England v Australia 1901-02

Played at Sydney, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, February 14, 15, 17, 18.- Of all the matches during the tour this was, from the Englishmen's point of view, the most disappointing. They made a wonderful start, their score standing at 179 with only one wicket down, but at the end of the first day they had lost six wickets for 266 runs. MacLaren, quite invincible on the Sydney ground, played a very fine innings and Tyldesley was also at his best. The next day the England innings finished for 317 and the Australians lost five wickets for 148, MacLaren's side being thus still in a very flattering position. From this point, however, all the honours were with Australia. There was only a difference of eighteen runs on the first innings, and the Englishmen, on going in for the second time, collapses before the bowling of Noble and Saunders, never recovering from MacLaren's early downfall. The reports cabled to England said that the wicket was perfect, but it probably gave the bowlers some assistance. The innings ended on the fourth morning of the match, and the Australians, only set to get 118, gained a brilliant victory by seven wickets. This their third win in the series of Test matches gave Australia the rubber.