Cricket- the Philadelphia story . . . The Australians of 1896

In 1893 Australia visited Philadelphia to play a series of three first-class cricket matches against the Gentlemen of Philadelphia. They had previous history, In 1878 Philadelphia played their inaugural First-Class fixture against an Australian XI led by Dave Gregory. They shocked the visitors by drawing the match after just failing to make Australia follow on.

The two teams met again 15 years later to play two first class fixtures and the result of the first match was possibly the greatest cricket upset of all time; Philadelphia scored 525 and then bowled Australian Test out twice to win by an innings and 68 runs. Australia saved face by winning the second game to draw the two match series.

In 1896, just three years later, the Australian Test team returned and contained five members of the "class of 93". They were determined to set the record straight; lightening couldn't strike twice . . . or could it?