Toss: Australia. Test debuts: Australia - J.Darling, F.A.Iredale, E.Jones, C.E.McLeod, J.C.Reedman; England - J.T.Brown, F.G.J.Ford, L.H.Gay, A.C.MacLaren. This was probably the most sensational match ever played either in Australia or in England. Going in first, the Australians made a poor start, losing three wickets - all bowled down by Richardson - for 21 runs. Iredale and Giffen, however, put on 171 for the fourth wicket, and Giffen and Gregory 139 for the fifth. Giffen's splendidly played 161 lasted a little over four hours and a quarter.

At the close of the first day the score stood at 346 for five wickets, and in the end the total reached 586, Gregory and Blackham scoring 154 together for the ninth wicket. In recognition of his wonderful innings of 201 a collection was made for Gregory, the sum subscribed on the ground amounting to a hundred and three pounds.

In face of a score of 586 the Englishmen had a dismal prospect, but they set to work with the utmost resolution and kept the Australians in the field from Saturday afternoon till the following Wednesday. Still, though they ran up totals of 325 and 437 - Albert Ward taking the chief honours in each innings - they only set Australia 177 to get.

At the close of the fifth day 113 had been scored for two wickets, and the match looked all over. Drenching rain in the night, however, followed by bright sunshine, completely altered the condition of the ground, and Peel - well backed up by Briggs - proved so irresistible that the Englishmen gained an astonishing victory by 10 runs.

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