The close 6 run victory by Australia in the 3rd test was described by Harry Hilliard as the most exciting match ever played in Australia.

The England cricket team in Australia in 1884–85 was generally known as Alfred Shaw's XI after its main organiser. The team played 8 first-class matches, including the five matches in the Test series, winning 6 and losing 2.

Squads

The party comprised 13 players, all of them professionals: Arthur Shrewsbury, Billy Barnes, William Attewell, William Scotton, Wilfred Flowers and Alfred Shaw (all Nottinghamshire); Billy Bates, Joe Hunter, Bobby Peel and George Ulyett (all Yorkshire); Johnny Briggs (Lancashire); Maurice Read (Surrey); and James Lillywhite (Sussex).

Australia's team for the second Test showed eleven changes as a result of the 1884 touring team (who had contested the 1st Test) demanding fifty per cent of the gate money for this match. This ended Jack Blackham's run as a player in each of Australia's first 17 Test matches.

 England  Australia

Matches

First Test

12–16 December 1884
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
v
243 (149.1 overs)
Percy McDonnell 124
Billy Bates 5/31 (24.1 overs)
369 (243.2 overs)
Billy Barnes 134
Eugene Palmer 5/81 (73 overs)
191 (116.1 overs)
Percy McDonnell 83
Bobby Peel 5/51 (40.1 overs)
67/2 (31 overs)
Billy Barnes 28
Harry Boyle 1/21 (9 overs)
England won by 8 wickets
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Umpires: Tom Cole (Aus) and Isaac Fisher (Aus)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to bat
  • 14 December was taken as a rest day
  • 4 balls per over

Second Test

1–5 January 1885
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
v
401 (216.2 overs)
Johnny Briggs 121
Sammy Jones 4/47 (25.2 overs)
279 (274.1 overs)
Affie Jarvis 82
Billy Barnes 3/50 (50 overs)
7/0 (1.1 overs)
William Scotton 7*
Alfred Marr 0/3 (1 over)
126 (114.3 overs) (f/o)
William Bruce 45
Billy Barnes 6/31 (38.3 overs)
England won by 10 wickets
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: Edward Elliott (Aus) and James Lillywhite (Eng)
  • England won the toss and elected to bat
  • 4 January was taken as a rest day
  • 4 balls per over

Third Test

20–24 February 1885
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
v
181 (167.2 overs)
Tom Garrett 51
Wilfred Flowers 5/46 (46 overs)
133 (95.1 overs)
Wilfred Flowers 24
Tom Horan 6/40 (37.1 overs)
165 (157 overs)
Tom Horan 36
Billy Bates 5/24 (20 overs)
207 (111.1 overs)
Wilfred Flowers, Maurice Read 56
Fred Spofforth 6/90 (48.1 overs)
Australia won by 6 runs
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Umpires: Edward Elliott (Aus) and John Payne (Aus)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to bat
  • 22 February was taken as a rest day
  • 4 balls per over

Fourth Test

14–17 March 1885
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
v
269 (126 overs)
Billy Bates 64
George Giffen 7/117 (52 overs)
309 (169.3 overs)
George Bonnor 128
Billy Barnes 4/61 (35.3 overs)
77 (39.1 overs)
Billy Barnes 20
Fred Spofforth 5/30 (20 overs)
38/2 (24.3 overs)
Sammy Jones 15*
Billy Barnes 1/15 (9 overs)
Australia won by 8 wickets
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Umpires: Edward Elliott (Aus) and Patrick McShane (Aus)
  • England won the toss and elected to bat
  • 15 March was taken as a rest day
  • 4 balls per over
  • The match was played on two different pitches, with each team having the choice of which pitch to use for their second innings.[1]

Fifth Test

21–25 March 1885
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
v
163 (106 overs)
Fred Spofforth 50
George Ulyett 4/52 (23 overs)
386 (221.3 overs)
Arthur Shrewsbury 105*
John Trumble 3/29 (28 overs)
125 (102.1 overs)
William Bruce 35
William Attewell 3/24 (36.1 overs)
England won by an innings and 98 runs
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: George Hodges and James Philips (Aus)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to bat
  • 22 March was taken as a rest day
  • 4 balls per over

References

  1. ↑ "India's 36 all out, and other dramatic finishes to Tests". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 May 2022.

Bibliography

  • Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993
  • Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1886


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