 It was a professional side, professionally chosen, with a professional knowledge of the gaps that existed in the make-up of the Australian side.It seemed they would give a professional account of themselves.Alec Bedser had toured Australia in the 1946-47, 1950-51 and 1954-55 Ashes series as a player, 1958-59 as a journalist and 1962-63 as the assistant-manager, so was well known down under and very knowledgeable about Australian conditions.