The iconic match (Source: @PictureSporting/x.com)
In the sporting world, every sport requires sheer hard work and grit, and when it returns the rewards, it turns a player into a legend. While batters often steal the spotlight, bowlers quietly test patience and deliver miraculous moments in the Test arena.
Cricket thrills are always exciting, but the rivalries add a special touch to a match. The century-long battle between England and Australia has produced some of the boldest, most jaw-dropping performances the world has ever seen.
Several unreal knocks grabbed the limelight, but some of the iconic bowling spells are still the hidden gems of the glory book of Ashes. Among them, Jack White’s unbelievable 13-wicket haul in the Adelaide Test stands as pure history. Let’s relive his heroics that stunned Australia in that match.
A dominant fifer that redefines the battle
Test cricket never fails to entertain fans as the five days of marathon red-ball excitement push the thrills to the highest. But among all battles, the Ashes stands in a league of its own, a rivalry so intense it makes the world pause and watch. Whenever England and Australia take the field, history is created on the field as some electrifying performances add firepower to it.
Among all the encounters, the Adelaide Test of Ashes 1928-29 has been forever iconic, and Jack White’s exceptional performance was the reason behind it. Stepping into the game, England batted first and piled up a total of 334 runs and returned to bowl later. As Australia eyed dominance, Jake White wrote the script in a different way.
Bowling in the first innings, Australia faced some early blows and secured early blood by dismissing Alan Kippax in 3 runs. After that, Archie Jackson and Jack Ryder stitched a game-changing partnership but broke the jinx as White removed Ryder in 63 runs.
After that, the English bowler needed to wait a long time until he dismissed Archie Jackson, turning the tide in England’s favor. He then ripped through Ted a’Beckett and Ron Oxenham in quick succession, sealing a milestone moment in his unforgettable spell.
With that wicket, he registered a thrilling five-wicket haul, while conceding 130 runs in 60 overs, with an economy rate of 2.16. His heroic spell proved vital, dragging England back into the contest and pinning the hosts to 369 in their first innings.
An eight-wicket miracle that stuns the Aussies
Australia had already felt White’s fury in the first innings, but the English pacer wasn’t done as more destruction was waiting for the Aussies. As the Aussies came to chase down the total of 349 runs, White rolled up his sleeves and unleashed some fireballs to dominate the Aussies on their home soil.
Chasing down the total, Australia started well, but Jack White made his first mark, dismissing Bill Woodfull in 30 runs. Soon after that, he marked his second wicket in Stork Hendry in five runs. After those early blows, Alan Kippax and Jack Ryder struck back with a 137-run partnership.
As England was looking forward to breaking the jinx, White removed Alan in 51 runs. Continuing the domination, he sent back Ryder in just 87 runs. Then, by sending back Ted a’Beckett for 21, White sealed another brilliant fifer in the match, cementing his dominance.
Despite the carnage, Australia refused to back down, but White was in no mood to stop the nightmare. Channeling his excellence, he removed Ron Oxenham and Clarrie Grimmett, leaving Australia reeling on 336/9.
England was already smelling the hard-fought victory, but Jack White didn’t make them wait for long as he removed Don Blackie on a nine-ball duck. With that, Australia were bundled out for 336, handing England a thrilling 12-run triumph. Amid this sensational victory, Jack White secured eight wickets while conceding 126 runs with an economy rate of 1.94.
Dominating Australia on their home soil is tough, but White proved that it is not possible at all. With 13 wickets in a match, he rewrote bowling history. Decades of Ashes heroics have come and gone, yet White’s legendary spell still stands untouchable in history.
