Cricket Australia, Cricket New South Wales and the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust 50 years after helping Australia to an unexpected 4-0 Ashes series victory.

The series win was an important moment in the history of Australian cricket because it marked the transition point into another successful era following the departures of Invincibles Lindsay Hassett, Arthur Morris, Bill Johnston and Keith Miller in the previous five years.

In Richie Benaud’s first series as captain, Australia reversed three successive Ashes series defeats to reclaim the Urn for the first time since 1950-51.

The series featured the Test debut of Norman O’Neill, Ray Lindwall’s Australian Test wicket-taking record and Benaud’s inspirational leadership and bowling, but is also remembered for the ‘throwing’ controversies which had engulfed international cricket at the time.

“Australian cricket continues to recognise those players and teams who contributed so significantly to our game, and we’re delighted to be able to bring the players from the 1958-59 team together,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said.

“The rich history, tradition and culture of Australia’s national sport and its stories help keep the game alive in the nation’s imagination.

“While Don Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles remain Australia’s most famous cricket team, Richie Benaud’s 1958-59 team deserves to be celebrated for its important contribution to the success and growth of Australian cricket.”