The Australian Eleven V. Marylebone Club, at Lord’s.

Scarce c.19th hand coloured engraving of the Australian Eleven at Lords on 27 May 1878.

From May to September in 1878, the Australian cricket team made the inaugural first-class tour of England by a representative overseas side.

The Australians established their reputation for all time by a nine wicket victory inside five hours in one of the most sensational games in history. A strong MCC team, led by W. G. Grace himself, was bowled out for 33 (Spofforth 6–4, including a hat trick) and though they in turn dismissed the Aussies for 41 (Shaw 5–10, Morley 5-31), MCC in their second innings were out for just 19 (Boyle 5–3, Spofforth 5–16). The Australians needed 12 to win, which was a substantial total in the conditions, but they lost only their star batsman Charles Bannerman in getting them. Spofforth’s match analysis was 14.3 overs, five maidens, 20 runs, 11 wickets.

From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 914558
State Library New South Wales: REF1/MAV/FM4/9236-9239
State Library Victoria: PCINF AS 30-07-81 P.248