Australia v England 1897-98

In the third test match the Englishmen were almost as badly beaten as at Melbourne, the Australians winning by an innings and 13 runs. Only one change was made in the Colonial team, Howell, who had recently bowled finely in one of the intercolonial matches, being substituted for McKibbin. The Australians outplayed their opponents at every point. Excepting the fact that they won the toss they had nothing to favour them, the wicket wearing perfectly all through the game. Very marked indeed, in the admission of the English players themselves was the superiority of the Australian bowling. The best compliment to Howell, Noble and the rest was to be found in the fact that it took MacLaren, on an unimpaired wicket, five hours and a quarter to get 124. MacLaren, Ranjitsinhji, Hayward and Hirst all played well but 278 and 282 were poor totals at Adelaide. Among the Australian batsmen Darling took the chief honours with a superb innings of 178. He made all his runs on the first day, being out in the first over next morning. His innings lasted exactly four hours and three-quarters. Hill, who played very finely, helped Darling to put on 148 for the second wicket, and Iredale was also seen at his best.