English cricket team in Australia in 1882–83

The England national cricket team toured Australia and Ceylon in 1882-83.

The team, captained by Ivo Bligh, was on a quest "to recover those Ashes", a reference to the famous RIP notice that was published in the aftermath of England's defeat by Australia at The Oval during the previous English season.

Originally, three Tests were arranged and England won two of these after losing the first. Although the actual sequence of events has never been completely confirmed, it was after England won the third Test that Ivo Bligh was somehow presented with a small urn which is believed to contain the ashes of a burnt bail. He brought this back to England and it is now the most famous exhibit in the museum at Lord's Cricket Ground. England and Australia have been contesting these mythical Ashes ever since.

The "fourth Test" of this tour was arranged "ad hoc" after the original series had been completed.

Test series summary

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/2/2662.html 1st Test] @ Melbourne Cricket Ground – Australia won by 9 wickets
* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/2/2663.html 2nd Test] @ Melbourne Cricket Ground – England won by an innings and 27 runs
* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/2/2664.html 3rd Test] @ Sydney Cricket Ground – England won by 69 runs
* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/2/2667.html "Extra" Test] @ Sydney Cricket Ground – Australia won by 4 wickets

Players

England was captained by Ivo Bligh and had Edward Tylecote as its specialist wicket-keeper, the other players being Billy Bates, Dick Barlow, Allan Steel, Charles Leslie, Walter Read, Charles Studd, Fred Morley, Billy Barnes, George Vernon and George Studd.

Australia was captained by Billy Murdoch and had Jack Blackham as wicket-keeper. Other players to represent Australia were Billy Midwinter, Alec Bannerman, George Bonnor, Tom Horan, Percy McDonnell, George Giffen, Harry Boyle, Edwin Evans, Hugh Massie, Eugene Palmer, Tom Garrett and the "Demon Bowler" himself, the man who primarily embodied the Ashes ideal, Fred Spofforth.

Ceylon

The team used Colombo as a stopover during its long sea voyage and played against local sides that were not first-class. This was the first time that an English cricket team had visited Ceylon.

External sources

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/AUS/1882-83_AUS_IFW_Blighs_XI_in_Australia_1882-83.html CricketArchive tour itinerary]

Further reading

* "The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877-1978" by Bill Frindall
* Chris Harte, "A History of Australian Cricket", Andre Deutsch, 1993