The Oval in 1882, scene of one of the most historic Test matches ever played, and the beginning of a competition that is now known as 'The Ashes'. Lefthanders Peate and Barlow took advantage of a damp tricky wicket, which had seen two full days of rain before the start of play, bowling Australia out for only 63 runs in 2 ¼ hours. (Barlow 19 for 5, Peate 31 for 4).

Spofforth who had fully regained fitness bowled unchanged and in the process took 7 wickets costing only 46 runs. Although a supreme effort, it was unavoidable that England would take a first innings lead and judging by the condition of the pitch, it was widely thought that it was a match winning lead.

Massie and Bannerman began the second day in aggressive mood on what was again a wet pitch due to further downpours. The pair put on 66 for the first wicket; Massie scoring 55 in 45 minutes, Bannerman a supportive 13. Peate took another 4 wickets in the second innings to match his first innings tally and in so doing helped to restrict Australia's total to 122 all out. The total required could have and should have been considerably higher but for the intervention of Grace and 'that run out'. With the score on 114 Murdoch and Jones were set, (although only worth 15 runs their partnership was crucial) and when going for a run, Jones believed he had completed the run and left his crease to 'pat down' the wicket. Grace took the ball and took off the bails, appealed, and Jones was given out. Arguments ensued, Grace received a fair amount of abuse in the moments that followed the incident. This left England a mere 85 runs to win.

Spofforth once again applied the pressure clean bowling Hornby and Barlow in successive balls with the total standing on 15. Ulyett and Grace steadied the sinking ship and took the score to 51 before Blackham caught Ulyett at the wicket; once again the bowler was Spofforth. Tight bowling and very defensive batting from Lucas and Lyttelton saw the visitors playing out 12 successive maiden overs. Wickets fell at regular intervals and when the visitors had reached 70 runs and victory inevitable, the match took a major twist. Six wickets fell for 7 runs and England were 7 runs short of their target. Spofforth whose match figures (90 - 14) were not surpassed until Bob Massie (25 year old from Western Australia) in 1972 took 16 wickets for 137 runs (8 in both innings).

Due to the bizarre twist and turns of the Test match, one spectator died from a heart attack during the closing moments of the match.