From start to finish they dominated the match with an all-round performance which went according to plan from the off.

John Douglas won the toss and put Australia in on a damp wicket, and although his bowlers made a slow start, wickets soon began to tumble.

Sydney Barnes and Frank Foster tore in, sharing nine wickets between them with some ferocious bowling.

And as if following the lead of their bowlers, England's opening batsmen Jack Hobbs and Wilfred Rhodes set about nullifying the Australian attack.

They took the match beyond their hosts with a near faultless first-wicket partnership of 323 - a then world record.

The effort gave Rhodes the distinguished feat of being part of both England's first and 10th wicket records against Australia.

After posting a mammoth total of 589 it was a matter of if, rather than when, Australia would subside.

The last man fell after tea on the fifth day, captain Douglas wrapping up proceedings with his fifth wicket.