Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 1877–78 (original) (raw)

The Australian cricket team toured New Zealand in January and February 1878, before their 1878 tour of England. It was the first overseas tour by a representative Australian team. The Australians played seven matches against provincial teams, six of which fielded 22 players (the other team, Canterbury, fielded 15) with the aim of providing more evenly-matched contests. As the matches were not 11-a-side they are not considered to have been first-class. The team had assembled in November 1877, playing matches against teams in four Australian colonies.