England in Australia, 1882-83

The Honourable Ivo Bligh set sail in autumn 1882 with a mission: to bring back the Ashes of English cricket. The legend had been started after England's surprise defeat at The Oval in 1882. Bligh's side, which was a mixture of professionals and amateurs, succeeded by beating Billy Murdoch's 1882 tourists 2-1 in a three-match series. Confusingly, a fourth match was then played, which Australia won, but Bligh reclaimed the Ashes, which were put into tangible form by a group of "Melbourne ladies", one of whom later married Bligh.

Australia won the first Test before England bounced back with victories at Melbourne and Sydney. The fourth match - an experimental game played on four separate pitches at Sydney - went narrowly to Australia.

In all Bligh's team played 17 matches in Australia, of which nine were won, five drawn and three lost (the two Tests and the last match, against Victoria). They also played one game in Ceylon en route, which was drawn.

Match reports for

South Australia v IFW Bligh's XI at Adelaide, Nov 10-11, 1882
Scorecard

Victoria v IFW Bligh's XI at Melbourne, Nov 17-20, 1882
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Sandhurst v IFW Bligh's XI at Bendigo, Nov 22-23, 1882
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New South Wales v IFW Bligh's XI at Sydney, Dec 1-4, 1882
Scorecard

Australia v England at Melbourne, Dec 30, 1882 - Jan 2, 1883
Report | Scorecard

1st Test: Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 19-22, 1883
Report | Scorecard

2nd Test: Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 26-30, 1883
Report | Scorecard

3rd Test: Australia v England at Sydney, Feb 17-21, 1883
Report | Scorecard

Victoria v IFW Bligh's XI at Melbourne, Mar 9-12, 1883
Scorecard