When 'Lillian Thomson' reduced England to Ashes

However quick the fast bowlers are in the upcoming Tests, they are unlikely to match the pace, skill and sheer, spell-binding ferocity of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, who inspired Australia's double victory in the last back-to-back Ashes series.
It was nearly 40 years ago that the celebrated duo, dubbed "Lillian Thomson", led a 4-1 home-series rout of arch-rivals England in 1974/75, and then paired again for a 1-0 away win in 1975.
England, captained by a Scot in Mike Denness, arrived in Australia without their two best players, even though neither was injured.
Opening batsman Geoff Boycott, unhappy at being overlooked for the captaincy, was in a self-imposed Test exile that would last three years.

And fast bowler John Snow, deemed an awkward character by officialdom, was left out despite starring in England's victorious 1970/71 Ashes tour.
The first Test in Brisbane saw the Chappell brothers, Ian and Greg, both score fifties in a first-innings total of 309 where England fast bowler Bob Willis took four wickets.

England's reply of 265 was notable for a brilliant 110 by towering all-rounder Tony Greig in which the South Africa-born showman also riled Australia by signalling his own boundaries.
But Thomson, deploying the yorker to excellent effect and well-supported by a ring of close catchers led by wicketkeeping great Rodney Marsh, took six for 46 in England's second innings as Australia won by 166 runs.

An injury-hit England summoned Colin Cowdrey, just shy of his 42nd birthday, from his home in Kent in the hope the veteran stylist would somehow blunt the impact of Lillee and Thomson on the super-fast pitch of Perth.
Cowdrey fell to Thomson on both occasions but courageously batted for more than four hours in total on what was the fastest surface in world cricket.
Thomson's second-innings five for 63 sealed a nine-wicket victory set up by centuries from Ross Edwards and Doug Walters, the latter scoring a hundred runs in a session and completing his ton with a six.