Among my cricketing memorabilia I found a sketch book about the M.C.C. tour to Australia in 1903-04. The first test was at Sydney from 11-17 December 1903.The match was described by Wisden as 'a finer game has rarely been seen in Australia'. There was some fine batting in which 1541 runs were scored in the match which was won by England by 5 wickets.
The Australians won the toss and batted first .Devon born Arnold soon struck twice having both openers caught. Three wickets down for 12 then the Australian captain ,Noble and Armstrong set about restoring the innings by adding 106 for the 4th wicket. At the close on the first day the Australians score stood at 259 for 6.
After rain during the night the Australian innings ended at 285.Hirst and Rhodes took two wickets apiece. England lost two quick wickets with Warner going for a duck. When Foster and Braund came together the innings began to flourish. At the end of the second day the score was 243 for 4.The next day they took their partnership to 192 when Braund was bowled by Howell for 102.Hirst, Bosanquet and Lilley both went quickly and the score stood at 332 for 8.Then came two stands of 115 between Foster and Relf and 130 between Forster and Rhodes .Foster was last man out having scored
287 in 7 hours of batting with 38 fours. It was his first innings in Test cricket. Rhodes finished on 40 not out.
Australia with a deficit of 292 staged a great fight back. Rather surprisingly they changed their batting order and opened with Gregory and Kelly. Trumper opened the batting in the first innings but came in fifth in the second. He scored 185 not out .He batted for ten minutes under four hours and hit 25 fours.The innings ended at 485 leaving England 194 to win. Wilfred Rhodes was the outstanding bowler sending down 40.2 overs with 10maidens and took 5 for 94.
Tom Haywood stood firm as Warner 8,Tyldesley 9 Foster 19 and Braund all fell at the other end as England slipped to 82 for 4.Hirst was then missed before he had scored but when on to take the score to 181 with Hayward when the latter was out for 91 by then the match was won. Hirst finished
on 60 not out.
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