On the 6 September 1880, the Australian touring team commenced play in a hastily-arranged match at The Oval, against an England XI captained by Lord Harris, which is now deemed to be the first Test staged in England. It was won by the home side in a thrilling contest, on a difficult wicket.

Despite the authorities dismissive approach to the tour, the appeal of a match proved a massive attraction, with 20,814 spectators paid admission on the first day, and another 19,863 on the second.

In glorious sunshine, Lord Harris won the toss and batted. W.G. Grace made 152 in three hours 55 minutes, while Bunny Lucas and Lord Harris added fifties. England’s tail was polished off on day two for 420, the last six wickets falling for 16 runs. England then bowled out the Australians for 149. The Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer, Fred Morley [1850-1884], took 5 for 56 in 32 overs.

The follow-on was enforced and the Aussies made 327, making England bat again, but few doubted the result game, and England knocked off the 57 required to win by 5 wickets in 33.3overs.

The sad footnote to the match was that Fred Grace, the youngest of the three Grace brothers playing in the game. From the Oval match, he was traveling to a match in Stroud, and got soaked in the rain, slept the night on a damp mattress, and contracted pneumonia, and died within a few days.

06 September, 2019