Wisden on the Ashes

his score by four he was had by cover point. Garrett made 26, and was out at 131. And at 158one of Mr Hornby’s grubs bowled Allan. Boyle helped A. Bannerman to make up the 200, the hoisting of which numbers elicited loud cheers, but shortly after Mr Royle caught out Mr Boyle for 28, mainly made by five fours. When there was but one wicket to fall A. Bannerman played the ball on, and so was out for 73, the largest score hit in the match. Emmett bowled 59overs for 68runs, seven wides and seven wickets.

The Englishmen’s second innings was commenced by Mr Lucas and Ulyett. They had made 26when Mr Lucas was out from a capital catch by Boyle. Four wickets were down for 34; but Lord Harris and Mr Royle stayed a bit; just prior to time Lord Harris was caught for 36– another good hit of batting, and the top score of that innings.

On the third day the English innings was resumed by Mr Mackinnon and Mr Absolom; neither stayed, but Emmett and Mr Schultz did, the latter making 20, Emmett taking his bat out for 24; and so the score was hit to 160, and the one-innings defeat averted by these two batsmen.

Toss: England. England 113(C. A. Absolom 52, F. R. Spofforth 6-48) and 160(F. R. Spofforth 7-62);

Australia 256(A. C. Bannerman 73, T. Emmett 7-68) and 19-0.

Australia v England1880

Wisdendid not carry a full review of Australia’s 1880tour of England – the practice of summing up tours in that way did not start until 1884. However, there is a brief report of the solitary Test played – the first one on English soil, at The Oval. It was prefaced by an apologetic note from “the compiler”, regretting the pressure of space prevented him from including a longer report of “this famous contest”.

For the first time, England took on Australia with a fully representative side. W. G. Grace, the biggest name in 19th-century cricket, scored 152of England’s imposing 420, then Nottinghamshire’s fast left-armer Fred Morley took 5for 56as Australia were shot out for 149 . They did better in the follow-on – skipper Billy Murdoch made 153not out – but England were left with a smallish target. Although both of W. G.’s brothers made ducks in their only Test (Fred Grace died later that year), England won by five wickets.

In all, the Australians played 37matches, winning 21, losing four and drawing 12. Apart from the Test, their only first-class defeat came at the hands of Nottinghamshire.

Only Test At The Oval, September 6, 7, 8, 1880. England won by five wickets.

The compiler much regrets that the limited space allotted to the Australians’ matches precludes the possibility of giving a lengthened account of this famous contest. He must therefore rest content to put on record the following facts anent the match:

That in the history of the game no contest has created such worldwide interest; that the attendances on the first and second days were the largest ever seen at a cricket match; that 20,814persons passed through the turnstiles on Monday, 19,863on the Tuesday, and

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3 ,751on the Wednesday; that fine weather favoured the match from start to finish; that the wickets were faultless; that Mr Murdoch’s magnificent innings of 153not out was made without a chance, and contained one five, 18fours, three threes, 13twos and 41 singles; that Mr W. G. Grace’s equally grand innings was made with only one hard chance, and comprised 12fours, ten threes, 14twos, and 46singles; that superb batting was also shown by Mr Lucas, Lord Harris, Mr McDonnell, and Mr Steel; that the fielding and wicket-keeping on both sides was splendid; that a marvellous change in the aspect of the game was effected on the last day; that universal regret was felt at the unavoidable absence of Mr Spofforth; and that England won the match by five wickets.

Toss: England. England 420(W. G. Grace 152, A. P. Lucas 55, Lord Harris 52) and 57-5;

Australia 149(F. Morley 5-56) and 327(W. L. Murdoch 153*).

Australia v England1881‒82

In 1881–82three prominent English professionals – James Lillywhite, Arthur Shrewsbury and Alfred Shaw, who captained the side – arranged the most ambitious cricket tour to that date, including 30matches in America, Australia and New Zealand. Wisdenrecords that the team arrived in Sydney by the steamship Australia, which made the fastest trip on record from San Francisco.

There were four matches against a full Australian side, and these have come to be regarded as Test matches. The fact that this was a privately arranged trip probably explains the absence of a proper tour report in Wisden, although there are reports of the individual Tests played by what the Almanack calls “Shaw’s XI”. Australia won two of the matches, and two were drawn. It was a strongish England side, although none of the leading amateur players of the day, such as W. G. Grace, were there. The side did include Billy Midwinter, who had played for Australia in the first Test of all, and remains the only player to appear on both sides in England–Australia Tests.

The Australian stars were Tom Horan and Percy McDonnell, who both made centuries, and “Joey” Palmer, who took 24wickets in the four Tests, including 11for 165in the second one (which Australia won), the first to be played at Sydney. For England, George Ulyett hit 149in the fourth match – but in vain, as rain washed out the final day’s play.

In all the Englishmen played 18matches in Australia, winning eight and losing three, seven in New Zealand and five in America. Billy Bates and Edmund Peate both took 30 wickets in the first-class matches, while George Ulyett topped the batting averages with 549 runs at 39.21.

First Test At Melbourne, December 31, 1881, January 2, 3, 4, 1882. Drawn.

The departure of the steamer which was to take Shaw’s team to New Zealand was delayed by the steamship authorities from the morning of January 4till 3.45in the afternoon in the hope that this very important match might be concluded. But all to no purpose, as the heavy scoring all round necessitated the game being drawn

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