The Test match between Australia and England held at The Oval on August 28 and 29, 1882, is one of the most significant matches in the history of cricket. This match not only showcased a thrilling contest between the two cricketing nations but also led to the birth of the iconic Ashes series.
Cricket had been a well-established sport in England by the late 19th century, and the rivalry between England and Australia had already begun to take shape. The Australian team toured England in 1882 with the intent of proving their cricketing prowess against the more seasoned English side.
The Australians were led by their captain Billy Murdoch, and their squad included talented players such as Frederick Spofforth, also known as “The Demon Bowler,” whose bowling skills had already garnered much attention.
The English team, captained by A. N. Hornby, was considered the favourite, given their strong batting lineup featuring the legendary W.G. Grace. England’s bowling attack was formidable, with players like Dick Barlow and Ted Peate expected to trouble the Australian batsmen.
The stage was set for a historic encounter at The Oval, and cricket fans at The Oval were eagerly waiting the result, and yet, very confident in how they thought the winners would be.
First Innings: Australia
Australia won the toss and decided to bat … and that was pretty much the only positive to come out of their first innings.
Alec Bannerman and Hugh Massie opened, but Massie was first out, bowled by Ulyett, one of six batsmen who would be out bowled in the innings. Captain, Billy Murdoch arrived at the crease, but he too was bowled by Ted Peate, with the score on 21.
Only one more was added before George Bonnor was also out bowled, and when opener Alec Bannerman’s 87 ball innings was over for only 9 runs, Australia was in trouble at 4/26.
Two batsmen were dismissed on 30, and for a few moments, Tom Garrett and Jack Blackham managed to stabilize the innings to a slight degree, but a change in bowling led to Garrett being caught for 14 just after lunch.
While rain stopped play for a little while, it didn’t derail England’s surge through Australia’s lineup. The final batsman was out with the score on 63 off 80 four ball overs.
Jack Blackham top scored with 17, while Dick Barlow (5/19) and Ted Peate (4/31) did the vast majority of the damage.
First Innings: England
England’s response began at 3:30 PM with W. G. Grace and Dick Barlow. The Australian bowlers, led by Frederick Spofforth, bowled with determination and skill. Spofforth’s fiery pace and ability to swing the ball made life difficult for the English batsmen.
He dismissed W. G. Grace for 13, and Dick Barlow for 18. A partnership between Lucas and George Ulyett took England to 50 before Ulyett was stumped off Spofforth for 26.
Wickets fell on 59 and 60. The sixth wicket fell with England having equalled Australia’s score of 63.
Some important runs by Maurice Red (19*) and Allan Steel (14) helped England eke out a lead of 38, when they were dismissed for 101. Given the struggles the batsmen were having, even such a small lead was seen as vitally important.
Fred Spofforth, 1897 Credit: "From photo by E. Hawkins & Co., Brighton", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Spofforth was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 7/46, bowling non-stop throughout the innings.
Second Innings: Australia
Behind by 38 on the first innings, Australia knocked off those runs without losing a wicket. Hugh Massie played an attacking gem of an innings in the context of the game, scoring 55 off just 60 balls.
But once Massie was first out for 55 with the score on 66, the wheels fell off the Australian innings. England opening bowler, Ted Peate, was again important in restricting Australia’s score, taking 4/40, and once Massie was dismissed, it was left to captain Billy Murdoch to try and hold the innings together. Coming in at the fall of the 2nd wicket, Murdoch was 9th out for 29.
Australia lost 10 wickets for 56 runs to finish with 122, leaving England a target of just 85 runs.
Second Innings: England
England’s chase began with high hopes, but the Australian bowlers kept fighting. Spofforth had opener and English captain Monkey Hornby, and number 3 Dick Barlow out, both bowled, with the score on 15. W. G. Grace, looking unbothered, and George Ulyett, took the score to 51.
With just 34 runs needed to win and still 8 wickets to take, England well and truly had the upper hand.
W. G. Grace, 1885 See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
However, Spofforth had Ulyett caught by the wicket keeper with the score on 51, and then W. G. Grace was dismissed for 32 by Harry Boyle with the score now 53.
Spofforth then had Alfred Lyttelton out bowled for 12, with the score now 66, Allan Steel caught and bowled for duck with the score on 70, Bunny Lucas bowled for a painstaking 5, with the score on 75.
Eight wickets had fallen, ten more runs were still required, and Spofforth had taken 7 of them.
The tension at the ground was intense. There are stories (how true they are, we’re not sure) of people fainting because of the tense scenes.
The ninth wicket fell with the score still 75, this time to Harry Boyle, and then the tenth and final wicket, Ted Peate fell with the score on 77.
It was a remarkable comeback victory for the Australians, one against what was clearly a statistically better English side.
The hero, once again, was Spofforth, his 7/44 combining with his almost identical first innings effort of 7/46 to give him 14 wickets for the match.
Legacy of the Test Match: Birth of the Ashes
The aftermath of this historic match had a profound impact on the cricketing world. England’s unexpected defeat led to the creation of one of the most iconic symbols in cricket history—the Ashes.
The Sporting Times, a British newspaper, published a satirical obituary lamenting the death of English cricket. The obituary famously declared that “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia,” giving birth to the term “The Ashes.”
The Ashes, created 1882 danielgreef/Dan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This match established the foundation for the enduring rivalry between England and Australia. The Ashes series became a prestigious and fiercely contested competition, symbolizing the pride and competitive spirit of both nations. The small urn, believed to contain the ashes of a wooden bail, became the coveted trophy awarded to the series winner, further adding to the lore and tradition of the Ashes.
Australia’s victory at The Oval in 1882 showcased their resilience and determination. Despite being considered underdogs, they demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest level and emerged victorious against a formidable English side. Frederick Spofforth’s exceptional bowling performance in both innings remains one of the standout achievements in the history of Test cricket.
The Ashes series has since produced countless memorable moments, thrilling matches, and legendary performances. It has captivated cricket fans worldwide and continues to be one of the most anticipated and celebrated contests in the sport. The 1882 Test match at The Oval laid the groundwork for this rich tradition, and its legacy endures as a testament to the competitive spirit and camaraderie that define cricket.