English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1878–79 English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1878–79 An English cricket team captained by Lord Harris toured Australia and New Zealand in 1878–79 in a private tour organised by the Melbourne Cricket Club. The team's match against Australia in January 1879 was retrospectively given Test match status, making it the third Test ever and the third between Australia and England, though it was not part of The Ashes which began in 1882. Harris' tour party arrived in Australia just two months after the touring Australians had returned from England. They were scheduled to play five tour matches, two
West Indian cricket team in England in 1995 Reiffel. The West Indians defeat became a symbolic point in the exchange of power between the two nations, ending their all-dominant form and signalling Australia overtaking them as the leading cricketing nation. England had not won a series against the Windies since 1969. For England, Mike Atherton was retained as captain, though his appointment was only confirmed on the eve of the season, and the One Day International series saw debuts for Lancashire's Peter Martin and Kent's Alan Wells, while the West Indies blooded Ottis Gibson, a fiery all-rounder from Barbados. The early part of the tour was hampered by