International cricket tour
The close 6 run victory by Australia in the 3rd test was described by Harry Hilliard as the most exciting match ever played in Australia.
The England cricket team in Australia in 1884–85 was generally known as Alfred Shaw's XI after its main organiser. The team played 8 first-class matches, including the five matches in the Test series, winning 6 and losing 2.
Squads
The party comprised 13 players, all of them professionals: Arthur Shrewsbury , Billy Barnes , William Attewell , William Scotton , Wilfred Flowers and Alfred Shaw (all Nottinghamshire ); Billy Bates , Joe Hunter , Bobby Peel and George Ulyett (all Yorkshire ); Johnny Briggs (Lancashire ); Maurice Read (Surrey ); and James Lillywhite (Sussex ).
Australia's team for the second Test showed eleven changes as a result of the 1884 touring team (who had contested the 1st Test) demanding fifty per cent of the gate money for this match. This ended Jack Blackham 's run as a player in each of Australia's first 17 Test matches.
Matches
First Test
Australia won the toss and elected to bat
14 December was taken as a rest day
4 balls per over
Second Test
England won the toss and elected to bat
4 January was taken as a rest day
4 balls per over
Third Test
Australia won the toss and elected to bat
22 February was taken as a rest day
4 balls per over
Fourth Test
England won the toss and elected to bat
15 March was taken as a rest day
4 balls per over
The match was played on two different pitches, with each team having the choice of which pitch to use for their second innings.[ 1]
Fifth Test
Australia won the toss and elected to bat
22 March was taken as a rest day
4 balls per over
References
Bibliography
Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket , Andre Deutsch, 1993
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1886
1850 1900 1950 2000
Non-Ashes Australia v England Test series
Matches in white background were played in England, yellow – in Australia.
(c)* denotes acting captain for 1st Test
(c)** denotes acting captain for 3rd Test
(c)*** denotes acting captain for 4th Test
Italics denotes player was selected for squad however did not play in any games
International cricket tours of Australia
Test and LOI tours
Afghanistan Bangladesh England India New Zealand Pakistan South Africa Sri Lanka West Indies Zimbabwe
Other tours
Afghanistan Australian Forces English England Lions Fijian Ireland Multi-national Nepal New Zealand PNG Scotland Sri Lanka UAE World Series Cricket (West Indies & World XI)Pakistan A
§: Toured New Zealand as well as Australia