by The Professor » Sun Feb 19, 2017 10:19 am
On this day in 1882 Australia and England had a day of rest so we recount England's epic tour of Australia that began all the way back in November of the year before.
By the time England played their first Test with Australia, they had already played 14 exhibition matches under the banner of IFW Bligh's XI. Frustratingly for the tourists six of the first eight matches ended in a draw or an abandoned game, meaning that the English side went from 10th November to 8th January with only an innings and 15 run victory over Maitland and a ten wicket victory over Victoria to their name.
The new year brought better luck with a run of four games that IFW Bligh's XI all won comfortably. The largest margin of victory came against Queensland in a game that started on the 2nd February which the English side won by an innings and 154 runs. Walter Read top scored in that match with 84.
Read was by far the most impressive player in the warm up games. He top scored 4 times; getting 64 in the drawn game against Newcastle, 55 in the drawn game against Ballarat, 84 v Queensland and 66 v Maryborough. He also contributed with the ball getting 4/28 v Victoria. It was a disappointment to the English set up that he only managed 19, 29 and no wickets in the first Test.
Up until the first Test, the English side successfully vanquished Victoria, Maitland, North Tasmania, South Tasmania, Queensland and Maryborough - all emphatically.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."