He scored 167 for a Western Australia Combined XI against the MCC at the start of the 1936–37 season, and played in the First and Second Tests against England. However, he scored only 8 runs, Australia lost both matches, and he lost his place in the Test team. He returned to form with 136 and 27 not out against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield and won back his Test place. The series was level two-all, and Australia needed to win to retain The Ashes, as the match was to be played to a finish regardless of time. Badcock batted at number five and scored 118, adding 161 for the fifth wicket with Ross Gregory. Australia won by an innings.