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.