2–47 and 3–67; he and Yardley were on the verge of bowling Australia to victory when the crowd rioted and the game was called off. Higgs took 42 first class wickets at an average of 22 on the tour. 1978–79 Ashes Higgs had come back form the West Indies with his reputation considerably enhanced. He took 3–82 against the touring Englishmen, and 4–72 against Western Australia Higgs and Yardley were kept as Australia's spinners for the first test against England, but could not prevent a comfortable English victory; Higgs' returns were 0–9 and 0–43. Higgs was not picked in the second test but took 4–86 against NSW then 6–85 in another match against the same team. Higgs came back to the Australian side for the third test, where his three wickets contributed to a rare Australian win. Higgs' best performance of the summer came in the fourth test, where he took eight wickets including 5–148 in England's second innings, meaning Australia only had to score 205 to win. However they collapsed and Australia lost. Higgs took three wickets in the fifth test and five in the sixth (4–69 and 1–12) both Australian defeats. He was dropped from the Australian side for the second test against Pakistan, replaced by Bruce Yardley. Higgs rounded out the summer with 5–35 and 2–23 against Tasmania. Victoria won the Sheffield Shield that season, Higgs' 51 first class wickets playing no small part. 1979 Tour of India Higgs was picked on the 1979 tour of India, along with Yardley and Peter Sleep. Five wickets against South Zone got his tour off to a strong start. Higgs took 7–143 in the first test (a draw). The rest of the series was harder going; for the second he got 1–95 and took no wickets in the third. 3–63 and 3–22 against the West Zone restored his confidence but he went for 3–150 in the fourth test (bowling in tandem with Peter Sleep) 1–107 in the fifth, and 2–116 in the sixth. 1979–80 From 1979 to 1980 onwards, the World Series Cricket players were eligible for selection in the Australian team again. Higgs started the 1979–80 season well with 5–50 and 7–49 against West Australia and 4–79 and 4–78 against NSW. This saw him recalled to the Australian team in the second test against the West Indies, replacing Jeff Thomson. Higgs went for an expensive 3–122 in an Australian