The great rivals

International cricket began with the arrival in 1861 of an English team under the captaincy of H.H. Stephenson. In their first match they easily defeated a team of 18 Victorians by an innings and 95 runs. They played another 12 matches against various colonial teams composed of 22 players in Victoria, NSW and Tasmania, losing only two. A second All England team toured Australia in 1864 again proving their superiority over the locals. In 1873-74 the third English team, under the formidable Dr W.G. Grace, came to Australia, however the first test match between the two countries was not played until 1877, when Australia won by 45 runs in Melbourne.

In 1878 Dave Gregory led the first white Australian team to England. There were no tests played on this tour, but at Lord's the Australians routed a strong MCC team in less than a day. The hero for Australia was fast bowler Fred Spofforth who took ten wickets for only 20 runs including a hat trick, earning his nickname of 'The Demon'.

Detail from Australian Cricket Team, 1882, F.R. Spofforth in centre
Albumen photoprint

The second Australian team toured England in 1880 but it was the 1882 Australians who created the enduring legend of 'The Ashes'. At The Oval in London, Australia defeated England for the first time at home. Again Spofforth was the destroyer with 14 wickets. Four days later the Sporting Times printed a mock obituary:

'In Affectionate Remembrance of English Cricket
Which Died at The Oval on the 29th August 1882
Deeply lamented by a large circle of
Sorrowing friends and acquaintances.
R.I.P.
N.B. The body will be cremated and
The ashes taken to Australia.'

During England's next tour to Australia in 1882-83, a small terracotta urn was presented to the English captain Ivo Bligh by some Melbourne ladies after England won the Test series. The urn, which contains a set of burnt bails or stumps, has come to symbolise test match supremacy between the two countries in what is cricket's most famous rivalry.