Aussie Grit

Australia is never far from a major sporting triumph. Paul Fearnley

- Paul Fearnley

Cricket’s inaugural Test of March 1877 set the tone. An England party that was already exhausted by a hectic schedule - this match in Melbourne was to be the 19th of its tour - was reeling still from a rough six-day crossing from New Zealand. Selection, therefore, was straightforward: all 11 available ‘fit’ men played.

Underdog Australia was immediately on the front foot when opening batsman Charles Bannerman, born in Woolwich, made a gritty century. Then opening bowler Tom Kendall, born in Bedford, took seven wickets in England’s second innings to strand the visitors 45 runs shy of their target.

The bickering between the New South Wales and Victorian associations - ace fast bowler Fred ‘The Demon’ Spofforth had refused to play - was forgotten, as a country of two million united and exalted in sport.

Australia, 55th in terms of global population today (27 million), has been batting above average in cricket - and cycling, golf, hockey, netball, rugby, swimming and tennis - ever since. None of which are its most popular sport. That'll be Australian Rules Football.

It lays claim to the greatest Test batsman by a quantifiable 38 percentage points: Don Bradman. And to the only man to complete two tennis grand slams: Rod Laver. To the most successful female tennis player: it’s three grand slams for Margaret Court. To the greatest rugby league player: Cameron Smith. To the only athlete to win individual Olympic gold at 100m, 200m and 400m: Betty Cuthbert. To the world’s greatest miler: Herb Elliott: unbeaten in 36 races, retired at 22. And to the first swimmer (of only four) to win three consecutive Olympic golds in the same event: Dawn Fraser.