Smokers v Non-Smokers
The first match was played at the end of the Australian tour of England in 1884, and was held at Lord's in aid of the Cricketers' Fund Friendly Society.
The Smokers, batting twice, only finished thirteen runs ahead, a total which was chased down without the need for the scheduled third day of the contest.
Aided by an Arthur Shrewsbury double century, the Non-Smokers set a new record for the highest innings in first-class cricket, accumulating 803 runs.
The Australia national cricket team toured England in 1884, playing an itinerary of 32 matches, including three designated as Tests.
Walker also wanted the British public to have an opportunity to see members of the Australian touring party play against each other, to which end Alick Bannerman, George Bonnor, Billy Murdoch and Tup Scott represented the Non-Smokers, while George Giffen, Percy McDonnell, Eugene Palmer and Frederick Spofforth played for the Smokers.
[5] Barlow continued to bat carefully, but was eventually dismissed for 39 by the left-arm spinner Edmund Peate,[1] who claimed six of the final seven wickets to finish with figures of six for 30, and end the Non-Smokers innings on 250.
[1] They fared better the following morning, but only three batsmen reached double figures—Billy Gunn, 18, Monty Bowden, 29, and Charles Clarke, 20 not out—as they were bowled out for 111 just before the lunch break.
Gunn top-scored for his side, remaining 43 not out at the end of the innings, while Charles Thornton and George Giffen both scored quickly, making 27 and 15 respectively.
[7] The match began in similar fashion to the earlier contest; the Non-Smokers won the toss, and their captain Arthur Shrewsbury chose to bat first.
[6] Fifties from Dick Houston, Harry Musgrove and Jack Worrall in the middle-order boosted the score to 803, a new record for the highest innings total in first-class cricket.
Briggs recorded a second fifty in the match, but otherwise no player made a significant impact,[6] and the game pestered towards the expected draw.
