English cricket team in Australia in 1884–85

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.

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.

Squads

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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

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First Test

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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

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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

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20–24 February 1885
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
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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

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14–17 March 1885
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
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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

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21–25 March 1885
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
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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

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

Bibliography

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