User:Maypm/Players of the First Ashes Test 1882-83



The first Ashes Test was held in Australia between England and Australia from December 1882 to January 1883. The English team consisted of twelve players captained by Ivo Bligh. The Australian team was made up of members drawn from the team that had recently won the Test played in England under the captaincy of Billy Murdoch. This was the first time that the term “the ashes” was associated with cricket. It originated in 1882 after the defeat of the English Cricket team at Kensington Oval in London. A few days later after this defeat a mock obituary notice appeared in the Sporting Times which read: “In affectionate remembrance of English Cricket which died at the Oval on 29th August 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. RIP. NB. The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” " It had previously been arranged that a cricketing team captained by Ivo Bligh would tour Australia in 1882-1883. This team then became the English hope of victory. Before leaving England for Australia, Bligh pledged to bring back “The Ashes” of English cricket.

Overview




The first Test match of this Series was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 December 1882 and at the close of play on the third day Australia was victorious by nine wickets. The next Test was held on 19-22 January 1883 again at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and this time the English won. The Third and deciding Test was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground from 26 to 30 January. The photo above shows the play between Australia and England during this Third Test. The English won and it was generally agreed that they had won the First Ashes Series.

A booklet called “St Ivo and the Ashes” was written by R. D. Beetson outlining the full record of the First Ashes matches. In the introduction Beetson says.


 * "The Australian Cricket Season saw the arrival in the antipodes of the Hon. Ivo Bligh and his team, who have since won such golden opinions from all classes in all the colonies they visited during their tour.


 * In replying to the toast of “The English Team,” on his arrival in Melbourne, Mr. Bligh humorously declared that he and his eleven had come to “beard the kangaroo in his den, and try to recover those ashes.”

Beetson outlined in a humorous manner the various matches played during the Ashes Test. His description of the last day of the Series is as follows.


 * "On the morning of the fourth day, with 153 to get to win, a hot sun glowing overhead, and a “baked” wicket, Giffen and Bannerman led the van. Giffen was bowled for 11, and the stonewaller well caught at point for 5. Murdoch was caught for a-” duck’s egg,” and the “ashes” floated loosely on Australian soil. Then Horan was run out for 8, and Massie caught for 11. Six wickets for 33 runs; and “all Lombard-street to a China orange” that the “ashes” were recovered. Blackham and Bonner pulled the score up to 56, when Barlow scattered the “giant’s” timbers. Spofforth filled the gap, and, with the score at 72, put one into Steel’s hands, and sought the inner recesses of the pavilion. Barlow next bowled Blackham for 26, and Garrett for a “duck’s egg,” Palmer carrying his bat out for 2; and the match was over, won by the Englishmen by 69 runs."

The Ashes Urn was presented to the English Cricket Team during this Series. It is generally agreed that it was given to the English Captain Ivo Bligh as a personal memento by two ladies of Melbourne at the historic mansion called Rupertswood. These two ladies were Lady Janet Clarke who lived at Rupertswood and Florence Morphy who later married Ivo Bligh.

The English Team
The quick brown fox