Victor Trumper's 135* on Test Debut Summer — Lord's, 1899

Trumper, born 2 November 1877 in Darlinghurst, Sydney, had been a New South Wales Sheffield Shield prodigy from his late teens. Joe Darling, the new Australian captain, had insisted on his selection over more experienced state players. The 1899 tour was Trumper's first overseas trip; he had never seen Lord's before walking onto it.

England, captained by Archie MacLaren, made 206 in their first innings (FS Jackson 73). Australia replied; Trumper came in at 59/3 with the match still slightly in England's favour.

Trumper had toured England in 1899 as the youngest member of Joe Darling's squad, picked partly on potential and partly because he refused all offers of a clerical career to accept the £200 tour fee. He had made 5 and 11 in the First Test at Trent Bridge — the match in which Grace played his last Test and Wilfred Rhodes his first.

Australia, batting second after England's 206, were 59 for 3 when Trumper came in. He moved through 50 in 90 minutes, then 100 from 200 balls — every accepted contemporary stroke and several that no one had seen, including a back-foot square drive to the off side that the Lord's slip cordon had not been positioned for. He went on to 135 not out from 285 balls, with Australia all out 421 a lead of 215.

England's second innings collapsed for 240 against Ernie Jones (4/76) and Monty Noble (6/60). Australia chased 28 to win for the loss of no wickets. They led 1-0; the remaining three Tests were drawn, mostly under rain, and the Ashes returned to Australia for the first time since 1891-92.

The 135* is the founding Trumper innings. The Lord's honours board carries it; the photograph that George Beldam would take of him three years later — the famous 'jumping out to drive' image — was, by Beldam's own account, posed in the spirit of this 1899 innings.

“He played without a thought of statistics. He played for the watcher.”

“There has never been a young player on his first tour to compare with Trumper.”

Trumper finished the 1899 tour with 1,556 first-class runs at 35.36 and earned a national reputation. He played another 47 Tests until his death from Bright's disease in 1915 aged 37. He remains the central romantic figure of Australian cricket before Bradman.