with a strong wind behind him. Tyson had shortened his run-up and this had the beneficial result of increasing his accuracy. Statham toiled into the wind at the other end and his accuracy gave the Australian batsmen no respite. Tyson took six for 85 and Statham three for 45 from nineteen eight-ball overs, an immense physical effort. Their performance enabled England to snatch an unexpected victory by 38 runs, having been 74 behind on first innings. If Australia had won the second Test to take a two-nil lead, the series would almost certainly have been settled but Statham and Tyson changed that and England went on to win it by three Tests to one. Statham and Tyson shook hands on the field when the last Australian wicket fell and, afterwards, were full of praise for each other. Statham said of Tyson that he was at least two yards faster than himself and that watching him from the outfield, let alone batting against him, was frightening. Tyson for his part said he felt as if Yehudi Menuhin had been playing second fiddle to his lead. In searing heat, England won the third Test at Melbourne where there was controversy about suspected watering of the MCG pitch. England batted first and were dismissed for a disappointing 191 which would have been disastrously much less but for a fighting century by the young Colin Cowdrey. When Australia batted through Saturday and into Monday morning (Sunday was a rest day), Statham was England's outstanding bowler with five for 60. Australia were all out for 231, a lead of 40. It was the first time Statham took five in a Test innings. John Arlott nevertheless insisted he had been unlucky not to have an even better analysis. England made 279 in their second innings so Australia needed 240 to win and were generally expected to get them as they reached 75 for two at the end of the fourth day's play. On the final day, Tyson and Statham destroyed Australia and England won by 128 runs. Tyson took seven for 27 in what is remembered as his greatest bowling performance but he said afterwards that the analyses could so easily have been reversed. Statham finished with two for 38 and so took seven for 98 in the match. On Wednesday, 19 January 1955, Statham was playing for MCC in a two-day match against a South