Sydney 1894 — England Win After Following On for the First Time

England under Stoddart had toured Australia in 1894-95 in the absence of W.G. Grace, who had declined the trip. The five-Test series was the first in which the Ashes were specifically named on the schedule; it would run into March 1895. The Sydney Test was the first match.

Australia won the toss and chose to bat. Gregory and Iredale put on 171; Giffen and Gregory added 139. By the close of day three Australia had 586 and an apparent grip on the match. England's reply began on day four; Stoddart took the follow-on at the close of day five with 261 behind.

Australia, captained by Jack Blackham, batted first on a true SCG pitch. Syd Gregory made 201, Frank Iredale 81, George Giffen 161 and Australia ground their way to 586 — then the highest Test innings total. England replied with 325; Albert Ward made 75 and the captain Andrew Stoddart 36, but Charles Turner and Giffen between them took the wickets and Stoddart accepted the follow-on rather than waste his bowlers.

Following on 261 behind, England's second innings was a different match. Albert Ward played the central innings — 117 across two days, anchored by partnerships with Stoddart, Brockwell and Peel — and supported by 62 from JT Brown, England were eventually all out 437. Australia, set 177 to win on a fifth-day pitch that was wearing but still good, reached 113 for 2 by stumps with Joe Darling and George Giffen set. Wisden's correspondent telegraphed home that the Test was 'as good as lost.'

Overnight, Sydney rained heavily. The morning of 20 December broke hot and bright. By the start of play the pitch had begun to dry from the top — the dreaded sticky on which orthodox batsmen had no answer. Stoddart, knowing he had a left-arm spinner in Bobby Peel, walked across to the team hotel to find his bowler still in bed and somewhat the worse for the previous night's celebrations. Stoddart marched Peel into a cold shower, fed him strong coffee and got him to the ground.

Peel bowled unchanged through the morning and afternoon. He took 6 for 67 in 30 overs; Briggs took 3 for 25. Australia collapsed from 130 for 2 to 166 all out. England won by 10 runs. The two-team selectors of the era recognised the match instantly as the new pinnacle of Test cricket.

“Probably the most sensational match ever played either in Australia or in England.”

“The pitch was as treacherous as a footman.”

England went on to win the series 3-2 — the first Ashes contest ever played under that name to be decided. Stoddart's 173 in the Second Test at Melbourne was the highest by an England captain in Australia for the next 80 years. The Sydney follow-on win became the foundational miracle in English cricket folklore; only two more Tests have ever been won by the side following on (Headingley 1981, Kolkata 2001).