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Ron Saggers with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948

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See also: Australian cricket team in England in 1948 and 1948 Ashes series
Ron Saggers
File:RonSaggersNSW.jpg
Personal information
Full name
Ronald Arthur Saggers
BattingRight-hand batsman
RoleSpecialist wicket-keeper
International information
National side
Test debut22 July 1948 v England
Last Test22 July 1948 v England
Career statistics
Competition Tests FC
Matches 1 17
Runs scored 5 209
Batting average 5.00 23.22
100s/50s 0/0 1/0
Top score 5 104*
Balls bowled 0 0
Wickets – n/a
Bowling average – n/a
5 wickets in innings – n/a
10 wickets in match – n/a
Best bowling – n/a
Catches/stumpings 3/0 23/20

Ron Saggers was a member of Donald Bradman's famous Australian cricket team tour of England in 1948, which went undefeated in their 34 matches. This unprecedented feat by a touring side earned them the sobriquet The Invincibles.

The team's reserve wicket-keeper, Saggers played in one of the five Tests, the Fourth Test, due to the injury to first-choice gloveman Don Tallon. The match was Saggers's Test debut and he scored five in his only innings and took three catches. Despite being the second-choice gloveman, Saggers conceded byes at a lower rate than Tallon during the tour. During the Fourth Test, Saggers conceded only six byes as England amassed a match total of 861, the lowest percentage of byes conceded by Australia in a match during the tour.

Bradman rotated the two glovemen during the tour, and Saggers played in 17 of the 31 first-class matches, taking 23 catches and 20 stumpings. Saggers had few opportunities with the bat, batting 12 times and scoring 209 runs at 23.22, including his only century at first-class level, 104 not out against Essex.

Early tour matches

Saggers started the tour as the clear second-choice wicket-keeper, with Don Tallon having played in all 11 Tests for Australia since the Second World War,[1] while Saggers was yet to make his Test debut.[2]

Australia traditionally fielded its first-choice team in the tour opener, which was customarily against Worcestershire.[3] Accordingly, Tallon was selected as the wicket-keeper for the match. Tallon made six and made five dismissals and conceded 11 byes as Australia crushed the hosts by an innings and 17 runs.[4][5][6]

Tallon was then rested and Saggers brought in for the next county match against Leicestershire. He scored six and took a catch in each innings and conceded only six byes as Australia won by an innings.[7] Saggers was then rested for the next two matches, against Yorkshire and Surrey. Australia scraped home by four wickets in the former and won by an innings in the latter. Tallon batted steadily with 10, 17 not out and 50 not out, but conceded a total of 35 byes in taking two catches.[4][5][8][9] Tallon had some difficulty with the bounce and movement of the ball in English conditions as he sustained a bruised right finger when he lost sight of a Ray Lindwall bouncer on a misty morning during the Surrey match and was hit as he put hand over his face for protection, with the ball running away for four byes.[10]

With Tallon nursing a bruised finger, he was rested and Saggers played in three successive tour matches.[4][5] Against Cambridge University he made two stumpings and took one catch and was not required to bat as Australia won by an innings. He then played in the match against Essex where Australia reached 721 runs on the first day to set a new world record for the most runs scored in a day of first-class cricket. Saggers made his highest first-class score, 104 not out—the only first-class century of his career—in a partnership of 166 runs in 65 minutes with Sam Loxton. Loxton, along with Bill Brown and Donald Bradman, also scored centuries.[11] Of Saggers's innings, former Test batsman Jack Fingleton said "he reminded me at times of Alan Kippax in his artistry. He plays all the strokes."[12] He took one catch as Australia won by an innings and 451 runs, the largest margin of the season.[4][5]

He then faced Oxford University, scoring six runs and taking one catch in another innings victory.[5][4] Saggers conceded six, eight and 14 byes respectively in the three matches. Up to this point, Saggers conceded only 34 byes in his four tour matches, while Tallon had conceded 46 in three.[6][7][8][9][13][14][15]

The next match was against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's. The MCC fielded seven players who would represent England in the Tests,[16][17][18][19][20][21] and were basically a full strength Test team, as were Australia, who fielded their first-choice team. It was a chance to gain a psychological advantage, and Tallon was selected instead of Saggers despite conceding byes at a higher rate in the preceding tour matches. Saggers looked on as Tallon conceded 26 byes and Australia won by an innings.[4][5][21]

Following the match against the MCC, there were four more county fixtures before the First Test, against Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Hampshire and Sussex. Australia drew the first two before winning the latter two by eight wickets and an innings and 325 runs respectively.[4] Saggers played in all but the Nottinghamshire match.[5] Against Lancashire, Saggers came in at 6/145 and held up his end, making an unbeaten 22 as Australia reached 204. He then made a stumping and conceded 11 byes as the hosts replied with 182 before the match ended in a draw.[22] Saggers went without a dismissal and conceded 16 byes as Hampshire made 195 in their first innings. He then came to the crease at 7/98 and was last man out for 17, one of only four players to pass five,[23] as Australia made 117 and conceded a first innings lead for the first time in the season.[4][23][24] He then completed a stumping the second innings and conceded four byes as Australia recovered to win by eight wickets.[23] Saggers' final opportunity to stake a claim for Test selection was in the match against Sussex. Saggers did not concede a bye and took a catch in the first innings. He was not required to bat as Australia declared at 5/549 and then took three more dismissals and conceded five byes as Australia won by an innings.[25]

Test omission

Main articles: First Test, 1948 Ashes series; Second Test, 1948 Ashes series; and Third Test, 1948 Ashes series
File:SaggersMcCabeTallon.jpg
Saggers (center) pictured with Stan McCabe (left) and Don Tallon (right) during a country match in 1945.

In Saggers' three matches, 36 byes were conceded and six dismissals were made.[22][23][25] Tallon conceded 18 byes in his match and scored 27.[26] Despite averaging more byes per innings than Saggers during the warm-up matches,[6][7][8][9][13][14][15][21][22][23][25][26] Tallon was retained in the Test team and took four catches and conceded 17 byes as Australia won by eight wickets.[16]

Between Tests, Australia played Northamptonshire and Yorkshire, and Tallon was rested for both matches. The first was won by an innings and second was drawn.[4][5] Saggers made four against Northamptonshire and 22 against Yorkshire. After not making a dismissal against Northamptonshire,[27] he took two catches and two stumpings in the latter match and conceded 14 and 10 byes respectively in the two matches.[5][27][28]

Tallon was retained for the Second Test at Lord's, where he scored 53 and took three catches and conceded 16 byes as Australia won by 409 runs.[17] A dive to stop a leg glance resulted in Tallon severely bruising his left little finger.[29] Australia won the Test and nursing his finger, Tallon was rested for both tour matches between the Tests, which were against Surrey and Gloucestershire, which were won by ten wickets and an innings respectively.[4][5] In his place, Saggers scored 12 against Surrey, and took a catch and made four stumpings while conceding 18 byes. In the match against Gloucestershire, Saggers was deprived of an opportunity to bat as Australia amassed 7/774, its highest score of the tour and its second highest ever in England.[4][30] Saggers took two catches and completed three stumpings and conceded 13 byes for the match.[31][32][33]

Tallon was retained as the teams then played out a draw in the Third Test at Manchester.[29][34] During the match, Tallon conceded 16 byes and dropped Denis Compton three times as the English batsman went from 50 to 145 not out.[18][35] Tallon's little left finger swelled up after the Third Test and he exacerbated the injury during a tour match against Middlesex,[34] as Australia won by ten wickets.[36]

Test debut

Main article: Fourth Test, 1948 Ashes series

As a result of Tallon's finger injury, Saggers' Test debut took place at Headingley on 22 July 1948 during the Fourth Test.[37] England made 496 runs in their first innings, with Saggers taking catches to remove Denis Compton for 23, caught down the leg side,[38] and Jim Laker for four.[39] During the innings, Saggers was noted for being quiet and unvocal behind the stumps, whereas Tallon was known for loudly appealing in concert with the bowler.[40] Australia had conceded 496 runs but Saggers had leaked only two byes.[19]

Australia replied with 458, however Saggers was stumped by England's wicket-keeper Godfrey Evans off the bowling of Laker for only five runs. England's second innings reached 8/365 with Saggers taking one catch to secure the wicket of Ken Cranston and conceding four byes. However, a innings of 182 runs from Arthur Morris and 173 not out from Bradman meant that Saggers was not required to bat again in the second innings; Australia defeated England by seven wickets,[39] and set a world record for the highest successful Test run chase.[41] Saggers's six byes out of England's match total of 861 runs was the lowest percentage of byes conceded by Australia on the tour.[6][7][8][9][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][25][26][27][28][32][33][36][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]

Saggers made six not out, took two catches and a stumping and conceded 15 byes in the innings victory over Derbyshire,[4][5][42] before being rested in the next match against Glamorgan. In his first match back from injury, Tallon took a catch and two stumpings but he also conceded 19 byes in a rain-affected draw.[5][43] Tallon's byes were 9.64% of the hosts' total, the highest percentage contribution conceded by byes on the tour.[6][7][8][9][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][25][26][27][28][32][33][36][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] Saggers returned for the nine-wicket win over Warwickshire and struggled, making a duck. Although he took two catches and a stumping, he conceded 28 byes, 9.56% of Warwickshire's total runs,[44] the second highest percentage contribution of byes in a conceded match total.[6][7][8][9][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][25][26][27][28][32][33][36][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53] Saggers was then rested for Australia's second match and second draw against Lancashire as Tallon made three dismissals and conceded 23 byes.[4][5][45] In the non-first-class match against Durham, Tallon played purely as a batsman, while Saggers kept wicket. Saggers came in at 8/226 and made 22 to help Australia reach 273. He then made two stumpings and conceded four byes as the hosts reached 5/73 before rain ended the match.[46] With Tallon fit again for the Fifth Test, Saggers was omitted as Australia won by an innings and 149 runs to complete a 4–0 series victory.[20]

Later tour matches

Seven matches remained on Bradman's quest to go through a tour of England without defeat.[4] Tallon was rested for three consecutive matches against Kent,[47] the Gentlemen of England,[48] and Somerset,[4][5] and Saggers played in his place in the three fixtures, all of which Australia won by an innings.[4][5] Saggers made only eight as Australia scored 361 against Kent. He then conceded only two byes in taking two catches and two stumpings as the home side made 51 and 124.[47] Saggers did not bat as Australia amassed 5/610 against the Gentlemen of England. He then took a catch and conceded 19 byes as Australia enforced the follow on and won.[48] The match against Somerset was similar, with Saggers not batting in Australia's 5/560 before making two stumpings and conceding eight byes.[50] In total, he made seven dismissals and conceded 29 byes in the six innings of the three matches.[47][48][50] Saggers was rested as Tallon returned for the following match against the South of England. Tallon took three catches and conceded 13 byes as the match was washed out when the hosts were dismissed for 298.[4][5][49]

Australia's biggest challenge in the post-Test tour matches was against the Leveson-Gower's XI. During the last tour in 1938, this team was effectively a full-strength England outfit, but this time Bradman insisted that only six Test players be allowed to play for the hosts. Bradman then fielded a full-strength team,[54] with the only difference from the Fifth Test team being Ian Johnson coming for Doug Ring. Saggers was left out as the match ended in a draw after multiple rain delays.[20][51]

The tour ended with two non-first-class matches against Scotland. In the first match, Tallon played as a batsman while Saggers kept wicket. Saggers scored only eight in Australia's 236 and then took two catches, three stumpings and conceded 13 byes in the innings victory.[52] In the second match in Aberdeen, Saggers was rested as Australia completed another innings triumph.[5][53]

Role

A chart showing Saggers's batting performance during the tour. The runs scored per innings are represented by the bars, with the red bars being Test innings and the pink bars being other first-class innings. The blue line is the average of the five most recent innings and the dots indicate not outs.[5]

The reserve wicket-keeper, Saggers played in 17 first-class matches with 209 runs at an average of 23.22,[5] including a career high score of 104 not out against Essex,[2] 23 catches and 20 stumpings, also career records.[5] This compared with Tallon, who scored 283 runs at 25.72.[55]

In all his matches on tour, Tallon conceded 249 byes as Australia conceded 5331 runs, a bye percentage of 4.67%, compared to Saggers's 221 byes from 6190 runs, a percentage of 3.57%.[6][7][8][9][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][25][26][27][28][32][33][36][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53]

During the tour, Saggers had few opportunities with the bat, generally batting between No. 8 and No. 10,[5] because Australia's frontline bowlers included the likes of Ray Lindwall, Colin McCool, Ian Johnson and Doug Ring, who were all capable with the bat. Lindwall scored two Test centuries in his career, while McCool scored 18 first-class centuries a including one in Tests. Johnson and Ring both scored more than 20 fifties at first-class level.[56] As Australia often won by an innings, and often declared in the first innings, Saggers only had 12 innings in his 17 first-class fixtures and was not out three times as he ran out of partners.[5]

In his book, Farewell to cricket, Bradman said of Saggers following the tour, "[he] had not quite the speed or agility of Tallon but could always be relied on for a solid performance. A most polished and unostentatious player."[57]

Notes

  1. ^ "D Tallon - Tests - Innings by innings list". Statsguru. Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  2. ^ a b Cashman, p. 267.
  3. ^ Haigh, Gideon (2007-05-26). "Gentrifying the game". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Matches, Australia tour of England, Apr-Sep 1948". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Player Oracle RA Saggers 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Worcestershire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Leicestershire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Yorkshire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Surrey v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  10. ^ Perry (2000), p. 197.
  11. ^ "Rubbing their noses in it". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2008-04-28. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  12. ^ Fingleton, p. 67.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Cambridge University v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Essex v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Oxford University v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "1st Test England v Australia at Nottingham Jun 10–15 1948". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  17. ^ a b c d e f "2nd Test England v Australia at Lord's Jun 24–29 1948". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  18. ^ a b c d e f "3rd Test England v Australia at Manchester Jul 8-13 1948". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "4th Test England v Australia at Leeds Jul 22-27 1948". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g "5th Test England v Australia at The Oval Aug 14–18 1948". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g "MCC v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g "Lancashire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hampshire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  24. ^ "Australians in England, 1948". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1949 ed.). Wisden. pp. 226–227.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g "Sussex v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  26. ^ a b c d e f "Nottinghamshire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "Northamptonshire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  28. ^ a b c d e "Yorkshire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  29. ^ a b Perry (2000), p. 200.
  30. ^ "Australians in England, 1948". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1949 ed.). Wisden. pp. 238–239.
  31. ^ "Player Oracle RA Saggers 1948". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  32. ^ a b c d e "Surrey v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  33. ^ a b c d e "Gloucestershire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  34. ^ a b Lemmon, p. 103.
  35. ^ Fingleton, pp. 131–137.
  36. ^ a b c d e "Middlesex v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  37. ^ Ron Saggers with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948 at ESPNcricinfo retrieved April 28, 2008
  38. ^ Fingleton, p. 158.
  39. ^ a b The Ashes - 4th Test, England v Australia from CricInfo retrieved April 28, 2008
  40. ^ Fingleton, p. 152.
  41. ^ "Fourth Test Match England v Australia". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. Wisden. 1949. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  42. ^ a b c d e "Derbyshire v Australians". CricketArchive. 1948-07-28. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  43. ^ a b c d e "Glamorgan v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  44. ^ a b c d e "Warwickshire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  45. ^ a b c d e "Lancashire v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  46. ^ a b c d e "Durham v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g "Kent v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g "Gentlemen v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  49. ^ a b c d e "South of England v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  50. ^ a b c d e f "Somerset v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  51. ^ a b c d e "H.D.G. Leveson-Gower's XI v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  52. ^ a b c d e "Scotland v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  53. ^ a b c d e "Scotland v Australians". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  54. ^ Perry (2005), pp. 253–254.
  55. ^ "Batting and bowling averages Australia tour of England, Apr-Sep 1948 - First-class matches". Cricinfo. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  56. ^ Cashman, pp. 152, 175, 199, 258.
  57. ^ Bradman, p. 227.

References

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