According to Bradman, Fingleton and O'Reilly, Lindwall's performance in the final Test at The Oval was one of the best they had ever seen from any player.[1][2][109] English skipper Yardley won the toss and elected to bat on a rain-affected pitch, surprising most observers.[110] The damp conditions necessitated the addition of large amounts of sawdust to allow the players to keep their grip.