1st Match - Sydney Cricket Ground, 10th February - 15th February 1888

The 1887 - 1888 tour was a strange one ! Major Wardill, manager of the 1886 Australian tourists announced that the Melbourne club would invite a team to play in Australia in 1887 - 88. Lord Hawke organised the tour, which included six professionals and seven amateurs. However not to be outdone, Lillywhite, Shaw and Shrewsbury, who had by now established their own tours were not prepared to lie down and let someone else take over, they organised a rival tour! This tour was supported by the New South Wales Association, captained by C.A. Smith and consisted of 8 professionals and 4 amateurs. Ironically both parties arrived in Adelaide on the same boat and were not to see each other again until they met up in Sydney to play the only Test match of the tour, under the umbrella of a 'Combined England' side.

Unfortunately the Australian's found themselves with a weak side after many of the first choice players refused to play due to the combined squad, now very strong! Lohmann and Peel did the damage for England as they dismissed Australia for only 42 runs (in reply to England's 113). The same bowlers more or less did the damage again in the second innings, while Australia chasing 209 to win were bowled out for 82 runs. Yet again Turner and Ferris (Australia) took 18 of the 20 wickets to fall to maintain their impressive run in Test cricket.