English cricket team in Australia in 1903–04

International cricket tour

The English cricket team's tour to Australia in 1903–04 was the first time the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) took over responsibility for sponsoring and arranging an overseas tour representing England. England had not won the Ashes since the 1896 series in England. The MCC appointed Plum Warner to put together and captain a team, which was very much seen as the underdogs against Australia. Warner and his team, however, pulled off the upset the English were looking for and won the five-Test series 3–2. In the first Test at Sydney, R.E. "Tip" Foster scored 287 to set the world record for the highest individual Test innings; the innings remains the highest by a Test debutant.

Test series

First Test

11–17 December 1903
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard

Australia	v	England
285 (118.2 overs) MA Noble 133 EG Arnold 4/76 (32 overs)		577 (181.2 overs) RE Foster 287 MA Noble 3/99 (34 overs)
485 (145.2 overs) VT Trumper 185* W Rhodes 5/94 (40.2 overs)		194/5 (95.5 overs) TW Hayward 91 WP Howell 2/35 (31 overs)

England won by 5 wickets
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Umpires: RM Crockett and AC Jones

Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
13 December was taken as a rest day
EG Arnold, RE Foster, BJT Bosanquet and AE Relf (all ENG) made their Test debuts.

Second Test

1–5 January 1904
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard

England	v	Australia
315 (152.5 overs) JT Tyldesley 97 WP Howell 4/43 (34.5 overs)		122 (30.2 overs) VT Trumper 74 W Rhodes 7/56 (15.2 overs)
103 (28.5 overs) JT Tyldesley 62 H Trumble 5/34 (10.5 overs)		111 (29.4 overs) VT Trumper 35 W Rhodes 8/68 (15 overs)

England won by 185 runs
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: P Argall and RM Crockett

England won the toss and elected to bat.
3 January was taken as a rest day
AE Knight and A Fielder (both ENG) made their Test debuts.

Third Test

15–20 January 1904
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard

Australia	v	England
388 (106.1 overs) VT Trumper 113 EG Arnold 3/93 (27 overs)		245 (102 overs) GH Hirst 58 H Trumble 3/49 (28 overs)
351 (114.5 overs) SE Gregory 112 BJT Bosanquet 4/73 (15.5 overs)		278 (117.1 overs) PF Warner 79 AJY Hopkins 4/81 (28.1 overs)

Australia won by 216 runs
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Umpires: P Argall and RM Crockett

Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
17 January was taken as a rest day

Fourth Test

26 February – 3 March 1904
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard

England	v	Australia
249 (114.1 overs) AE Knight 70* MA Noble 7/100 (41.1 overs)		131 (51.3 overs) RA Duff 47 EG Arnold 4/28 (14.3 overs)
210 (99.3 overs) TW Hayward 52 A Cotter 3/41 (18.3 overs)		171 (72.5 overs) MA Noble 53* BJT Bosanquet 6/51 (15 overs)

England won by 157 runs
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Umpires: P Argall and RM Crockett

England won the toss and elected to bat.
28 February was taken as a rest day.
There was no play on the third day
PA McAlister and A Cotter (both AUS) made their Test debuts.

Fifth Test

5–8 March 1904
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard

Australia	v	England
247 (82.1 overs) VT Trumper 88 LC Braund 8/81 (29.1 overs)		61 (31.2 overs) RE Foster 18 A Cotter 6/40 (15.2 overs)
133 (43.5 overs) RA Duff 31 GH Hirst 5/48 (16.5 overs)		101 (22.5 overs) RE Foster 30 H Trumble 7/28 (6.5 overs)

Australia won by 218 runs
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: P Argall and RM Crockett

Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
6 March was taken as a rest day
DRA Gehrs (AUS) made his Test debut.

Tour matches

South Australia v M.C.C.

7–11 November 1903 (4-day match)
Scorecard

MCC	v	South Australia
483/8d (182 overs) TW Hayward 157 N Claxton 4/76 (26 overs)		172 (72 overs) DRA Gehrs 31 EG Arnold 3/49 (20 overs)
		343/7 (f/o) (140 overs) C Hill 116 AE Relf 3/48 (27 overs)

Match drawn
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Umpires: P Argall and GE Downs

MCC won the toss and elected to bat.
8 November was taken as a rest day
Total attendance was about 19,000.

Victoria v M.C.C.

13–16 November 1903 (4-day match)
Scorecard

Victoria	v	MCC
162 (86.2 overs) JE Monfries 41* W Rhodes 5/26 (20.2 overs)		443/8d (143 overs) GH Hirst 92 FJ Laver 3/76 (21 overs)
210 (111.4 overs) W Bruce 51 A Fielder 3/35 (23 overs)

MCC won by an innings and 71 runs
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: E Barrass and RM Crockett

Victoria won the toss and elected to field.
15 November was taken as a rest day
The match was scheduled for four days but was completed in three.
Total attendance was about 23,500.

New South Wales v M.C.C.

20–23 November 1903
Scorecard

New South Wales	v	MCC
108 (37.2 overs) VT Trumper 46 W Rhodes 6/55 (17 overs)		319 (137.4 overs) JT Tyldesley 80 A McBeath 3/72 (37.4 overs)
201 (74.4 overs) RA Duff 44 BJT Bosanquet 4/60 (19 overs)

MCC won by an innings and 10 runs
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Umpires: R Callaway and AC Jones

MCC won the toss and elected to field.
22 November was taken as a rest day
The match was scheduled for four days but was completed in three.
Total attendance was 40,589.

Queensland v M.C.C.

27–30 November 1903
Scorecard

Queensland	v	MCC
242 (97.1 overs) WT Evans 72 EG Arnold 3/38 (23.1 overs)		215 (53 overs) AE Knight 46 T Byrne 5/74 (24 overs)
91 (48.4 overs) WT Evans 27 LC Braund 5/50 (19 overs)		119/4 (33 overs) RE Foster 34* HB Griffith 3/34 (12 overs)

MCC won by 6 wickets
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane
Umpires: T Muir and JP Orr

Queensland won the toss and elected to bat.
29 November was taken as a rest day.
Total attendance was about 19,000.

Northern District XVIII v M.C.C.

2, 3 December 1903 (2-day match)
scorecard

Northern Districts XVIII
283 (86.1 overs)
&
241/6 (53.3 overs)

MCC
453

Match drawn
Albion Ground, West Maitland, New South Wales

Newcastle XV v M.C.C.

4, 5 December 1903 (2-day match)
scorecard

MCC
306 (76 overs)
&
381/8 (82 overs)

Newcastle, XV
203 (80 overs)

Match drawn
Number 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle, New South Wales

Melbourne Colts XVIII v M.C.C.

19, 21, 22 December 1903 (3-day match)
scorecard

MCC
416 (121 overs)

Melbourne Juniors XVIII
124 (67.5 overs)
&
193 (f/o) (77.5 overs)

MCC won by an innings and 99 runs
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Bendigo and District XVIII v M.C.C.

26, 28 December 1903 (2-day match)
scorecard

Bendigo XVIII
94 (46.4 overs)
&
64/7 (28.4 overs)

MCC
273/5d

Match drawn
Upper Reserve, Bendigo, Victoria

Ballarat XVIII v M.C.C.

8, 9 January 1904 (2-day match)
scorecard

MCC XVII
326 (104 overs)
&
226 (55 overs)

Ballarat XVIII
197 (72 overs)

Match drawn
Eastern Oval, Ballarat, Victoria

Tasmania v M.C.C.

25–26 January 1904 (2-day match)
Scorecard

MCC	v	Tasmania
185 (55.2 overs) RE Foster 43 CJ Eady 3/40 (22.2 overs)		191 (88.1 overs) OH Douglas 38 EG Arnold 4/44 (34 overs)
354/4d (73 overs) BJT Bosanquet 124* EAC Windsor 3/96 (24 overs)		63/1 (17 overs) RJ Hawson37* RE Foster 1/34 (7 overs)

Match drawn
TCA Ground, Hobart, Tasmania
Umpires: C McAllen and J Watt

MCC won the toss and elected to bat.

Tasmania v M.C.C.

29–30 January 1904 (2-day match)
Scorecard

Tasmania	v	MCC
141 (48.2 overs) N Dodds 48 GH Hirst 5/37 (16.2 overs)		353 (77 overs) TW Hayward 134 EAC Windsor 4/106 (30 overs)
259/3 (103 overs) JH Savigny 164* AE Knight 2/34 (12 overs)

Match drawn
NTCA Ground, Launceston, Tasmania
Umpires: W Lawrence and J Masterton

Tasmania won the toss and elected to bat.
Total attendance was about 5,000.

Victoria v M.C.C.

5–9 February 1904
Scorecard

Victoria	v	MCC
299 (117.3 overs) PA McAlister 139 W Rhodes 6/62 (30 overs)		248 (62.2 overs) TW Hayward 77 JV Saunders 3/39 (15 overs)
15 (12.1 overs) GHS Trott 9 W Rhodes 5/6 (6.1 overs)		68/2 (27 overs) TW Hayward 26 HJ Fry 1/24 (10 overs)

MCC won by 8 wickets
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Umpires: E Barrass and RM Crockett

Victoria won the toss and elected to field.
7 February was taken as a rest day
There was no play on the second day.
Total attendance was about 6,100.

New South Wales v M.C.C.

12–15 February 1904
Scorecard

MCC	v	New South Wales
190 (52 overs) BJT Bosanquet 54 A Cotter 5/44 (14 overs)		232 (63.3 overs) AJY Hopkins 52 W Rhodes 3/50 (19 overs)
461 (120.1 overs) BJT Bosanquet 114 A Cotter 3/56 (11 overs)		141 (40.4 overs) AJY Hopkins 56 BJT Bosanquet 6/45 (9.4 overs)

MCC won by 278 runs
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Umpires: WG Curran and JJ Giltinan

MCC won the toss and elected to bat.
14 February was taken as a rest day.
The match was scheduled for four days but completed in three.
Total attendance was 28,296.

Western District XV v M.C.C.

19, 20 February 1904 (2-day match)
scorecard

Bathurst XV
248 (74.4 overs)
&
151/3d

MCC XVII
176
&
115/5

Match drawn
Sports Ground, Bathurst, New South Wales

South Australia v M.C.C.

12–15 March 1904 (timeless match)
Scorecard

South Australia	v	MCC
259 (77.2 overs) DGA Gehrs 63 BJT Bosanquet 3/70 (17 overs)		154 (69.4 overs) PF Warner 50 N Claxton 5/56 (27 overs)
77 (29.4 overs) DGA Gehrs 30 LC Braund 8/43 (14.4 overs)		184/1 (36.3 overs) RE Foster 73* N Claxton 1/58 (12 overs)

MCC won by 9 wickets
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Umpires: P Argall and GA Watson

South Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
13 March was taken as a rest day.
Total attendance was about 7,500.

References

External sources

CricketArchive match lists

H S Altham, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962
Bill Frindall, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877–1978, Wisden, 1979
David Frith, The Golden Age of Cricket 1890–1914, Lutterworth, 1978
Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993
Plum Warner, How We Recovered The Ashes, Longman, 1905
Roy Webber, The Playfair Book of Cricket Records, Playfair Books, 1951
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1905

The Ashes

List of Ashes series

1850

													1884		1886				1888		1890		1893		1896		1899
												1882–83		1884–85		1886–87		1887–88				1891–92		1894–95		1897–98

1900

	1902		1905		1909		1912		World War I			1921		1926		1930		1934		1938		World War II			1948
1901–02		1903–04		1907–08		1911–12					1920–21		1924–25		1928–29		1932–33		1936–37					1946–47

1950

	1953		1956		1961		1964		1968		1972		1975		1977		1981		1985		1989		1993		1997
1950–51		1954–55		1958–59		1962–63		1965–66		1970–71		1974–75				1978–79		1982–83		1986–87		1990–91		1994–95		1998–99

2000

	2001		2005		2009		2013		2015		2019		2023
		2002–03		2006–07		2010–11		2013–14		2017–18		2021–22

Non-Ashes Australia v England Test series
1876–77 1878–79 1880 1881–82 1882 1945 1976–77 1979–80 1980 1987–88 2027

Matches in white background were played in England, yellow – in Australia.

v t e Australia squad – Ashes 1903–04
Noble (c) Armstrong Cotter Duff Gehrs Gregory Hill Hopkins Howell Kelly (†) Laver McAlister McLeod Saunders Trumble Trumper

v t e England squad – Ashes 1903–04 (12th series win)
Warner (c) Arnold Bosanquet Braund Fielder Foster Hayward Hirst Knight Lilley (†) Relf Rhodes Tyldesley

International cricket tours of Australia

Test and LOI tours
Afghanistan	2021–22 (cancelled)
Bangladesh	2003 2008
England	1876–77 1878–79 1881–82 1882–83 1884–85 1886–87 1887–88 1891–92 1894–95 1897–98 1901–02 1903–04 1907–08 1911–12 1920–21 1924–25 1928–29 1932–33§ 1936–37 1946–47§ 1950–51§ 1954–55§ 1958–59§ 1962–63§ 1965–66§ 1970–71§ 1974–75§ 1977 1978–79 1979–80 1982–83 1986–87 1987–88§ 1990–91 1994–95 1998–99 2002–03 2006–07 2010–11 2013–14 2017–18 2021–22 2022–23
India	1947–48 1967–68§ 1977–78 1980–81§ 1985–86 1991–92 1999–2000 2003–04 2007–08 2011–12 2014–15 2015–16 2018–19 2020–21 2024–25
New Zealand	1973–74 1980–81 1982–83 1985–86 1987–88 1989–90 1993–94 1997–98 2001–02 2004–05 2008–09 2011–12 2015–16 2016–17 2019–20 2022–23
Pakistan	1964–65§ 1972–73§ 1976–77 1978–79§ 1981–82 1983–84 1989–90 1992–93 1995–96 1996–97 1999–2000 2002 2004–05 2009–10 2016–17 2019–20 2023–24 2024–25
South Africa	1910–11 1931–32§ 1952–53§ 1963–64§ 1971–72 (cancelled) 1993–94 1997–98 2000 2001–02 2005–06 2008–09 2012–13 2014–15 2016–17 2018–19 2022–23
Sri Lanka	1987–88 1989–90 1995–96 2004 2007–08 2010–11 2012–13 2016–17 2018–19 2019–20 2021–22
West Indies	1930–31 1951–52§ 1960–61 1968–69§ 1975–76 1979–80§ 1981–82 1984–85 1988–89 1992–93 1995–96 1996–97 2000–01 2005–06 2009–10 2012–13 2015–16 2020–21 2022–23 2023–24
Zimbabwe	1994–95 2003–04 2022

Tournaments hosted
World Cup	1992 2015
T20 World Cup	2022
Tri-series	1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2011–12 2014–15 2017–18
Other multi-team tournaments	1985 1987

Other tours
Afghanistan	2014–15
Australian Forces	1919–20 1945–46
English	1861–62 1863–64 1873–74 1902–03 1922–23 1929–30 1935–36 1979–80
England Lions	2012–13 2021
Fijian	1907–08
Ireland	2014–15
Multi-national	1971–72 2005–06
Nepal	2023–24
New Zealand	1898–99 1913–14 1925–26 1927–28 1937–38 1953–54 1961–62 1967–68 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1974–75
PNG	2014–15
Scotland	2014–15
Sri Lanka	1982–83
UAE	2014–15
World Series Cricket (West Indies & World XI)	1977-78 1978-79
Pakistan A	2024

§: Toured New Zealand as well as Australia

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