Australian cricket team in England in 1880

The Australian cricket team in England in 1880 played nine first-class matches including one Test, which was the first ever played in England. They were captained by W.L. Murdoch. The team had difficulty in arranging fixtures against the counties, and prior to the Test match in early September had played only four matches that are now rated as first-class (as well as many fixtures against weaker opposition), despite having already been in England for almost four months.

The Test was a late addition to the programme, being arranged at the instigation of the Surrey secretary, C. W. Alcock, who asked Lord Harris to put together a side. A. N. Hornby, Tom Emmett and George Ulyett refused to play, having unpleasant memories of the Sydney Riot of 1879, but Australia were also seriously handicapped, being without their star bowler, Fred Spofforth.

The Australians won 4, drew 3 and lost 2 of their first-class fixtures. Their only loss other than to England was to Nottinghamshire. That defeat was by only one wicket and came in a match in which they played a man short.

Australian tour party
The Australian team that toured England in 1880.

The Australian party consisted of: W.L. Murdoch (captain), A.C. Bannerman, J.McC. Blackham, G.J. Bonnor, H.F. Boyle, T.U. Groube, A.H. Jarvis, P.S. McDonnell, W.H. Moule, G.E. Palmer, J. Slight, F.R. Spofforth, G. Alexander (player-manager).

Tour matches
  • 17 May 1880 Derbyshire v Australians County Ground, Derby - Australia won by 8 wickets in two days, and a fill-in match was played on the third day which ended in a draw
  • 10 Jun 1880 Yorkshire v Australians Dewsbury and Savile Ground - Australia won by 5 wickets
  • 22 Jul 1880 Yorkshire v Australians Fartown, Huddersfield - Match drawn
  • 02 Aug 1880 Gloucestershire v Australians Clifton College Close Ground - Australia won by 68 runs
  • 13 Sep 1880 Sussex v Australians County Ground, Hove - Match drawn
  • 20 Sep 1880 Players of the North v Australians Park Avenue Cricket Ground, Bradford - Match drawn
  • 23 Sep 1880 Nottinghamshire v Australians Trent Bridge, Nottingham - Nottinghamshire won by 1 wicket
  • 27 Sep 1880 Players v Australians Crystal Palace Park - Australia won by 2 wickets

In addition the Australian tourists played 45 minor matches that were not of first class cricket status.

Test match
6–8 September 1880
Scorecard
v
420 (210.3 overs)
W. G. Grace 152 (294)
William Moule 3/23 (12.3 overs)
149 (75.1 overs)
Harry Boyle 36* (47)
Fred Morley 5/56 (32 overs)
57/5 (33.3 overs)
Frank Penn 27* (46)
Joey Palmer 3/35 (16.3 overs)
327 (f/o) (176.3 overs)
Billy Murdoch 153* (358)
Fred Morley 3/90 (61 overs)
England won by 5 wickets
Kennington Oval, London
Umpires: H. H. Stephenson (Eng) and Bob Thoms (Eng)

See also

External sources

Annual reviews
  • James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual (Red Lilly) 1881
  • John Lillywhite's Cricketer's Companion (Green Lilly) 1881
  • Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1881

Further reading
  • Derek Birley, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999
  • Bill Frindall, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877-1978, Wisden, 1979
  • Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993
  • Ray Robinson, On Top Down Under, Cassell, 1975
  • Ralph Barker & Irving Rosenwater, England v Australia: A compendium of Test cricket between the countries 1877-1968, Batsford, 1969, ISBN 0-7134-0317-9, pp6-7.
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