Test matches (matches of Test cricket) in the 19th century were somewhat different affairs than what they are today. Many of them were not designated as Test matches for many years afterwards, and it is possible that some Test players never knew they had played in a Test. Before 1888 there had been 26 Test matches, all between England and Australia. England had won 13 of them, Australia 9, with 4 draws. During the 19th century England played in all the Tests, which were mostly against Australia, though a few were against what tended to be a very weak South African XI.

By the end of the 19th century, 64 Test matches had been played. Whilst the great England v. Australia matches towards the end of the century were recognised as Tests at the time, the classification of many of the games listed below as Tests only happened much later. Some of the games, especially those involving South Africa, were between a very weak South African squad and a not particularly representative England team. By 1900 South Africa had played 8 games, and lost them all to England. Meanwhile, England had faced Australia 56 times, winning 26, losing 20, and drawing 10. Additionally, one game was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain.

The greats: Grace v Murdoch 1890

This series marked the return of Billy Murdoch as Australia's leader, and pitched him against The Champion, WG Grace. The Australian side was good, but they were still without some of their best players. 1890 was a wet summer, and the rain affected all of the three planned Tests. The first Test was the most eagerly anticipated match of the English summer, with 30,279 spectators watching it over the 3 days, though Stoddart and Briggs did not play. Rain on the 2 days before the match left the pitch slow, but it got steadily better and better, and was at its best on the last day, when England scored 137 to win by 7 wickets, with Grace, who was out for a duck in the first innings, scoring 75 not out. The second Test at the Oval was particularly tense, partly, no doubt, because Andrew Stoddart (an amateur) chose to play for Middlesex, whilst Peel and Ulyett (professionals) were claimed by Yorkshire.Ralph Barker and Irving Rosenwater: England v Australia: A Compendium of Test Cricket between the countries 1877–1968, 1969, , p48. Rain before the first day's play contributed to 22 wickets falling for 197 runs on day 1. On day 2, England only needed 95 to win, they lost eight wickets to Charles Turner and Ferris before getting them, with the winning run being scampered as Australia missed a clear run out chance. A planned third Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester was washed out, thereby becoming the first Test to be abandoned entirely because of the weather.

Australia in England 1890. Match length: 3 days. Balls per over: 5. Series result: England win 2–0. No. Date Home captain Away captain Venue Result 33 21, 22, 23 Jul 1890 WG Grace Billy Murdoch Lord's ENG by 7 wkts 34 11, 12 Aug 1890 WG Grace Billy Murdoch The Oval ENG by 2 wkts – (25, 26, 27 Aug 1890) WG Grace Billy Murdoch Old Trafford ABANDONED

Australian summer 1891–92

Lord Sheffield led the England team, which was captained by WG Grace, on the tour to play an Australian side captained by the great Jack Blackham. The England side was reckoned to be a strong one, even though only six of the tourists had played Test cricket before. Australia won the first Test by 54 runs. In the second, after conceding a first innings deficit of 162 runs, scored 391 to leave England needing 230 to win. Despite poor light, Grace stuck to the usual batting order, and England were soon 11 for 3. Grace got heavily criticised as England lost by 72 runs. In the third Test, on a good batting pitch, England scored 490 for 9. Torrential rain then ruined the pitch for further play and Australia collapsed twice to record a massive defeat by an innings and 230 runs.

England in Australia 1891–92. Match length: Timeless. Balls per over: 6. Series result: Australia won 2–1. No. Date Home captain Away captain Venue Result 35 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 Jan 1892 Jack Blackham WG Grace Melbourne Cricket Ground AUS by 54 runs 36 29, 30 Jan, 1, 2, 3 Feb 1892 Jack Blackham WG Grace Sydney Cricket Ground AUS by 72 runs 38 24, 25, 26, 28 Mar 1892 Jack Blackham WG Grace Adelaide Oval ENG by Inns&230 runs

Second England tour to South Africa 1891–92

This match was not considered by anyone at the time to be a Test, but was subsequently elevated to Test match status. The main England winter tour was still ongoing in Australia. As a result, Walter Read's two Test match victories as captain leave him as one of the two with a 100% record while captaining England in more than one Test. The main points of note are that this game Billy Murdoch and JJ Ferris, both of whom had previously played for Australia and had now settled in England, played for the English tourists. Similarly, Frank Hearne, who had previously played Test cricket for England against South Africa before settling in South Africa, played for South Africa, while his two brothers, Alec Hearne and George Gibbons Hearne, and their cousin, John Thomas Hearne, all played for England.

England in South Africa 1891–92. Match length: 3 days. Balls per over: 5. One-off Test. Result: England won No. Date Home captain Away captain Venue Result 37 19, 21, 22 Mar 1892 William Milton Walter Read Cape Town ENG by Inns&189 runs

Blackham's tour of England 1893

Grace was injured for the first Test, so England were captained by Andrew Stoddart. The match was ruined by rain. Arthur Shrewsbury became the first cricketer to score 1,000 Test runs during his 106 in England's first innings total of 334. Australia replied with 269 and England moved to 234 for 8 declared before rain tumbled down and no further play was possible. This was the first declaration in Test cricket.

England's strong side won the second Test, aided by a 151 first wicket partnership between Stoddart and the returning Grace. After scoring 91 runs in their first innings, the Aussies were asked to follow on. AC Bannerman became the first Australian to score 1,000 Test runs. The Aussies put up much brave resistance and scored 349, but this still equated to an innings defeat, and England had retained the Ashes. England went on to play out the third Test for a draw to earn a series victory.

Australia in England 1893. Match length: 3 days. Balls per over: 5. Series result: England won 1–0. No. Date Home captain Away captain Venue Result 39 17, 18, 19 Jul 1893 Andrew Stoddart Jack Blackham Lord's DRAW 40 14, 15, 16 Aug 1893 WG Grace Jack Blackham The Oval ENG by Inns&43 runs 41 24, 25, 26 Aug 1893 WG Grace Jack Blackham Old Trafford DRAW

Stoddart's tour of Australia 1894–95

In 1894/5 Andrew Stoddart led a team to Australia that played five Tests in a see-saw series that saw England win the Ashes by 3 games to 2. The first Test started as a high-scoring affair, with Australia making a then-record 586 runs thanks to 201 from Syd Gregory and 161 from George Giffen. England replied with 325 and were asked to follow-on 261 behind. They made 437 to set Australia a target of only 177. Australia reached 113–2 at close of play, needing only another 64. Rain fell overnight, and Australia allowed play to be delayed for 20 minutes as a couple of England players, including slow left-arm spinner Bobby Peel had not reached the ground on time because they were hungover. Australia fell 10 short, with Peel taking 6 wickets and Briggs 3 on a pitch that had been made helpful by the rain. This was the first time a side following-on had won a Test match.

The second Test also saw a remarkable turnaround. After being put into bat in the first instance of a Test captain electing to field after winning the toss, England made only 75. Australia responded with 123. England's second innings was completely different. Led by the captain's innings of 173, England made 475. Australia managed only 333 to leave England comfortable winners by 94 runs.

Later, in the third Test Australia (238 and 411) finally rammed home the advantage after dismissing England cheaply (124 and 143) to win by 382 runs. The match was played in searing heat. In the fourth Test England chose to field after winning the toss, collapsed twice in one day, scoring only 65 and 72 to lose by an innings. The weather had now helped even the series up at two apiece. England (385 and 298 for 4) recovered to win the deciding Test from Australia (414 and 267) by 6 wickets. With England in early trouble in the second innings, JT Brown scored 140, reaching his 50 in 28 minutes and 100 in 95.

George Giffen could consider himself unfortunate to finish on the losing side, having contributed 475 runs at an average of 52.77 and 34 wickets at 24.11. "Terror" Turner had the best average of a specialist bowler on either side, taking 18 wickets at 19.38, but he only played in three Tests, missing the third match with a chill and surprisingly being dropped for the last. For England, Tom Richardson had 32 wickets at 26.53 and Peel 27 at 26.70.

England in Australia 1894–95. Match length: Timeless. Balls per over: 6. Series result: England won 3–2. No. Date Home captain Away captain Venue Result 42 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 Dec 1894 Jack Blackham Andrew Stoddart Sydney Cricket Ground ENG by 10 runs 43 29, 31 Dec 1894; 1,2,3 Jan 1895 George Giffen Andrew Stoddart Melbourne Cricket Ground ENG by 94 runs 44 11, 12, 14, 15 Jan 1895 George Giffen Andrew Stoddart Adelaide Oval AUS by 382 runs 45 1, 2, 4 Feb 1895 George Giffen Andrew Stoddart Sydney Cricket Ground AUS by Inns&147 runs 46 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 Mar 1895 George Giffen Andrew Stoddart Melbourne Cricket Ground ENG by 6 wkts

England's third tour of South Africa 1895–96

England's third tour of South Africa was a very one-sided series that was not elevated to Test status until later. England fielded 10 new caps throughout the series (8 in the first Test). The captains, a baronet and a lord, were chosen for their roles more because of their status than their cricketing ability.

The highlight of the first Test was South Africa's dismissal for a record low of 30 in their second innings, with George Lohmann taking 8 wickets for 7 runs, including a hat-trick. He had match figures of 15 for 45.

Lohmann followed this with 9 wickets for 28 runs in the first innings of the second Test, the first time a bowler had taken 9 wickets in a single Test innings. In the third Test, Lohmann took his haul of wickets to 35 at an average of 5.8.

England in South Africa 1895–96. Match length: 3 days. Balls per over: 5. Series result: England won 3–0. No. Date Home captain Away captain Venue Result 47 13, 14 Feb 1896 Baberton Halliwell Sir Tim O'Brien Port Elizabeth ENG by 288 runs 48 2, 3, 4 Mar 1896 Baberton Halliwell Lord Hawke Johannesburg ENG by Inns&197 runs 49 21, 23 Mar 1896 Alfred Richards Lord Hawke Cape Town ENG by Inns&33 runs

Trott tours England 1896

The first day of the first Test was well attended: 25,414 paying customers, and possibly 30,000 spectators in total. It was a see-saw game with Australia dismissed for 53, before England got 292. Australia's 347 in their second innings left England with 108 to win, which they did with 6 wickets to spare. In the first Test Grace completed his 1,000 runs in Test cricket.

In the second Test Ranjitsinhji, the first Indian to play Test cricket, and who the MCC had not selected for the first Test, became the second batsman after Grace to score a hundred on debut for England. His 154 not out and Richardson's 13 for 244 were the highlights of the game, but it was Australian that won by 3 wickets chasing 125. During the match George Giffen became the first to complete the Test career double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets.