Meanwhile, ye smart Australian lads,
Our parting cup shall flow
To the fame of your name,
Who have laid our wickets low;
Who have bowled great Grace, and scored from Shaw,
And laid all our wickets low!
Dr. W. G. Grace
In the valedictory lines a week later Punch wishes the Australians godspeed on their homeward journey, with special mention of Spofforth, Gregory, Bannerman, Blackham and Boyle. They returned in 1880, and the match at the Oval inspired the usual Lion and Kangaroo cut. W. G. Grace made 152 and Murdoch 153, but England won. Punch celebrates the heroic contest in the manner of Macaulay. "W. G." was now one of Punch's special heroes. He had even in 1878 bracketed him with Mr. Gladstone in "The Two W. G.'s" (based on "The Two Obadiahs," a popular song of the hour), and in July, 1880, the verses on "Grace: an Ode à la mode," are a good picture of W. G. in his large mastery of the grand style:—
"THE LEVIATHAN BAT"