Australian Country XI in Mount Gambier, which was at the time celebrating its city charter. The Country XI in their second innings were dismissed for 45. Statham came on to bowl when the score was 27 for three and, after he had bowled 26 balls, he had taken six wickets (all bowled) for no runs. He finished with six for three from four eight-ball overs including three maidens. Soon afterwards, the fourth Test was played at the Adelaide Oval on a good batting pitch. At the end of the fourth day, Australia on 69 for 3 had a lead of 51 and it was widely expected that the match would be drawn. Statham to that point had not taken a wicket. He was troubled by the big toe on his left foot after removal of an ingrowing nail just before the match began. He had been using padding to try and protect the toe but this wasn't helping. The MCC masseur, Harold Dalton, had the idea of cutting a hole in the leather toecap of Statham's boot and this provided a great relief. He was then able, with Tyson, to bowl unchanged throughout the morning session of the final day in a temperature of above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Australia were reduced to 103 for nine and Statham took three for twelve that morning; Tyson took three for seventeen. The Australians were all out for 111 at half past two, leaving England to make 94 and win not only the match but also the series. The final Test was ruined by rain and drawn. Statham ended the series with eighteen wickets at 27.72. Wisden wrote that, having been England's leading Test wicket-taker in the West Indies twelve months earlier, Statham reached his peak in Australia. While Tyson's name was in the headlines, it was the quiet man Statham who made it all possible and, with Alec Bedser fading from the scene, had become England's most reliable bowler. Statham played in both the Tests in New Zealand which England won easily, the second by an innings and 20 runs after New Zealand were dismissed for a mere 26 in their second innings, the lowest team total in Test cricket's history. He took twelve wickets in the two matches with a best return of four for 24 in the first Test at Carisbrook in Dunedin. At Basin Reserve in Wellington, Statham and Tyson