# England cricket team Test results (1877–1914)

The England cricket team represented England, Scotland and Wales in Test cricket. England played Australia in the first ever Test match, which took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 1877. Although four touring parties of English players had visited Australia prior to 1877, the Australian team had not previously been considered strong enough to play on equal terms. The two matches between the English cricketers and the Australians were retrospectively granted Test status.
Between 1877 and 1914, when competitive cricket was interrupted by the First World War, England played 123 Test matches, resulting in 59 victories, 22 draws and 42 defeats. For much of this period, England and Australia were the only Test playing countries and played each other every year or two. In 1888–89, England toured South Africa and played two matches subsequently deemed to be Test matches. Subsequently, the sides played each other sporadically and from 1906 fixtures were played as frequently as the Ashes series. In 1912, the three sides competed in a Triangular Tournament, which was deemed a failure, partly due to a damp English summer and in part because of the perceived complexity of the tournament.
Overall, by 1914, England had played 94 Test matches against Australia and 29 versus South Africa. England won 19 matches by an innings, with their largest victory being by an innings and 230 runs against Australia during the 1891–92 Ashes series, their eighth-best innings win of all time. Their largest victory by runs alone during this period was in 1896 against South Africa, when they won by 288 runs, while they won by 10 wickets on four occasions. England's victories by one wicket during this period are two of the three occasions that England have won by this margin in Test cricket, while their 10-run win over Australia during the 1894–95 Ashes series is their third-narrowest win by runs. In the first match of the 1886–87 Ashes series, England scored their lowest ever innings score in Test cricket, 45 runs. Despite that low score, they won the match by 13 runs.

## Key

Key :
| Symbol | Meaning |
| No. (Eng.) | Match number for England (i.e. 123 was England's 123rd Test match) |
| No. (Ove.) | Match number overall (i.e. 122 was the 123rd Test match) |
| Opposition | The team England was playing against |
| Venue | The cricket ground where the match was played |
| (H) | Home ground |
| (A) | Away ground |
| Start date | Starting date of the Test match |
| Result | Result of the match for England |
| Series (result) | What series the match was part of, with the result listed in brackets; England's tally first (i.e. (2–1) means that England won two matches, and their opponents won one match) |

## Matches

England Test cricket results between 1877 and 1914 :
| No. (Eng.) | No. (Ove.) | Opposition | Venue | Start date | Result | Series (result) |
| 1 | 1 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 15 March 1877 | Lost by 45 runs | English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1876–77 (1–1) |
| 2 | 2 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 31 March 1877 | Won by 4 wickets | English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1876–77 (1–1) |
| 3 | 3 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 2 January 1879 | Lost by 10 wickets | English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1878–79 (0–1) |
| 4 | 4 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 6 September 1880 | Won by 5 wickets | Australian cricket team in England in 1880 (1–0) |
| 5 | 5 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 31 December 1881 | Match drawn | English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1881–82 (0–2) |
| 6 | 6 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 17 February 1882 | Lost by 5 wickets | English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1881–82 (0–2) |
| 7 | 7 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 3 March 1882 | Lost by 6 wickets | English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1881–82 (0–2) |
| 8 | 8 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 10 March 1882 | Match drawn | English cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1881–82 (0–2) |
| 9 | 9 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 28 August 1882 | Lost by 7 runs | Australian cricket team in England in 1882 (0–1) |
| 10 | 10 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 30 December 1882 | Lost by 9 wickets | 1882–83 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 11 | 11 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 19 January 1883 | Won by an innings and 27 runs | 1882–83 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 12 | 12 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 26 January 1883 | Won by 69 runs | 1882–83 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 13 | 13 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 17 February 1883 | Lost by 4 wickets | English cricket team in Australia in 1882–83 (0–1) |
| 14 | 14 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 10 July 1884 | Match drawn | 1884 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 15 | 15 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 21 July 1884 | Won by an innings and 5 runs | 1884 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 16 | 16 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 11 August 1884 | Match drawn | 1884 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 17 | 17 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 12 December 1884 | Won by 8 wickets | 1884–85 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 18 | 18 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1885 | Won by 10 wickets | 1884–85 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 19 | 19 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 20 February 1885 | Lost by 6 runs | 1884–85 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 20 | 20 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 14 March 1885 | Lost by 8 wickets | 1884–85 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 21 | 21 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 21 March 1885 | Won by an innings and 98 runs | 1884–85 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 22 | 22 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 5 July 1886 | Won by 4 wickets | 1886 Ashes series (3–0) |
| 23 | 23 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 19 July 1886 | Won by an innings and 106 runs | 1886 Ashes series (3–0) |
| 24 | 24 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 12 August 1886 | Won by an innings and 217 runs | 1886 Ashes series (3–0) |
| 25 | 25 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 28 January 1887 | Won by 13 runs | 1886–87 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 26 | 26 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 25 February 1887 | Won by 71 runs | 1886–87 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 27 | 27 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 10 February 1888 | Won by 126 runs | 1887–88 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 28 | 28 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 16 July 1888 | Lost by 61 runs | 1888 Ashes series (2–1) |
| 29 | 29 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 13 August 1888 | Won by an innings and 137 runs | 1888 Ashes series (2–1) |
| 30 | 30 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 30 August 1888 | Won by an innings and 21 runs | 1888 Ashes series (2–1) |
| 31 | 31 | South Africa | St George's Park Cricket Ground, Port Elizabeth (A) | 12 March 1889 | Won by 8 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1888–89 (2–0) |
| 32 | 32 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 25 March 1889 | Won by an innings and 202 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1888–89 (2–0) |
| 33 | 33 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 21 July 1890 | Won by 7 wickets | 1890 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 34 | 34 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 11 August 1890 | Won by 2 wickets | 1890 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 35 | 35 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1892 | Lost by 54 runs | 1891–92 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 36 | 36 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 29 January 1892 | Lost by 72 runs | 1891–92 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 37 | 37 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 19 March 1892 | Won by an innings and 189 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1891–92 (1–0) |
| 38 | 38 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 24 March 1892 | Won by an innings and 230 runs | 1891–92 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 39 | 39 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 17 July 1893 | Match drawn | 1893 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 40 | 40 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 14 August 1893 | Won by an innings and 43 runs | 1893 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 41 | 41 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 24 August 1893 | Match drawn | 1893 Ashes series (1–0) |
| 42 | 42 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 14 December 1894 | Won by 10 runs | 1894–95 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 43 | 43 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 29 December 1894 | Won by 94 runs | 1894–95 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 44 | 44 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 11 January 1895 | Lost by 382 runs | 1894–95 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 45 | 45 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 1 February 1895 | Lost by an innings and 147 runs | 1894–95 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 46 | 46 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 March 1895 | Won by 6 wickets | 1894–95 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 47 | 47 | South Africa | St George's Park Cricket Ground, Port Elizabeth (A) | 13 February 1896 | Won by 288 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1895–96 (3–0) |
| 48 | 48 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 2 March 1896 | Won by an innings and 197 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1895–96 (3–0) |
| 49 | 49 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 21 March 1896 | Won by an innings and 33 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1895–96 (3–0) |
| 50 | 50 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 22 June 1896 | Won by 6 wickets | 1896 Ashes series (2–1) |
| 51 | 51 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 16 July 1896 | Lost by 3 wickets | 1896 Ashes series (2–1) |
| 52 | 52 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 10 August 1896 | Won by 66 runs | 1896 Ashes series (2–1) |
| 53 | 53 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 13 December 1897 | Won by 9 wickets | 1897–98 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 54 | 54 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1898 | Lost by an innings and 55 runs | 1897–98 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 55 | 55 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 14 January 1898 | Lost by an innings and 13 runs | 1897–98 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 56 | 56 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 29 January 1898 | Lost by 8 wickets | 1897–98 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 57 | 57 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 26 February 1898 | Lost by 6 wickets | 1897–98 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 58 | 58 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 14 February 1899 | Won by 32 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1898–99 (2–0) |
| 59 | 59 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 1 April 1899 | Won by 210 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1898–99 (2–0) |
| 60 | 60 | Australia | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 1 June 1899 | Match drawn | 1899 Ashes series (0–1) |
| 61 | 61 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 15 June 1899 | Lost by 10 wickets | 1899 Ashes series (0–1) |
| 62 | 62 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 29 June 1899 | Match drawn | 1899 Ashes series (0–1) |
| 63 | 63 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 17 July 1899 | Match drawn | 1899 Ashes series (0–1) |
| 64 | 64 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 14 August 1899 | Match drawn | 1899 Ashes series (0–1) |
| 65 | 65 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 13 December 1901 | Won by an innings and 124 runs | 1901–02 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 66 | 66 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1902 | Lost by 229 runs | 1901–02 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 67 | 67 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 17 January 1902 | Lost by 4 wickets | 1901–02 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 68 | 68 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 14 February 1902 | Lost by 7 wickets | 1901–02 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 69 | 69 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 28 February 1902 | Lost by 32 runs | 1901–02 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 70 | 70 | Australia | Edgbaston, Birmingham (H) | 29 May 1902 | Match drawn | 1902 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 71 | 71 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 12 June 1902 | Match drawn | 1902 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 72 | 72 | Australia | Bramall Lane, Sheffield (H) | 3 July 1902 | Lost by 143 runs | 1902 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 73 | 73 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 24 July 1902 | Lost by 3 runs | 1902 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 74 | 74 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 11 August 1902 | Won by 1 wicket | 1902 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 75 | 78 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 11 December 1903 | Won by 5 wickets | 1903–04 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 76 | 79 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1904 | Won by 185 runs | 1903–04 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 77 | 80 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 15 January 1904 | Lost by 216 runs | 1903–04 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 78 | 81 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 26 February 1904 | Won by 157 runs | 1903–04 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 79 | 82 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 5 March 1904 | Lost by 218 runs | 1903–04 Ashes series (3–2) |
| 80 | 83 | Australia | Trent Bridge, Nottingham (H) | 29 May 1905 | Won by 213 runs | 1905 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 81 | 84 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 15 June 1905 | Match drawn | 1905 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 82 | 85 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 3 July 1905 | Match drawn | 1905 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 83 | 86 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 24 July 1905 | Won by an innings and 80 runs | 1905 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 84 | 87 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 14 August 1905 | Match drawn | 1905 Ashes series (2–0) |
| 85 | 88 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 2 January 1906 | Lost by 1 wicket | English cricket team in South Africa in 1905–06 (1–4) |
| 86 | 89 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 6 March 1906 | Lost by 9 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1905–06 (1–4) |
| 87 | 90 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 10 March 1906 | Lost by 243 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1905–06 (1–4) |
| 88 | 91 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 24 March 1906 | Won by 4 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1905–06 (1–4) |
| 89 | 92 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 30 March 1906 | Lost by an innings and 16 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1905–06 (1–4) |
| 90 | 93 | South Africa | Lord's, London (H) | 1 July 1907 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1907 (1–0) |
| 91 | 94 | South Africa | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 29 July 1907 | Won by 53 runs | South African cricket team in England in 1907 (1–0) |
| 92 | 95 | South Africa | The Oval, London (H) | 19 August 1907 | Match drawn | South African cricket team in England in 1907 (1–0) |
| 93 | 96 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 13 December 1907 | Lost by 2 wickets | 1907–08 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 94 | 97 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 1 January 1908 | Won by 1 wicket | 1907–08 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 95 | 98 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 10 January 1908 | Lost by 245 runs | 1907–08 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 96 | 99 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 7 February 1908 | Lost by 308 runs | 1907–08 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 97 | 100 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 21 February 1908 | Lost by 49 runs | 1907–08 Ashes series (1–4) |
| 98 | 101 | Australia | Edgbaston, Birmingham (H) | 27 May 1909 | Won by 10 wickets | 1909 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 99 | 102 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 14 June 1909 | Lost by 9 wickets | 1909 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 100 | 103 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 1 July 1909 | Lost by 126 runs | 1909 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 101 | 104 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 26 July 1909 | Match drawn | 1909 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 102 | 105 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 9 August 1909 | Match drawn | 1909 Ashes series (1–2) |
| 103 | 106 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 1 January 1910 | Lost by 19 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1909–10 (2–3) |
| 104 | 107 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 21 January 1910 | Lost by 95 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1909–10 (2–3) |
| 105 | 108 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 26 February 1910 | Won by 3 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1909–10 (2–3) |
| 106 | 109 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 7 March 1910 | Lost by 4 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1909–10 (2–3) |
| 107 | 110 | South Africa | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town (A) | 11 March 1910 | Won by 9 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1909–10 (2–3) |
| 108 | 116 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 15 December 1911 | Lost by 146 runs | 1911–12 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 109 | 117 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 30 December 1911 | Won by 8 wickets | 1911–12 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 110 | 118 | Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (A) | 12 January 1912 | Won by 7 wickets | 1911–12 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 111 | 119 | Australia | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (A) | 9 February 1912 | Won by an innings and 225 runs | 1911–12 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 112 | 120 | Australia | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (A) | 23 February 1912 | Won by 70 runs | 1911–12 Ashes series (4–1) |
| 113 | 122 | South Africa | Lord's, London (H) | 10 June 1912 | Won by an innings and 62 runs | 1912 Triangular Tournament (4–0) |
| 114 | 123 | Australia | Lord's, London (H) | 24 June 1912 | Match drawn | 1912 Triangular Tournament (4–0) |
| 115 | 124 | South Africa | Headingley, Leeds (H) | 8 July 1912 | Won by 174 runs | 1912 Triangular Tournament (4–0) |
| 116 | 126 | Australia | Old Trafford, Manchester (H) | 29 July 1912 | Match drawn | 1912 Triangular Tournament (4–0) |
| 117 | 128 | South Africa | The Oval, London (H) | 12 August 1912 | Won by 10 wickets | 1912 Triangular Tournament (4–0) |
| 118 | 129 | Australia | The Oval, London (H) | 19 August 1912 | Won by 244 runs | 1912 Triangular Tournament (4–0) |
| 119 | 130 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 13 December 1913 | Won by an innings and 157 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1913–14 (4–0) |
| 120 | 131 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 26 December 1913 | Won by an innings and 12 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1913–14 (4–0) |
| 121 | 132 | South Africa | Old Wanderers, Johannesburg (A) | 1 January 1914 | Won by 91 runs | English cricket team in South Africa in 1913–14 (4–0) |
| 122 | 133 | South Africa | Kingsmead, Durban (A) | 14 February 1914 | Match drawn | English cricket team in South Africa in 1913–14 (4–0) |
| 123 | 134 | South Africa | St George's Park Cricket Ground, Port Elizabeth (A) | 27 February 1914 | Won by 10 wickets | English cricket team in South Africa in 1913–14 (4–0) |

## Summary

| Team | Total matches | Total matches | Total matches | Total matches | Total matches | Home matches | Home matches | Home matches | Home matches | Home matches | Away matches | Away matches | Away matches | Away matches | Away matches |
| Team | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | W/L | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | W/L | Mat | Won | Lost | Draw | W/L |
| Australia | 94 | 40 | 35 | 19 | 1.142 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 2.125 | 52 | 23 | 27 | 2 | 0.851 |
| South Africa | 29 | 19 | 7 | 3 | 2.714 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | – | 23 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 2.142 |
| Total | 123 | 59 | 42 | 22 | 1.404 | 48 | 21 | 8 | 19 | 2.625 | 75 | 38 | 34 | 3 | 1.117 |