W.G. Grace's Last Test — Trent Bridge, 1899

Grace had played 22 Tests across 19 years from 1880 to 1896. He had skipped the 1897-98 Australia tour. The 1899 series was the first to be played as five matches in England; Grace insisted on a place and got it on his record alone. Trent Bridge was hosting its first Test; Wilfred Rhodes had taken 154 wickets for Yorkshire in his 1898 debut season; Trumper had been a state cricketer for two years.

Australia had toured England under Joe Darling for the first time as captain. The Test was scheduled for three days. Trumper batted at six, Rhodes at eleven; Grace captained.

The 1899 series was Grace's first Test summer for three years; the selectors, of whom Grace was one, had picked him at his own insistence. He was 50 years and 320 days old at the close of the match — still, 125 years later, the oldest captain in Test cricket. He weighed eighteen stone and his fielding range, never wide, had collapsed.

Australia won the toss and made 252; Wilfred Rhodes, on debut, opened the bowling and took 4 for 58, including Monty Noble for his first Test wicket. England replied with 193 — Grace 28, batting at three, caught at slip off Ernie Jones. Australia made 230 second time round; Trumper, on debut, made 11. England were set 290 in over a day and finished on 155 for 7, the match drawn — saved by Rhodes batting time at the close.

The Nottingham crowd had barracked Grace through the second day for slow ground fielding at point. After the Test he travelled back to London, met the selectors at Lord's and asked whether they thought Archie MacLaren should play in the Second Test. They said yes. He resigned on the spot, and announced his retirement from Test cricket.

The symbolism is extraordinary. Rhodes, who would play with Bradman at The Oval in 1930, made his debut in the same Test that Grace played his last; Grace's Test career had begun in 1880 against Australia at the Oval. Trumper, who would die at 37 in 1915, made his debut in the same match. Three eras of cricket touched at Trent Bridge.

“It's all over, the giant has played his last Test innings.”

“He was the greatest cricketer that ever lived.”

Grace continued to play county and minor cricket until 1908, but never another Test. Rhodes played 58 Tests across 31 years until 1930 — the longest Test career of any player. Trumper played 48 Tests until 1912, dying of Bright's disease in 1915 at 37. Joe Darling's Australia would win the series 1-0; the Ashes returned home for the first time since 1891-92.