Sport in Australia in his book, "Australia", published in 1870, "The English passion for the amusements which are technically called 'sports', is not a national necessity with the Americans, whereas with the Australians it is almost as much so as home." The first team formally organised soccer team was formed in Sydney in 1880 and was named the Wanderers. Sport was receiving coverage in Australian newspapers by 1876 when a sculling race in England was reported in the "Sydney Morning Herald". In 1877, Australia played in the first Test Cricket match against England. In 1882, The Ashes were started following the victory of
Australia–England sports rivalries kept on chanting even when England were losing quite badly. Fanatics officially began in 1997 with the aim of forming an organised, passionate & patriotic support group that would follow Australian Sport at home & around the world. Australia–England sports rivalries Australia–England sports rivalries It is believed that the initial trigger of the Australia-England sporting rivalry began with an insulting article written in a local British Newspaper in the 19th century. “Nothing of interest comes from Australia except gold and black cricketers,” proclaimed the British Daily Telegraph in 1868 with a mixture of colonial arrogance and paternal intrigue. Australia and