 In 1891 – 92 , Lord Sheffield 's team ( captained by W. G. Grace ) toured Australia , the first English side to do so in four years . The presence of Grace contributed to a revival of interest in the game that had waned due to a surfeit of international tours and indifferent performances by the Australian team . The Australians won the series 2 – 1 to regain The Ashes . In the first Test at Melbourne , Trott scored three and 23 , but had greater impact with the ball . Requiring 213 runs for victory , England 's score reached 60 before their first two batsmen were dismissed . The Australian captain Jack Blackham then gambled by calling on Trott 's often inaccurate bowling . Trott took two quick wickets and the English innings never recovered . In returning 3 / 52 for the innings , Wisden noted that Trott " bowled admirably " . The remaining two Tests were less productive for Trott : he finished with 48 runs ( at an average of 8 @.@ 00 ) and 6 wickets ( at an average of 35 @.@ 00 ) for the series . 
