The first cricket Test match, between an English side led by James Lillywhite, junior, and an Australian side composed from the Victoria and New South Wales teams, was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877. This is the report of the fourth day of the match from the Sydney Morning Herald of March 20, 1877. The Australian Combined Eleven resumed the day on 89 for 9 in their second innings, before action of a familiar ilk—a substantial Australian last wicket stand followed by an English batting collapse—ensued.

The All-England Eleven v. Combined Eleven

MELBOURNE, MONDAY.

The match commenced to-day by Kendall and Hodges resuming the innings to the bowling of Shaw and Ulyett. Kendall led off with a 4 off Ulyett, then another 4, and Lillywhite went on. Kendall soon put together a dozen, and Hodges added 5 to his previous score, and this, with 4 from byes, brought the score up to 104. Hodges was then bowled by Lillywhite for 8, and Kendall carried his bat out for 17. The Englishmen commenced their second innings with Hill and Greenwood to the bowling of Kendall and Midwinter. Hill was soon caught by Thompson at mid-on without scoring, and Jupp followed. The two played carefully, but soon separated, Greenwood being caught by Midwinter for 5 off Kendall. Jupp was given out leg before wicket, bowled by Midwinter, when he had scored 4. Charlwood played well, but the bowling was too good, and runs were obtained very slowly. When Charlwood had put 13 together he was beautifully bowled by Kendall with a splendid ball, which broke in. Four men were now out for 22 runs. Selby had a long life, and scored pretty rapidly, getting several fours, and with Ulyett ran up a good score. The bowling, however, was too good to be trifled with, and the fielding all round was good. After lunch Ulyett lost his wicket, having been bowled by Kendall for 24. Shaw made 2, and was well stumped by Blackham off Kendall. Selby, after playing a good innings, and getting runs whenever he could, made 38. The match now looked a gift for the combined team, all the best men having been disposed of. Armitage was caught by Blackham, bowled Kendall, for 3. Dave Gregory put himself on, but was knocked about, and was soon replaced by Garrett, who fared no better. Hodges was then tried at the upper end, and soon had Selby caught by Horan at long-on. Hodges bowled splendidly; his average for a long time being five maidens and one wicket. Lillywhite was bowled by Hodges for 4, and Emmett was bowled by Kendall for 9, Southerton not out 1. Byes 4, leg-bye 1—total, 108, leaving the combined team winners by 45 runs. There was great excitement at the close, and vociferous cheering. The bowling to-day was really splendid, and the fielding excellent—especially Blackham’s wicket keeping. The following is the bowling analysis:—English second innings, Kendall, 133 balls, 12 maidens, 55 runs, 7 wickets; Midwinter, 76 balls, 7 maidens, 23 runs, 1 wicket; D. Gregory, 20 balls, 1 maiden, 9 runs; Garrett, 8 balls, 9 runs; Hodges, 28 balls, 5 maidens, 7 runs, 2 wickets. Kendall was kept on all through the day.

The following is the complete score:—

• COMBINED ELEVEN—FIRST INNINGS
• Thompson, B Hill……….1
• Horan, c Hill, b Shaw……….12
• D. Gregory, run out……….1
• B. B. Cooper, b Southerton……….15
• Midwinter, c Ulyett, b Southerton……….5
• E. Gregory, c Greenwood, b Lillywhite……….0
• C. Bannerman, not out……….165
• Blackham, b Southerton……….17
• Kendall, c Southerton, b Shaw……….3
• Hodges, b Shaw……….0
• Garrett, not out……….18
• Sundries……….8
• Total……….245.
• ALL-ENGLAND ELEVEN—FIRST INNINGS
• Jupp, l b w, b Garrett……….63
• Selby, c Cooper, b Hodges……….7
• Charlwood, c Blackham, b Midwinter……….36
• Ulyett, l b w, b Thompson……….10
• Greenwood, c E. Gregory, b Midwinter……….1
• Armitage, c Blackham, b Midwinter……….9
• Shaw, b Midwinter……….10
• Emmett, b Midwinter……….8
• Lillywhite, c and b Kendall……….10
• Southerton, c Cooper, b Garrett……….6
• Hill, not out……….35
• Sundries……….1
• Total……….196
• COMBINED ELEVEN—SECOND INNINGS
• Bannerman, b Ulyett……….4
• Thompson, c Emmett, b Shaw……….7
• Horan, c Selby, b Hill……….20
• Garrett, c Emmett, b Shaw……….0
• Cooper, b Shaw……….3
• E. Gregory, c Emmett, b Ulyett……….11
• Blackham, l b w, b Shaw……….6
• Midwinter, c Southerton, b Ulyett……….17
• D. Gregory, b Shaw……….3
• Kendall, not out……….17
• Hodges, b Lillywhite……….8
• Sundries……….4
• Total……….104
• ALL-ENGLAND ELEVEN—SECOND INNINGS
• Hill, c Thompson, b Kendall……….0
• Greenwood, c Midwinter, b Kendall……….5
• Jupp, l b w, b Midwinter……….4
• Charlwood, b Kendall……….13
• Ulyett, b Kendall……….24
• Shaw, st Blackham, b Kendall……….2
• Selby, c Horan, b Hodges……….38
• Armitage, c Blackham, b Kendall……….3
• Lillywhite, b Hodges……….4
• Emmett, b Kendall……….9
• Southerton, not out……….1
• Sundries……….5
• Total……….108

Source Sydney Morning Herald [http://www.smh.com.au/]

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