Editing Archie MacLaren (section)

===Test debut===
[[File:Stoddart's Team 1894.jpg|thumb|alt=Head-shot photographs of the English cricketers arranged around an image of Stoddart in the centre|Stoddart's team which toured Australia in 1894–95: MacLaren is at the bottom left]]
Approached to organise a touring team by the Australian cricket authorities, Stoddart had been unable to persuade several leading batsmen to join his squad.<ref>Frith, p. 14.</ref> Stoddart only took 13 men, of whom two were [[wicket-keeper]]s (only one of whom could realistically play in each match) and one was a [[Lob bowling|lob bowler]] who did not play any Test matches; this guaranteed MacLaren's selection for all the matches against Australia.<ref name=D20/> Consequently, he retained his place even when his form was poor.<ref name=D24-6/> In his first game, against [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]], he scored 228,<ref name=D21>Down (1981), p. 21.</ref> and hit another half-century in the build-up to the first Test. He made his international debut on 14 December 1894,<ref name=figures/> scoring 4&nbsp;and 20 as England won despite being asked to [[follow on]].<ref>Down (1981), pp. 22–23.</ref> England also won the next game, although MacLaren was [[caught]] from the opening delivery of the match, the first time anyone had been dismissed by the first ball of a Test.<ref>Down (1981), p. 24.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Records: Test matches: Batting records: Dismissed by the first ball of a match|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283164.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=7 November 2012}}</ref> Australia took the third and fourth Tests to level the series. MacLaren had little personal success, and averaged only 12.50 in the series after four games.<ref name=D24-6/>

By then, MacLaren was in financial difficulties. As an amateur, his expenses were covered by the tour organisers but he received no money for playing. To support him financially, the Lancashire committee had given him £100 before the tour.<ref name=D20/> By the latter stages of the tour, his money was running out; most of it was probably spent betting on [[Horse racing|horse races]], and he sent Lancashire a request for further money. Just before the final Test, he received a £60 advance on his expenses for the upcoming English season. For the fifth Test, he dropped down from opening the batting, which he had done throughout the series, to batting at [[Batting order (cricket)|number five]],<ref name=D24-6>Down (1981), pp. 24–26.</ref> and responded with his first Test century. Batting with greater caution than usual, he scored 120 before accidentally [[Hit wicket|standing on his own wicket]].<ref>Down (1981), pp. 26–27.</ref> England won the match to take the series 3–2, amid great public interest in England and Australia.<ref name=figures>{{Cite web| title = Player Oracle AC MacLaren| url =https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=177&testing=0&opponentmatch=exact&playername=&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=InningsList&howout=All&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=&startscore=&team=&startseason=
| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date =4 November 2012}}</ref><ref>Frith, pp. 158–59, 196.</ref> MacLaren scored 240 runs at 26.67 in the Test series, finishing fourth in the English averages.<ref>Frith, p. 184.</ref> He performed more effectively in the lesser matches,<ref>Gibson, p. 63.</ref> and following some final tour fixtures, he totalled 803 runs at 47.23 in all first-class games.<ref name=fcbatting/><ref name=figures/> On the six-week outward journey MacLaren met (Kathleen) Maud Power, an Australian socialite and the daughter of a horse racing official. They were married in 1898.<ref name=ODNB/><ref>Frith, pp. 33–37.</ref>