Greatest Cricket Moments

Australia Bowl MCC Out Twice in a Day — Lord's, 27 May 1878

1878-05-27Australia vs MCCMCC vs Australians, Lord's, 27 May 1878 (one-day match)2 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 27 May 1878 the touring Australians, on their first visit to England, bowled MCC out twice in a single day at Lord's. MCC made 33 and 19; Australia made 41 and 12 for 1 to win by 9 wickets. Fred Spofforth took 6/4 (including a hat-trick) and 4/16; Harry Boyle 3/14 and 6/3. W.G. Grace was clean-bowled by Spofforth for 4. The match made Australian cricket's reputation in a single afternoon.

Background

The 1878 Australian tour had a difficult start: a defeat against a Nottinghamshire XI in early May had encouraged the English press to write the tourists off. MCC's secretary R.A. Fitzgerald scheduled the Lord's match as a quick exhibition.

Build-Up

Heavy overnight rain left the Lord's pitch soft. MCC chose to bat. Their side included W.G. Grace, A.N. Hornby, Alfred Shaw and George Hearne — among the strongest XIs of the summer.

What Happened

The Australian XI under Dave Gregory had landed in England with little reputation. MCC, the home of cricket, agreed to a one-day fixture at Lord's at short notice. The pitch was wet from overnight rain. MCC, batting first, were dismissed for 33 in 65 minutes. W.G. Grace was bowled by Spofforth for 4, leaping in the air at the wicket as the bails flew; in the dressing-room afterwards Tom Horan recorded Spofforth chanting 'Ain't I a demon? Ain't I a demon?' — the moment generally credited as the origin of his nickname. Australia replied with 41, an 8-run lead. MCC, batting again, collapsed to 19 — Spofforth 4/16, Boyle 6/3 — and Australia knocked off the 12 needed for the loss of one wicket before close of play. Including the hat-trick (Hearne, Shaw, Vernon) Spofforth took 10 wickets in the match. The English press, which had patronised the tourists on arrival, switched to extraordinary respect overnight. The Australian XI's fixtures for the rest of the summer were upgraded to first-class status; the match is regularly cited as the moment international cricket became a serious commercial proposition in England.

Key Moments

1

MCC win toss; bat first

2

Spofforth bowls Grace for 4 — leaps in air, declares 'Ain't I a demon?'

3

MCC 33 all out in 65 minutes; Spofforth 6/4, Boyle 3/14

4

Spofforth's hat-trick: Hearne, Shaw, Vernon

5

MCC 19 in second innings; Boyle 6/3, Spofforth 4/16

6

Australia 12-1 chasing 13; win by 9 wickets

Timeline

Morning, 27 May 1878

MCC bat first in soft conditions; bowled out for 33

Early afternoon

Australia 41 in reply for 8-run lead

Late afternoon

MCC 19 second innings; Boyle 6/3

End of day

Australia 12-1, win by 9 wickets

Notable Quotes

“Ain't I a demon? Ain't I a demon?”

— Fred Spofforth in the dressing room after bowling W.G. Grace, recorded by Tom Horan

“The defeat of the MCC was a nine-days' wonder, and made the reputation of the Australians at a single stroke.”

— Wisden retrospective on the 1878 match

Aftermath

The match upgraded the Australian tour from curiosity to sensation. Fixtures across England were renegotiated. Spofforth's nickname spread in print within days; a Vanity Fair cartoon by 'Spy' followed soon after, captioned 'The Demon'. Punch ran a celebrated verse beginning 'The Australians came down like a wolf on the fold'.

⚖️ The Verdict

The day Australian cricket arrived in England. Spofforth 6/4 and 4/16, Grace clean-bowled, MCC humiliated at headquarters. Cricket's first international shock.

Legacy & Impact

The Lord's massacre of 27 May 1878 is one of the founding moments of international cricket as a commercial and emotional contest. It made Spofforth a star and Australian cricket a serious force. The match is honoured by the Father Time wall at Lord's and on the Lord's tour as a defining day in the ground's history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this a Test match?▾
No. It was a one-day fixture between MCC and the touring Australians. Tests in England did not begin until September 1880.
How many wickets did Spofforth take in total?▾
Ten in the match — 6/4 in the first innings (including the hat-trick) and 4/16 in the second.

Tags

#fred-spofforth#demon-bowler#lords#1878#australia#mcc#wg-grace#harry-boyle

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