For a boy who started following cricket in the early 1950s and, out of a sense of solidarity among colonials, at once aligned himself with Australia in the great saga that is Ashes cricket, I started out by knowing the meaning of defeat in sport. In 1954-55, Australia were blown away by the pace of Frank Tyson; in 1956 they were spun to a historic and humiliating defeat by Jim Laker at Old Trafford in a losing campaign. So imagine the pleasure I took when, in 1958-59, Peter May took his MCC side to Australia and they were trounced 4-0. There was much chat at the time about bad umpiring and the dodgy bowling actions of certain Australian bowlers; but fiercely partisan as I then was - well, I was young; it's understandable - the regaining of the Ashes under Benaud's captaincy was what primarily interested me.
One detail of that series impressed itself on me at the time - symbolic of the turnaround in Ashes fortunes. In the fourth Test at Adelaide, with England down 2-0 and needing a win to save the series, May won the toss and, to the surprise of nearly everyone and the dismay of England's supporters, opted to field first. It didn't work out. England went three down. Then, in the final Test at Melbourne - with the circumstances different, admittedly - Benaud won the toss and put England in to bat. That did work out. It was a detail of the series - adding insult to injury as it were - that put the icing on 'my' first Ashes victory.
Here, from contemporary accounts, are some observations on May's decision at Adelaide:
May, knowing that he had to win as a draw was useless for the retention of the Ashes, took the bold course of sending Australia in to bat, but his hopes were not realised. - Wisden 1960
May was left with three fast bowlers, one medium quick and only Lock to bowl slow. Laker's absence from the attack contributed to his astonishing decision to field when he won the toss for the fourth time. It was argued that with an all-speed attack his best chance lay in using the wicket when it might be at least of some use to them in the opening overs. How anyone could imagine that brown strip of turf, rolled to extinction to provide a favourable and lasting batting pitch, could help any sort of bowler until it had endured much wear baffled me. - E.M. Wellings, The Ashes Thrown Away
[R]emembering the disasters which had overtaken previous England captains who had taken this gamble, I felt it was unlikely that May would risk it in any circumstances. Therefore, when, returning with Benaud after the toss, he swung his arm over to indicate that his side were bowling, I assumed that he had lost, as seemed likely after so many wins in a row. There were some cries of dismay about me when the truth was announced some moments later... It was not long... before it became apparent that this gamble, largely forced upon him by circumstances, was going to misfire. - Ian Peebles, The Fight for the Ashes 1958-1959
[W]hen May won the toss for the fourth successive time and sent Australia in, everyone was rather amazed. It was the last thing we expected, and I understand that Benaud could scarcely believe his ears when May announced his decision. - A. G. Moyes, Benaud & Co
[O]n calling tails correctly against Benaud... May looked up towards his dressing-room and, making a circling motion with his arm, indicated England would bowl first. In the Australian dressing-room they were delighted. Benaud said to me, "The boys behaved just as though I had won the toss." - Keith Miller, Cricket from the Grandstand
When the skippers tossed the next morning, May walked several yards back to the pavilion before he said to Benaud, "Will you take strike?" Benaud didn't believe what he had heard. "What did you say, Peter?" he asked. "I want you to bat first," replied May. "Thank you," said a surprised Benaud, "you have given us the game." - Jack Fingleton, Four Chukkas to Australia
Peter May - and how could any follower of cricket forget it - elected to field first when he won the toss. With his pace blitz of Tyson, Trueman, Statham and Bailey, he was gambling on an early "greenness" in the pitch that would enable him to secure a couple of cheap wickets while venom lasted. Unfortunately for England the expected aid from the pitch failed to materialise. - John Kay, England Down Under
I feel there was more than one reason why May decided to put Australia in. Firstly, it was an indication of his lack of confidence in his opening batsmen and a sad reflection on their ability throughout this tour... In addition, with Laker's inability to play, he only had one spin bowler to use the wicket should it take spin in the later stages of the match. In addition, as the side had been committed to pace, it is usual in Australia that if the pace-bowlers are to get any help at all they do so on the first day. - Alec Bedser, May's Men in Australia
There remained just one more sensation with which to preface the game - Peter May won the toss and put Australia in to bat. I nearly fell over when I heard the news. - W.J. Edrich, Round the Wicket
And here is some of what was said about Benaud's decision at Melbourne:
Benaud, with four fast bowlers given him by the Australian selectors, put England in and his policy was fully justified - the first occasion victory had attended a captain who put his rivals in since J.W.H.T. Douglas did so in 1911-12. - Wisden 1960
[T]he night before the start, I made a mental wager that England were absolute certainties to be batting first next day. The wicket was a "putter-in", but I reasoned that if we won the toss May was not likely to take such a chance again after the fiasco of Adelaide. Benaud, on the other hand, with the Ashes safe, and four fast bowlers... in his side, would put us in without the slightest hesitation. - W.J. Edrich, Round the Wicket
Benaud's move in sending England in to bat seemed dictated by the selectors when they included the bevy of fast bowlers. Moreover, the pitch had a tinge of green in it and looked as if it would be lively. There was one other angle to Benaud's decision. It looked as if he intended to rub salt into the open English wounds. He was hoping to do with success what May did with failure in Adelaide. - Jack Fingleton, Four Chukkas to Australia
Richie Benaud can do no wrong! That was the major impression of the fifth and final Test played at Melbourne... Benaud, winning the toss, gambled on sending England in, and he won a somewhat one-sided victory by nine wickets inside an hour on the fifth day. - John Kay, England Down Under
[For links to the other posts in this series, see here.]