Australia v England 1882-83

The splendid bowling of Bates was the chief factor in the reverse the home team experienced in this contest, thought the defeat would undoubtedly have been less severe had the easy chance Bates gave before he had scored been accepted. The eighth wicket would have then fallen at 199, whereas the mistake allowed the Yorkshireman to compile 55, and, with Read, to carry the total to 287. Bates' wonderful analysis in the Australians' first innings was even better than it reads, as four of the runs debited to him were the result of an overthrow. His great services in the match were rewarded by a present of £31, the result of a collection at the conclusion of the game.

The English captain won the toss at twelve o'clock, on a splendid wicket, C. T. Studd and Barlow faced the bowling of Spofforth and Palmer. At 28 Studd was bowled middle stump by Palmer, and at 35 Barlow's wicket fell to the same bowler. Though Leslie and Steel were both suffering from enervating influences of the Australian climate, they succeded in making a long stand, both playing excellent cricket, though batting with less vigour than usual. At the interval (1.30) Leslie had made 31 and Steel 8, and on resuming at 2.15 the score was taken to 106 before the two were parted by a splendid piece of fielding on the part of Spofforth. The Oxonian played a ball hard to the off and started for a run. The ball went to Spofforth who, standing forward cover-point, very smartly threw down the wicket, and Leslie was run out for an almost faultless innings of 54, his only mistake being a hard return to Palmer when he had made 48. Read filled the vacancy, but at 131 lost Steel, easily caught for a well-played 39, made without a chance. Barnes joined Read, and but for a very bad throw-in by Horan, would have been run out before he had made many runs. This let-off resulted in 64 being added while the two were together. Barnes was bowled at 195, and half the wickets were down. With only four runs added Tylecote was clean bowled, and without any further addition to the score Bligh's wicket fell to a shooter. Bates became Read's next partner, and received a great piece of good luck directly he came in. He gave a very hot return to Giffen which was not accepted, and was then badly missed by Horan, two mistakes for which the Australians paid dearly. When play was adjourned for the day at six o'clock both batsmen were still in, and the score 248 for seven wickets.

On the game being continued on the Saturday at noon, a separation was not effected until 39 more runs had been added to the overnight total, Barnes being then caught for an exceedingly well-played innings, despite the chances he gave at the commencement. The score stood at 287 when he was dismissed, he and Read having put on 88 runs. The innings was then quickly finished off. At 293 Read was caught and bowled for a masterly contribution of 75, in which he had given only one chance, and that a hard one, when he had compiled 64, his fine scoring being made up of eight 4's, a 3, eight 2's and 24 singles. G. B. Studd, the last man, added a single and was then bowled, and wheh the wicket had been rolled Massie and Bannerman went in to commence the first innings of the Australians. At the luncheon interval Massie had made 26, Bannerman none, and 4 byes had been scored.

Massie was clean bowled at 56 for a brilliant 43, and when Murdoch joined Bannerman the play became so exceedingly slow that half an hour was consumed in scoring ten runs. Bannerman was clean bowled at 72, and at 75 Horan was finely caught - right-handed very high up. Then at 78 Bates accomplished the 'hat-trick', dismissing McDonnell, Giffen, and Bonnor with successive balls. Blackham was bowled at 85, and Garrett shared the same fate at 104. With an addition of ten runs a yorker got rid of Palmer, and without any increase in the total Spofforth was bowled and the innings terminated at 5.15 for 114, Murdoch carrying his bat for 19, the result of a two and a half hour stay at th wickets. Being in a minority of 180 the Australians had to follow their innings. Murdoch and Bannerman began, and when 21 runs had been scored in ten minutes the first-named was bowled. Blackham came in, and seven runs were added before the call of time, Bannerman being then 5, not out, and Blackham 6, not out.

The game was resumed at five minutes after noon on the Monday, and Blackham was clean bowled before any addition had been made to his overnight total. Bonnor filled the vacancy and at once commenced to hit grandly. The first 26 runs scored that day were all made by him, and included the 34 he contributed before he was finely caught by Morley at 66 were three hits out of the ground for 5 each. Bannerman was caught at 72, and Horan and McDonnell carried the score rapidly to 93, when another good catch by Morley got rid of the former, and half the wickets were disposed of. Luncheon was then taken with the total at 122, and upon resumption of play ten runs were added and then Giffen was caught. The remaining two wickets were accounted for in a similar way, Garrett being caught at 139, and Palmer at 153. The Englishmen thus gained a decisive victory by an innings and 27 runs.