 After injuring his knee in a festival match at the beginning of the tour at East Molesey , Johnston attributed the injury to a lack of attention to detail . His new boots had spikes that were longer than usual , and the physiotherapist had failed to strap his ankle before the match . His knee soon failed . Johnston missed the first six first @-@ class matches , and with it a month of cricket . He returned against the Minor Counties in late May and took 3 / 20 in an innings win . He staked his claim for selection in the final two tour matches before the Tests ; he took 4 / 65 and 3 / 49 against Sussex and then led the way in a win over Hampshire , much as he did five years earlier , taking 5 / 75 and 4 / 21 . He had taken 20 wickets at 13 @.@ 35 in his four tour matches and was duly selected to play in the First Test at Trent Bridge . He was economical but unpenetrative , conceding 36 runs in 36 overs without taking a wicket in a rain @-@ affected draw . Between Tests , he removed Hutton in both innings of a match against Yorkshire , but it came at a cost ; he ended with 4 / 186 . He took match figures of 4 / 161 in the Second Test but England held on for a draw with three wickets in hand , as a recurrence of the knee injury while fielding intervened again . He then had an operation to remove cartilage in his right knee ; this allowed him more leg movement but also destabilised his knee . The same surgeon had operated on Compton 's knee . After missing another month of cricket , Johnston returned with a remodelled action , and hauls of 4 / 51 , 6 / 63 and 6 / 39 against Surrey , Glamorgan and Essex respectively , saw Johnston return for the Fifth Test at The Oval . Although the pitch was helpful for spin , a total of 74 overs in the match yielded 3 / 146 , as Johnston was unable rekindle the form of 1948 following his knee injury . Compton and Edrich batted cautiously to ensure the victory that saw England reclaim the Ashes 1 – 0 . He managed only seven Test wickets at 49 @.@ 00 , but his first @-@ class form remained strong . After the Tests , Johnston took match figures of 11 / 73 and 9 / 124 in consecutive matches against Kent and the South of England ; Australia won both by an innings . He ended with 75 wickets at 20 @.@ 54 for the entire tour . His injuries were considered a major factor in Australia 's loss of the series . 
