Mike Smith led the MCC tour of Australia in 1965–66 determined not only to regain the Ashes, but to play entertaining cricket. Barrington's mother had been ill and his father-in-law died when he reached Australia. He was in poor form until the arrived at this favourite venue—the Adelaide Oval—where he made 51 and 69 in the MCC's 6 wicket win over South Australia. At the MCG he took 4/24 to spin out the Victorian tail and hit 158 in the run chase that the tourists lost by 32 runs, "an innings of rugged, fighting grandeur".