History of Test cricket from 1890 to 1900
During the 19th century England played in all the Tests, which were mostly against Australia, though a few were against what tended to be a very weak South African XI.
This series marked the return of Billy Murdoch as Australia's leader, and pitched him against The Champion, WG Grace.
The first Test was the most eagerly anticipated match of the English summer, with 30,279 spectators watching it over the 3 days, though Stoddart and Briggs did not play.
The second Test at the Oval was particularly tense, partly, no doubt, because Andrew Stoddart (an amateur) chose to play for Middlesex, whilst Peel and Ulyett (professionals) were claimed by Yorkshire.
In the second, after conceding a first innings deficit of 162 runs, scored 391 to leave England needing 230 to win.
Torrential rain then ruined the pitch for further play and Australia collapsed twice to record a massive defeat by an innings and 230 runs.
Australia replied with 269 and England moved to 234 for 8 declared before rain tumbled down and no further play was possible.
England's strong side won the second Test, aided by a 151 first wicket partnership between Stoddart and the returning Grace.
The Aussies put up much brave resistance and scored 349, but this still equated to an innings defeat, and England had retained the Ashes.
In 1894/5 Andrew Stoddart led a team to Australia that played five Tests in a see-saw series that saw England win the Ashes by 3 games to 2.
The first Test started as a high-scoring affair, with Australia making a then-record 586 runs thanks to 201 from Syd Gregory and 161 from George Giffen.
Rain fell overnight, and Australia allowed play to be delayed for 20 minutes as a couple of England players, including slow left-arm spinner Bobby Peel had not reached the ground on time because they were hungover.
Australia fell 10 short, with Peel taking 6 wickets and Briggs 3 on a pitch that had been made helpful by the rain.
After being put into bat in the first instance of a Test captain electing to field after winning the toss, England made only 75.
Later, in the third Test Australia (238 and 411) finally rammed home the advantage after dismissing England cheaply (124 and 143) to win by 382 runs.
In the fourth Test England chose to field after winning the toss, collapsed twice in one day, scoring only 65 and 72 to lose by an innings.
George Giffen could consider himself unfortunate to finish on the losing side, having contributed 475 runs at an average of 52.77 and 34 wickets at 24.11.
"Terror" Turner had the best average of a specialist bowler on either side, taking 18 wickets at 19.38, but he only played in three Tests, missing the third match with a chill and surprisingly being dropped for the last.
England's third tour of South Africa was a very one-sided series that was not elevated to Test status until later.
The highlight of the first Test was South Africa's dismissal for a record low of 30 in their second innings, with George Lohmann taking 8 wickets for 7 runs, including a hat-trick.
Five England players (that is, professionals) threatened strike action before the start of the third Test at the Oval, Surrey's home ground, because of a dispute over match fees.
The Surrey committee did not budge, and they put out the following statement on 10 August, the opening day of the Test: Abel, Hayward and Richardson relented, but Gunn and Lohmann refused to play.
on the first day, caused 24 wickets to fall on the second, and led to Australia being dismissed for their lowest total, 44 all out chasing of 111.
The first Test was delayed, at the instigation of the SCG to allow time for Ranjitsinhji to recover from tonsillitis and because Andrew Stoddart's mother had died.
There was a moment of controversy when Australian batsman Charlie McLeod was run out by Bill Storer when he left his crease after being bowled by a no-ball, when his deafness prevented him from hearing the umpire's call.
Joe Darling became the first man to score three centuries in a Test series with 160 out of Australia's 276 runs they needed to win.
It comprised 3 active players: Lord Hawke, WG Grace and HW Bainbridge the captain of Warwickshire.
Prior to this, England teams for home Tests had been chosen by the club on whose ground the match was to be played.
But he could no longer bend down, so his fielding was poor, and the Nottinghamshire crowd jeered and heckled him for it every time a ball went past him at point.
Between those Tests, Albert Trott, playing for the Marylebone Cricket Club against the Australians, notably hit a six off the bowling of Monty Noble that went over the pavilion at Lord's.
