Australia v England 1884-85

This, the first of four matches against combined elevens of Australia, was commenced, continued, and ended in perfect cricketing weather, albeit the heat was intense on the third day. The match was exceedingly well attended, upwards of 10,000 spectetors being present on the first day, and about 6,000 on the second and third days. Owing to the one-sided character of the game when play was commenced on the last day a large attendance was not to be expected, and only three or four hundred onlookers were present. A generous supporter of cricket gave prizes to the value of 30 pounds. Briggs and Jarvis secured 10 pounds each as highest scorers on either side; and Barnes and Jones received 5 pounds each for the best analysis - English and Australian.

Being successful in the toss Shrewsbury decided his side should bat first, and went in with Scotton as usual. Scotton was not at home with the left-hander, Bruce, who twice nearly succeeded in bowling him, and with the total at 28 sent him back with the fast ball. Barnes came in, and a long stand was made. At luncheon the score was 54, and despite numerous changes of bowling the partnership added no fewer than 116 runs before a separation was effected through Barnes pulling a rather wide ball into his wicket, his innings of 58 being made by sterling cricket. Shrewsbury was caught at short slip from a full pitch at 161, his score of 72 being made in his best form, and without a mistake. Bates should have been caught when he had made five, and with the total at 191 pulled a wide ball into his wicket. With three runs added Flowers was caught at point, and with 204 on the board the sixth wicket fell, Read being bowled off his legs, while the next ball clean bowled Ulyett. A long score now appeared improbable, but with Briggs and Attewell together runs came freely till the latter was caught over the bowler's head at 259. Peel filled the vacancy and kept up his wicket while Briggs hit in most brilliant style. Of the 44 runs added before Peel was bowled, Briggs had made no fewer than 39. Stumps were then drawn for the day, Briggs being 65, not out, and the total 303 for nine wickets.

Next morning Briggs and Hunter defied all the efforts of the bowlers for exactly an hour, and added 98 runs to the score before the little Lancashire professional fell to one of the finest catches at deep square-leg ever witnessed on the ground. Horan securing the ball just as he fell flat on his back. Briggs was enthusiastically cheered for his superb innings of 121, which contained only ten singles, and was the highest score he made in Australia. He gave a couple of somewhat difficult chances - the first when he had made 104, and the second when he had complied 117, but these were the only blemishes in his splendid innings. Hunters' invaluable not out innings of 39 contained a grand straight drive for five, the ball going clean over the ladies' pavillion. At 2.15 Morris and Jones opened the batting for Australia. From the last ball of the first over Morris was out lbw, and with the total at 46 Jones was similarly dismissed. Then Horan and Trumble kept together for a long time. Five bowlers were tried, but the score reached 124 before Horan fell to point for a carefully and well-played 63, after giving a chance to Barnes when he had made 30. Jarvis filled the vacancy, and before play ceased for the day with the total at 151 for 3 wickets, Trumble was lucky in being twice missed.

On the morning of the third day the overnight not outs were not parted until 190 went up, Trumble being then well caught and bowled by Barnes for an excellent 59, despite the chances given. Pope, Marr, and Musgrove were very quickly disposed of, the seventh wicket falling at 203. Jarvis then received valuable assistance from Worrall, the two batsman putting on runs faster than any other pair on the Australian side. Both played capital cricket, and there appeared a chance of the follow-on being saved, but at last Jarvis was well caught from a lofty hit by Briggs. His masterly innings of 82 was devoid of the slightest blemish. Directly Bruce came in Worrall was clean bowled, and Robertson failing to score, the innings closed for 279. Being 122 to the bad the Colonists had to follow their innings, and Jones and Bruce were the first to go to the wickets. Bruce scored 20 out of the first 29, and then Ulyett clean bowled Jones. Horan followed, and just before time was called, fell a victim to the wicket-keeper. The score was then 66 for 2 wickets, and 56 runs were still wanted to save a single-innings reverse.

Nothing approaching a long stand was made on the fourth and last day, Trumble who filled Horan's place, was for the second time in the match caught and bowled by Barnes, the total standing at 86. Marr was caught and bowled at 95, and then Jarvis, who had been as wickets three-quarters of an hour for 10, was given out lbw. Worrall was out at 108, making the fourth batsman caught by Barnes off his own bowling. Eight more runs were put on and then the ninth wicket fell, Musgrove being out to a splendid catch at long-on. Six runs were still wanted to save a one innings' defeat when Robertson, the last man, joined Morris. Eleven were scored before Barnes clean bowled Robertson, so the Englishmen had to go in again to get 5 runs. These were obtained without disaster, and Shaw's team beat the Combined Eleven by 10 wickets.