Ron Saggers With The Australian Cricket Team in England in 1948 - Test Omission

Test Omission

See also: First Test, 1948 Ashes series, Second Test, 1948 Ashes series, and Third Test, 1948 Ashes series

In Saggers' last three matches before the First Test, he conceded 36 byes and made six dismissals. In contrast, Tallon conceded 18 byes in his only match and scored 27. Despite averaging more byes per innings than Saggers during the warm-up matches,N- Tallon was retained in the Test team. He took four catches and conceded 17 byes as Australia won by eight wickets.

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

Tallon was retained for the Second Test at Lord's, where he scored 53, took three catches and conceded 16 byes as Australia won by 409 runs. A dive to stop a leg glance resulted in Tallon severely bruising the little finger on his left hand. Nursing his finger injury, Tallon was rested for both tour matches between the Tests, which were against Surrey and Gloucestershire. Australia won the matches by ten wickets and an innings respectively. In Tallon's place, Saggers scored 12, completed a catch and made four stumpings while conceding 18 byes against Surrey. 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. He took two catches, completed three stumpings and conceded 13 byes for the match.

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