If England’s dramatic seven-run defeat at The Oval in 1882 triggered the chain of events that led to the test series between Australia and England being known as The Ashes, then the England tour to Australia that began later that same year can lay claim to be the first of that nature.
That is more so because the England captain Ivo Bligh set off with the vowed intention to ‘regain the Ashes’.
That did not seem likely after the first game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 1882 when Australia, batting first, made 291, George Bonnor top-scoring with 85. In reply, England made only 177. Under the rules in place at the time, they were asked to follow-on. In the end, the home side won easily by 9 wickets.
The second Test on the same ground became an acrimonious affair, with both sides accusing the other of damaging a wearing pitch.
This time England batted first and made 294, W.W. Read scoring 75 and Charles Leslie 54. England were then bowled out for 114, occasional spin bowler Billy Bates taking 7-28, including the second hat-trick in test match cricket.
This time Australia had to follow-on. Bates had another fine spell with the ball, claiming 7-74, as Australia were all out for 153 in their second innings. England won by an innings and 27 runs.
The action switched to Sydney for the third Test, where England batted first again, making 247, Read again top-scoring for them with 66. Australia were then bowled out for 218, despite 94 from opener Alec Bannerman.
England extended the 29-run by making 123 second time round, with pace bowler Fred Spofforth claiming 7-44.
However, set 155 wo win, Australia collapsed to 83, with England using just two bowlers. Dick Barlow ((7-40) and Fred Morley (2-34) bowled more than 69 overs together unchanged.
England had won by 69 runs and Bligh had, indeed, regained the Ashes.