Ashes - The Complete History

The first Series of the new century arrived, then went, then arrived again! The MCC agreed to make the arrangements and send a side to Australia in 1901 - 1902, but then pulled out due to problems in raising a representative side. Rhodes and Hirst, the best bowlers of the English summer were refused permission to go by their Yorkshire Committee and in the end the MCC had to admit defeat. MacLaren was then asked to get a side together, and although he managed to get some reasonable players, they were never going to offer any great resistance to the Australians.

England arrived in Australia and made their way to Sydney for the first Test. It was there that they shocked everyone in batting first and posting a score of 464, thanks to a great start by MacLaren and Hayward of 154 for the first wicket. It was an unknown who stole the light in Australia's first innings, Sydney Barnes, the English bowler. He had played most of his cricket for Rishton and Burnley in the Lancashire league and was never expected to perform at Test level! Barnes eventually finished the series by taking 19 wickets and an average of only 17 runs, the best return by any bowler in the series! Australia were forced to follow on after only scoring 168 in the first innings, and lost the match by an innings and 124 runs when they were dismissed for 172 in the second.

Melbourne hosted the 2nd match of the series and MacLaren won the toss and put Australia in to bat on a very sticky wicket. Barnes took Trumper's wicket with the second ball and he and Blythe bowled Australia out for 112. When England went in to bat, conditions hadn't improved and they soon found themselves getting ready to field again when Noble (7 - 17) and Trumble bowled them out for only 61. At the end of the day however, Australia had collapsed to 5 for 48, Barnes taking another 4 wickets. Due to the conditions, the Australian captain had held the better batsmen back and on the second day they shone. Clem Hill made 99, (he became the first to be dismissed on this score) and Reg Duff, batting at number 10 and on his debut, scored a century. One other interesting fact about this innings was that it gave cricket its first last wicket century stand of 120, between Duff and Armstrong (also on debut). In reply to Australia's 353, England made 175 and lost the match by an innings and 229 runs. Trumble took a hat trick in the second innings. Noble took 13 wickets in the match and could have been more if it hadn't been for Trumble cleaning up the tail!

England made 388 in their first innings at Adelaide, Braund getting a century. Australia were then dismissed for 321, a lead of 67runs. Unfortunately, Barnes had had to retire after seven overs due to a knee injury and was unable to play in the rest of the series. Because England were a bowler short they struggled, even more so when Blythe injured his finger. Australia then became the first side to score 300 in the 4th innings to win a Test. After his 99 in the last Test, Hill then went on to score 98 and 97 in his next two innings!

The final two Tests held at Melbourne then Sydney were keenly contested, but at the end of the day Australia just had more depth in reserve and won the series 4 games to 1, the second time they had won the Ashes by that margin, to date. Noble and Trumble took 60 wickets between them in the series and was the first real introduction to the art of swing bowling.

Trumble also captained his side in the last two Tests.

Clem Hill scored a total of 521 runs in the series at an average of 52.10

Noble led the number of wickets taken (32) beating Trumble by 4