Having been dismissed for 99 in a Lord’s test match 14 years prior, Charles Macartney finally sealed his spot on the Honours Boards in 1926 with a second innings century that secured a draw for Australia.
The Australians posted 383 batting first, which England comfortably surpassed, declaring on 475/3. Fresh from having opened the bowling and sending down 33 overs, Macartney came out at number three in the second innings with only two runs on the board, and Australia in danger of a terminal collapse.
Whilst wickets continued to fall around him, Macartney counter-attacked, scoring an unbeaten 133 in just over three hours. Though no other batter passed 24, Macartney’s undefeated stand was enough to see Australia through to close of play for the draw.
Of the five Ashes tests that summer, the first four all failed to produce a result. Accordingly, the fifth test was made a ‘timeless test,’ which England won convincingly to take a 1-0 series victory.