Part V of our multi-part series on USA Cricket History
History of American cricket Part I - The 1700's
History of American Cricket Part II - 1800 to 1850
History of American Cricket Part III – 1850s
History of American Cricket Part IV – 1860s
Civil War casualties exceeded 690,000 across the country. Based on 1860 census figures, 8% of all
White American males aged 13 to 43 died in the war. In fact, Civil War’s casualties outnumbered the losses during all other USA wars combined.
Cricket suffered the consequences of Civil War - among the casualties were some of the best cricketers.
Walter Newhall
One of the most well known cricketers to lose his life during the Civil War was Walter Newhall whose family was a prominent cricketing family in American cricket (4 Newhalls played in one match against Canada in 1880). Walter Newhall rose to the rank of captain in the third Pennsylvania cavalry and fought many a battle including the battles at Williamsburg, Malvern and Gettysburg. He died in December of 1863 after drowning in a creek near Rappahannock.
NY Times noted that at the end of the 1860s, cricket’s popularity had fallen across USA. “The sport of cricket had a popularity (then) that it does not enjoy now by any means. Now, the country possesses a ball game that is quickly played and yields exciting and lively contests. In 1868, we see between five and six thousand spectators at the leading baseball matches paying 50 cents admission to witness the match. Whereas the highest class cricket does not attract a hundred people even without an admission fee.”
A year before the Civil War broke out,
Beadle's Dime Base-Ball Player, published in New York City,
already sold 50,000 copies in USA.
Within a short time span, baseball caught on like a wildfire. By the early 1870s, there were 2,000 baseball clubs, 100,000 players, 250,000 spectators and, perhaps most important, a sound commercial structure.
The decades old cricket contests between USA and Canada were suspended during the civil war and restarted beginning 1875. However, the die-hard cricketers of Philadelphia continued on with their cricketing traditions. These clubs around Philadelphia are responsible for the survival, if not the resurgence of cricket after the war. In fact, by 1870, newspapers such as New York Times were reporting attendance of 3,000 spectators for a domestic match between Young America and local Englishmen.
Throughout the 1870’s, baseball gained ground in Canada too just as it had in USA the previous decade. In fact, when Canada became a nation in 1867, cricket was so popular it was declared the national sport by John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada. But the influence of baseball from the United States eroded the dominance of cricket. In the words of historian Keith Sandiford, "Canadians were searching for a national identity less reliant on British models and were becoming increasingly influenced by American culture."
It was too early to write an obituary for cricket in the 70's. Although tours were too irregular to be educational, English continued to tour USA and Canada. The third tour by an English team in 1872 featured the first ever cricketing icon - W. G. Grace. Australians too stopped in USA and Canada on their way home whenever possible.
In 1878, some 15,000 people in Philadelphia watched a local eleven hold the Australians to a draw - no mean feat considering the Aussies were already emerging as a cricketing powerhouse by then.
From a cricketing standpoint, the quality of the game saw important changes. When Jupp’s English XI visited Philadelphia in 1868, it beat the locals easily. The problem lay in USA’s inability to face English bowling. Lack of cricketing interaction had taken its toll and poor defensive techniques and lack of coaching made a big difference. Over-arm bowling had been introduced in England in 1864 but because of lack of exposure, round-arm and under-arm bowling were still prevalent in USA until 1880.
The visiting Aussies - 1878
By the end of 1870’s Philadelphia teams were doing rather well in their face-offs with the English visitors. By 1878, Philadelphia had developed into a fighting strong side. When the Australians came visiting, fresh from a victorious tour of England where they actually bowled out MCC twice in one day, little did they realize that they would have to fight hard to earn a draw versus the Philadelphians. This was the first drawn international match in USA!
October 16, 1870: Grand Contest between Young America Club and a picked English Eleven
The Englishmen were the victors in a grand cricket match held in Philadelphia between the Americans from the Young America Club and an Eleven comprising hand picked Englishmen from the area. Over 3000 people were in attendance.
Young America - First Innings
H Newhall b. Rogerson..45
Bussler run out..1
G. Newhall b. Rogerson..12
Large b. McIntyre..10
C. Newhall c and b. McIntyre..0
D. Newhall c Carpenter b McIntyre..24
Pease c. McIntyre b Norley..0
Johns b. McIntyre..2
R. Newhall not out..17
Stocker b McIntyre..1
Baxter c Hargreave b. Rogerson..3
Byes 2; Leg byes 3; Wide 1..6
Total 121
Englishmen - First Innings
Mc Intyre b. C Newhall..63
Bance c. Large b. C. Newhall..26
Hargreave b. C. Newhall..1
Pearson c. Large b. D. Newhall..7
Norley b. C. Newhall..10
Rastall c. Large b. C. Newhall..9
Byron c. G. Newhall b. C. Newhall..0
Rogerson C. Bussier b. C. Newhall..3
Kelter not out…8
Carpenter b C. Newhall..7
Leg byes 1; Wide 1; No balls 3…5
Total..147
Young America - Second Innings
H. Newhall c. Hargreave b. McIntyre..3
Bussier c. Byron b. Norley…7
G. Newhall c. Hargreave b. Norley..5
Large c. Byron b. Norley..7
C. Newhall c. McIntyre b. Norley..5
D. Newhall b. Rogerson..3
Pease not out..16
Johns b. Rogerson..0
R. Newhall b. Rogerson..5
Stocker b. Norley..17
Baxter run out..2
Leg Byes 4..4
Total..69
Englishmen - Second Innings
McIntyre not out ..31
Bance c and b D. Newhall..2
Eastwood not out..8
Leg byes 3; wide 1..4
Total..45
Lord Harris played a huge role
in organizing cricket tours
during the 1870’s
1872: In 1872 the third English tour was opposed by the Gladston government due to the Alabama incident – a hangover from the Civil War. But an English eleven arrived under the leadership of R. A. Fitzgerald. In the ranks was the immortal Dr. W. G. Grace and the great cricket organizer, Lord Harris, the former Governor of Bombay (of Harris Shield fame).
WG Grace
The doctor lived up to his colossal reputation by scoring a magnificent 142 against the Toronto Cricket Club. This innings was to stand for over one hundred years, as the highest individual effort by an English batsman in Canada, until eclipsed by David Gower at Winnipeg, against Manitoba, during the 1876 tour by the D. H. Robins XI.
During the same year, Toronto cricketer Ross McKenzie hurled a cricket ball 140 yards, 9 inches to get a world record. Twelve years later, Englishman Robert Percival achieved a distance of 140 years, 2 feet at Durham Sands racecourse, but McKenzie?s mighty throw still ranks as the second greatest of all time.
“At the hands of the Englishmen, there will be afforded opportunities of witnessing cricket playing at the hands of its best known exponents, the present company being superior to the professionals who came in 1859 and 1868,” noted New York Times.
The Times further noted that cricket is a game of science and compared it to chess whereas baseball was compared to rapid chequers or draughts not requiring as much caution.
“Often the most reckless batter in baseball is the most successful. It is the rapidity of baseball that has made it so popular in America,” the paper noted. “Cricket has never fairly been put forward and it is hoped that the visit of the Gentlemen Eleven will do much to give it prominence.”
With the exception of two players, the English team comprised Gentlemen (amateurs) of ‘independent fortune.’ The team included two who are partners in a major bank on Lombard Street!
Here are pen pix of the visitors that appeared in the Times:
“First on the list is the well known DA Fitzgerald, Secretary of Marylebone Cricket Club.
The most famous of the players is WG Grace of Gloucestershire. He is the most accomplished player that ever played cricket. Generally hits long double digit or triple digit scores. At one time, the scores that are made by him were regarded as impossible. Game after game, he pushes the scores higher. His average last year was 54 including nine centuries or doubles in first class cricket. His hitting is known for finish and power and he is known to be able to place the ball wherever he wants. In England, he is known as the Wizard.
A Lubbock is a scientific batter of very high reputation. He is an Etonian and from Kent.
His brother Edward Lubbock is an all-rounder who can bowl left-handed to good effect.
Appleby of Lancashire is a bowler – left-handed and fast of round arm action.
William Hadow of Oxford is a good batsman in the top order and an excellent slow bowler.
AN Hornby first became famous in Eton for his crack-hitting. He scored 8 centuries in 1870.
Ottoway is a great fielder who may be used as the wicketkeeper.
CK Francis of Oxford is a good spin bowler.
Rose is the in-form slow bowler who destroyed Canada with his bowling. He will be the one to watch.
Not much is known of the cricketing prowess of Hon G Harris and F Pickering. “
September 18-20, 1872: Visiting English Twelve and the Twenty two of St. George Club
The St. George’s Club, true to their reputation, hosted the Englishmen in grand style. All the expenses incurred by the visitors were paid for by their New York hosts. Each club is contributing $600.
St. George’s Club defrayed their expenses by way of admission tickets to the match of $1 for match day. After the Englishmen play the St. George’s Club, proceeded to Philadelphia where Norley rounded up a professional team of twenty two recruited from the clubs in and around Philadelphia.
From Philadelphia, the Englishmen went to Boston and headed home to England around October.
George Wright
For the New York game, St. George’s Club was represented by the foremost exponents of the game - Brewster, Stubberfield, Moeran and Cox for bowling; George Wright and Harry Wright, the great batting duo.
Harry Wright
“To say that this game was enjoyed by thousands as a mere matter of athletic support would convey no adequate impression of the excitement which characterized this event,” wrote NY Times of the game that commenced on September 17, 1872.
Lines upon lines of people, some three thousand in all, sitting in the grass, the ladies and gentlemen in the pavilion, and the members of the St. George’s Club in the clubhouse watched the game with the greatest earnestness from the time the stumps were pitched until they were drawn at sundown.
WG Grace got a thunderous reception upon marching in to bat. Had he been out when on twenty, the game of cricket would have gotten quite a boost. He hit a ball high in the sky and the fielder who ran to catch it had the sun streaming in his eyes and dropped the ball. Mr Grace had the Sun to thank and baseball must have thanked the stars that the Americans missed this opportunity. Even a slightly close match could have made cricket sizzle in USA again.
At the end of the day, Mr. Grace had scored 67 runs and his partner Mr. Ottaway scored 27 and played the admirable bowling of Wright and Brewster very well. In fact, had it not been for the scientific defense, Brewster could have been in the wickets – in the event, he bowled 26 overs and had no less than thirteen maidens.
In the morning, St. George won the toss and decided to bat. The English team comprising Grace, Ottaway (wicketkeeper), Appleby and Rose (bowlers), Fitzgerald, A Lubbock and E Lubbock, Francis, Harrow, Harris, Pickering, and Hornby.
While Appleby had round-arm action, Rose had underarm action. Grace impressed with his fielding as he prowled around like a cat and caught two batsmen within 3 to 4 yards of the wicket.
America St. George XXII
Jackson..c.Grace..3
Bance..c Hadow..0
Jones..c A Lubbock..8
Fortun..c Harris..6
Cashman..b Appleby..1
Sleigh..c Appleby..2
Moeran..c Appleby..0
Keiler…b Appleby..6
George Wright..b Appleby..6
Lemon..c Ottaway..0
Torrance..Appleby..0
Cox..c Appleby..10
Bowman..c Grace..2
Graig run out..1
McDougal…c Fitzgerald..2
Hatfield ..b Appleby..2
Wright..c Harris..5
Brewster b Rose…4
Gibbs b. Appleby..4
Sparks b Appleby..1
Talbot c A Lubbock..1
Eyre not out ..0
Extras..2
Total…66
H Wright and Brewster opened the bowling for the Americans. Brewster started with 4 maidens. When Grace sent a full pitch to the squareleg fence for a 6, things started to fall in place.
After two singles, he sent another one over the square leg, this time for a six. Then, he followed it up with a four.
The scoring went on and on and when the stumps were drawn on day one, the Englishmen were 102 for no loss with Grace on 67 (3X6, 1X4) and Ottaway on 27.
On day two, it rained so much in the morning that many of the twenty two did not show up on time. By 12 noon, the sun was shining brightly and the game resumed. Grace sent an easy catch to Brewster at short slip. The ball was slippery and wet and while it slipped on the ground giving the batsmen a hard time, they also got some lives because fielders could not hold on to some easy catches. The Englishmen ended their innings on 249.
When the Americans came to bat in the second innings, they appeared to be thirty for runs and for as long as the Wright brothers were on the ground, things looked good. In the end, the 23 that the brothers scored was more than the 44 that their side ended with. The American Twenty Two lost to the English twelve by an innings and 139 runs.
The American bowling and fielding were first rate but their batting was found by NY Times to suffer from “want of practice” and the batsmen did not pull their weight.
The English Twelve
Ottaway c Jones..29
Grace c Brewster..69
Hornby c Keller...17
Francic. C and B Greig..28
A. Lubbock c Bowman..51
Pickering b. Greig..3
E. Lubbock run out..15
Hadow runout..3
Hon. G Harris c Lemon..9
Appleby c Jones..5
Rose not out..0
Fitzgerald c Hatfield..0
Byes 9; legbyes 4, Wides 8.. 21
Total..249
America Second Innings
George Wright..c A Lubbock..14
Hatfield ..b Appleby..0
Wright.. c Ottaway..0
Cashman..c Harris..2
Eyre b Appleby ..1
Bance b. Appleby..0
Lemon b. Appleby..0
Jones st. Ottaway..5
Greig b Appleby..0
Fortun c and b Grace..0
Cox..c Harris..0
Moeran c Hadow..1
Torrance..Hornby..0
Keller c Pickering..4
Gibbs st. Ottaway..1
Brewster c Francis..2
Bowman b Appleby..2
Sleigh b. Appleby..1
McDougal b Appleby..1
Talbot not out..0
Extras..0
Total…44
WG Grace started off impressively but ended rather tamely on the American tour.
His first match against New York XXII of St. George’s Club yielding 68 runs and eleven wickets for 8 runs. At Philadelphia, he had a torrid time scoring 14 and 7 and getting twenty wickets for 68 runs. At Boston, he got 26 and thirteen wickets for 35 runs.
What is interesting is that the Americans had shown some improvement and lost the second and third matches by 3 and 4 wicket margins.
AG Spalding
1874: A G Spalding, now a pitcher for Red Stockings, led a tour of American baseballers to England. The Boston Red Stockings and Philadelphia Athletics baseball tour blended cricket matches against local teams in between the exhibition matches. Even though a lot of these matches were against inferior teams, the Americans beat their opponents easily. Following this tour, the National Association wound down and the National Baseball League was formed.
AG Spalding Cricket Ad from the late 19th century
1874: In 1874, in a match at Northwood, a Mr Collins made 338 runs in a little over three overs, which is marvelously rapid scoring. And in a match played between two elevens at Earls Heaton in 1875, one side was disposed of in 17 minutes without scoring at all. In another match between Bow and Chalcott, the man who went in first scored 24 and no one else scored. He carried the bat.
1874: The Halifax Cup
In the spring of 1874, Captain NW Wallace of the 60th Rifles was garrisoned in Nova Scotia. Captain Wallace was a cricketer and thought cricket in Halifax would not be such a bad idea. So he invited Canada to provide a Canadian XI to play the officers of the garrison (the English XI). Although he invited Philadelphia, Boston, St. Louis and New York, only Philadelphians sent a team. This team beat Boston during a stop-over. In St. John (New Brunswick province of Canada), they had a scheduled cricket match but ended up playing baseball with a local baseball team which they beat handily.
Upon reaching Halifax, cricket was a distant second priority to lavishly arranged hospitality. In the event, they beat Canada and English Officers by an innings and lifted the first Halifax Cup. This competition continued for a full 50 years and the last Cup competition was played in 1924.
1875: USA versus Canada cricket matches started again with United States winning in 1875. They continued their form by defeating a visiting eleven of British officers from the garrisons of Halifax and Bermuda.
1875: In this year U Penn students not only participated in matches between classes, but also formed a varsity eleven which played a few minor matches. Record keeping during the late 1870s was spotty, but there is evidence that a varsity eleven played every season; opponents included Haverford College, Columbia University, Penn alumni, and the St. George’s eleven of New York City. By 1877, after the creation of Penn's Athletic Association, students had organized a Cricket Club as well as class teams and a varsity team. There is evidence that Penn's professional schools sometimes formed their own teams as well; for example, in 1893 the Law School defeated the College by a score of 202 to 74.
October 3, 1875: Twelve Americans win versus twelve Englishmen
Under the captaincy of JY Soutter, twelve Americans played at Hoboken with twelve Englishmen under the captaincy of CW Bance. The Englishmen played for local clubs, but were born in England.
Among those who watched was Mr. Dodsworth, 90 years old. Soon after noon, the match began with Soutter and Jenkins opening for America. Soutter kept his wicket up until he scored 30. Jenkins, of Manhattan Cricket Club, was caight by Gilbert when the score was 19 with his individual score was 13.
Jones, the English bowler got a hat trick. This would have fetched him a new hat had he been playing for his club eleven. The American innings ended with 86on the board. The English twelve were disposed off by the fine bowling of Soutter and Sprague for just 22. At 5:30, the English team was batting again with the score on 37 for 3.
Twelve Americans - First innings
Soutter (St. George’s) c Gilbert b Giles..30
Jenkinds (Manhattan) c Gilber b Brewster..13
Satterthwaite (St George’s) run out..3
Hosford (Manhattan) c Brewster b Jones..1
Cashman (St. George’s) c Bance b Gilbert .. 2
Westfoldt (St. George’s) lbw b Jones..4
Stevens (Staten Island) b Jones..15
Irving (Staten Island) c Brewster b Jones..1
M Eyre (Staten Island) b Jones..0
Sprague (Prospect Park) b Jones..0
Van Nest (St. George’s) b Jones..0
White (Prospect Park) not out..9
Byes 3, leg Byes 2, No balls 3..8
Total..86
Englishmen - First Innings
Bance (St. George’s) b Sprague..2
Gilbert (Manhattan) c Satterthwaite b Soutter..4
Roberts (Staten Island) c Sprague b Soutter..0
Brewster (Prof Staten Island) c Satterthwaite b Soutter...0
Moeran (St. George’s) st. Westfeldt b Sprague..0
Giles (Prof St. George’s) not out..7
Marsh (St. George’s) run out..4
Peters (Prospect Park) b Sprague..0
Jones (St. George’s) b Sprague..0
Luske (Staten Island) c Westfeldt b Sprague..0
Sleigh (St. George’s) c Sprague b Soutter…0
Dodge (Prospect Park) run out..3
Byes..2
Total..22
Twelve Americans - Second innings
Bance c Westfeldt b Cashman..5
Gilbert c Westfeldt b Hosford..2
Moeran not out..1
Giles b Soutter..8
Marsh not out..15
Byes 3, Leg byes 1, wides 2..6
Total..37 for 3.
1876: By 1876, the famous Victoria Cricket Club was founded on the west coast of Canada. Other teams were formed in the Prairie Provinces, Alberta and British Columbia in the footsteps of the North West Cricket Club (Winnipeg) and Victoria CC. The game was now beginning to take a strong hold west of Ontario and the sport was being played throughout Canada.
1876: When the National Baseball League was launched in 1876, most of the players and the grounds men were drawn from cricket. Indeed two of the baseball pioneers, Harry Wright and AG Spalding both of whom founded sporting goods firms that are still in business.
1877: A.G. Spalding was a great pitcher in his own right, and led Boston to their four consecutive National Association titles before going to Chicago in Hulbert's contractural coup of 1876. Hulbert's offer was a $500 raise and the promise of a quarter of the White Stockings' gate receipts. Spalding won 47 games that year and Hulbert took the inaugural NL title. However, just after the start of the 1877 season, Spalding stopped pitching to become a full-time promoter and businessman. He opened a sporting goods business, with an $800 loan from his mother, which got its start by manufacturing baseballs and cricket equipment. Spalding paid the National League to use his balls, so that he might advertise them as the "official" league ball.
1877: The Seabright Lawn Tennis and Cricket Club, the oldest tennis club in the U.S. (founded 1877) was at that time a cricket club too. This club always prided itself on doing things right. Because the best turf came from England, the founding fathers imported Seabright's first sod from across the Atlantic. Over the years, they also imported the best amateurs in the world to play in their invitation tournaments at Rumson, along the North Jersey shore.
1877: At Haverford, cricket continued to thrive. "For us cricket is the national game," a student wrote. A new cricket ground was dedicated in 1877 and in 1878 Haverford defeated Penn with Haverford cricket’s founder, William Carvill, then 84, on hand to watch the proceedings. A local scribe felt that Penn-Haverford cricket would become a "fashionable event," similar to Oxford-Cambridge cricket.
August 1878: Australian team in Canada
The first Australian team to tour Canada arrived under the captaincy of Dave Gregory. It included such greats as Charlie Bannerman, Fredrick Spofforth, W. L. Murdoch and John MacBlackham. In a match played at Montreal, Bannerman scored 125. A big hitter, he made 165 retired hurt in the first test match at Melbourne in 1877.
September 9, 1878: The Aussies arrive on the world scene but eat humble-pie in USA.
Demon Spofforth
Aussies beat MCC including WG Grace in 4.5 hours. MCC was bowled twice in one day. This was a full strength Aussie team comprising Spofforth, the Bannermans, Murdoch, Boyle and Blackham.
Demon Bowler FR Spofforth was unplayable.
The Aussies came down like a wolf on the fold
When our Maryleborne cracks for a tigfle were bowled
When our Grace before dinner was very soon done
And our Grace after dinner did not score a run.
The touring Australians will stop in New York and Philadelphia on their way back to their homeland from their motherland.
The Times wrote that “It is certain that the local teams will be beaten by the Australians, who have had a successful tour of England beating some of England’s very best batsmen and bowlers. But what could be more manly than playing the game and if you have to lose, then losing to the best.”
Bats in the 1800s
The stars of cricket would have their settings as well as their risings. Mr. WG Grace seems to the one that is seeing his skill on the wane. He has not displayed the same unvarying skill as shown in the former seasons but it is only fair to admit that there was nothing more exciting than watching him go in first and come out last in the Gentlemen vs Players match in the Oval. As was said of him at the time he visited USA a few years before: “To see him tap the ball gently to the off for one, draw it to the on for two, pound it to the limits for four and drive it beyond the most distant long-leg for six, looks as easy as rolling off a log.” Although his batting average for the present year is considerably lower than the last year. He still has the highest ever, and without doubt, remains the finest cricketer in the world. But it is a question whether he or anyone else has ever equaled the feat of his brother at Canterbury in 1862. On that occasion the latter played on an emergency for the Gentlemen of Kent against the Marylebone cricket Club. He went in first, scored 192 not out and got every wicket in the second inning.
The Australians land in the City of Richmond about the 25th of September. The day after their arrival, they play 18 men selected from the St. George’s, Staten Island, and Manhattan Clubs on the St. George Ground, Hoboken. If the game is completed in two days, there will be a single cricket game played on the third day. From this city, they will go to Philadelphia and from there to San Francisco.
October 5, 1878: Australia in USA
The Australians were the first overseas team to visit USA in nearly 6 years. Before the tour, The American Cricketer carried a prediction that USA would have to field 69 men instead of 18 to defeat the Aussies.
In New York, the Australians were surprised with the robustness of the American attack. New York’s Ed Sprague bowled his trademark dewskimmers which troubles the Aussies so badly that they were reeling at 32 for 7 in their first innings at one point. Americans were surprised by their team’s strong showing!
In Philadelphia, things were even better. Philadelphia, for the first time, fielded an eleven instead of eighteen, in defiance of The American Cricketer’s sarcastic comment.
Walter Newhall put up a 84 run stand and the Philadelphians nearly enforced a follow-on on the Australians. Philadelphia still led the visitors by 46 runs in the first innings.
Of course, Australians recovered in the second innings and nearly inflicted a defeat on the hosts but a lengthy dispute over an umpiring decision ate into the time available for the Aussies. This match played on October 3rd, 4th and 5th of 1878 was the first international drawn game in USA. Australians apologized for their walk-out some days later. There being no rules of forfeiture, they saved themselves the embarrassment of a forfeited match which would have been USA’s first international win!
Whatever the circumstances, the Philadelphian Eleven had set an example with their spirited performance and this game ignited the spark for cricket all across the state and won over more than a few young men to the game.
This also gave them the confidence that saw them defeat the visiting Ireland team in 1879. In 1885, they defeated the English side led by Rev ET Thornton in the first of the two match series. It wasn’t until 1896 that the Philadelphians defeated Australians in the last of three matches. In fact, the Australians came back with a vengeance the following year when the toured USA again. They bowled New York out for 25 runs and in Philadelphia, which again hoped to enforce a draw, Bonner and Massie scored the 53 runs they needed in under 40 minutes.
Here is a description of how keen the contest was before it ended in a draw due to light.
The openers, John Hargreaves and Francis Brewster started the American second innings on a cautious note, but Brewster fell in the second over to Allan for a duck. T Hargreaves joined John Hargreaves at the crease and the two took the score to 17 before John was stumped by Blackham while on 7. Robert the hero of 84 runs on Thursday did not stay for too long and was out for a duck. Meanwhile, his partner Thomas Hargreaves was also disposed of through some excellent stumping. D Newhall had joined his brother before Robert was caught by Balley with the score reading 19 for 4. Dan Newhall’s wicket too was claimed through stumping at 12:35PM by the wicketkeeper but the umpire turned the appeal down.
The Australians walked out of the field and did not return until an hour later. There being no rules against forfeiture, play recommenced at 1:50 PM with Dan Newhall and Caldwell at the bat and the score standing at 22 for 4. Dan gave an easy catch to Boyle off Spofforth with 7 runs to his credit. George Newhall came in next and added a couple of runs with the score on 37 for 6. A recess was taken for dinner at this stage.
By 3:35PM, the Philadelphia innings was over with just 53 on the board. Spofforth and Allan had shared 5 wickets each.
GOP Second Innings
John Hargreaves stumped Blackham b Spofforth..7
Francis Brewster c and b Allan..0
Thomas Hargreaves st. Blackham b Allan..9
R Newhall c Balley b Spofforth..0
D Newhall c Boyle b Spofforth..7
R Caldwell b Allan..8
G Newhall c Gregory b Allan..2
Charles Newhall lbw Spofforth..5
E Hopkinson c Balley b Spofforth..5
E Comfort b Allan..4
Spencer Meade not out..0
Byes..6
Total..53
Aussies came to bat at 3:38 PM with just a 3 minute break. They needed 99 runs to win the match and they had until 5PM to make them. At 4:05PM with 55 minutes left in the game, the score was 32 for 2. At 4:31 PM, they needed 59 runs from 29 minutes. It was now a race against time. Americans sent Dan Newhall to bowl and he did a splendid job. The batsmen scored just 1 run in the next 5 overs. They ended the day with 56 for 4.
Australia 2nd innings
Spofforth b C Newhall..4
C Bannerman b C Newhall..27
Horan c R Newhall b Meade..0
Balley b C Newhall..24
Murdoch not out..0
Blackham not out..0
Byes..1
Total..56
October 10, 1878: Philadelphia players made glad by an apology
When the Australians walked off the field after an umpiring decision went against them, only to return an hour later and continue the game, it left a very bad impression on the cricketers and residents of Philadelphia. Enough time was lost for the contest to end in a draw.
A few days later, John Conway, the manager of the Australian team wrote to some players asserting that the cause of the conduct of the Australian team was the ‘outrageous’ umpiring decisions by the American umpire, Mr. Brown.
He went on to write another letter addressed to Mr. Conway and Mr. Outerbridge, saying “The Australian cricketers desire me to apologize to you and your fellow cricketers for their hurried and apparently cold departure from the ground. The little contretemps they regards as merely a fleeting cloud, which but for a moment obscured the most genial of sunshine. They enjoyed the match very much and were both pleased and surprised at the quality of the cricket displayed by their courteous and gentlemanly antagonists. I hope that the manly game of cricket will continue to flourish in the future as it has apparently progressed since the last visit of the English cricketers.”
NY Times wrote that the Philadelphia cricketers were now much better disposed towards their antagonists.
April 20, 1879: A comparison of cricket in England and America
From Brentano’s Aquatic Monthly and Sporting Gazetteer
Hitherto the one greatest obstacle to the popularizing of this sport in America has been the tedious delays incident to the way of playing the game customary with our English resident cricketers. The adage that “time is money” governs the American people in every phase of their national life, and in nothing so much as in the character and nature of their sports and pastimes.
In England, where there is a large class of unemployed people, who, with wealth at their command, find time hang heavy on their hands, the style of playing the game of cricket so as to absorb as much of their surplus of leisure time as possible, commends itself as an attractive feature.
But in America, where the drones of the country are decidedly in the minority, and the busybees of the country find little time to devote to recreation, the game that most economizes time will naturally become popular.
The delays incident to cricket that we especially refer do not belong to the game itself so much as to the loose observance of the rules. So the one thing necessary to remove this obstacle to the popularity of cricket is to insure a strict observation of the written laws of the game.
A feature that commends the game of cricket as a field sport for gentlemen is that it can never be subservient to the evil influences of the class of gambling “sports” who have brought such odium of late years on the national game of baseball. This together with the fact that it can be played with success at a much later period of life than any other game of ball admits of, gives it an advantage no other field sport possesses.
The past season of cricket in America was one of the liveliest enjoyed for several years past, the visit of the Australian cricketers being the primary cause; and as three foreign teams are likely to visit the States and Canada this coming season, the outlook is even more favorable for a busy season than ever before. The event of 1878, was the contest in Philadelphia, in October, between the “crack” Australian 11 and an 11 of young American cricketers, and the success of the latter – for a drawn match with such a team was a success – was such as to impart to future contests of the kind an interest they have never before possessed.
In this city of New York, too, better cricket was shown by our local teams last October in their match with the Australians than was ever shown before in this city by a local or New York team.
May 9, 1879: Lord Harris’ team wins
Easy victory for the Englishmen by an innings
The game at the St. George’s Cricket Club was a one-sided affair. When play began on day two, L Hone and S Shultz faced the bowling of C Newhall and A E Sprague. Newhall caught Hone and England were 242 for 6. Shultz fell very soon to Sprague after adding one run. Newhall sent De Coursey Forbes for a ‘duck egg’ with the score at 247. After 25 minutes of rather brisk work, the Englishmen were all out for 253.
The American second innings began on a dismal note and soon were reeling at 8 for 2. Bob Newhall came next and hit Lane’s first ball for a six! Bob was going strong until he lost his bat and was stumped when the score read 36 for 6. Several wickets had fallen at the other end in progression. The remaining batsmen added another 19 runs to this score after lunch before the American second innings ended for 55 handing the Englishmen a huge victory.
They played an exhibition game and were to be entertained at Delmonico’s before sailing to England the next day.
American Eleven - First Inning
J R Moore run out ..5
CE Haines c and b Lucas..0
C Newhall b Lucas..2
R Newhall st Webbe b Lane..9
R J Cross run out..17
F Brewster b Lane..5
D Newhall c Lucas b Lane..16
JF Sutter c Schultz b Lucas..3
E Moeran c Hornby b Lane..3
PW Kessler c Royle b Lucas..16
JE Sprague not out..6
Byes 1; Leg byes 3..4
Total..84
English Eleven - First Inning
F Penn C Cross b D Newhall..51
AP Lucas c Cross b Moeran..98
Royle run out..31
A Hornby run out..27
A Webbe b Moeran..20
L Hone c D Newhall b Sprague..10
G Schultz c Sprague..5
De C Forbes b C Newhall..0
C Braithwaite c Kessler b C Newhall..1
W Brewster not out..3
G Lane lbw b Sprague..2
Byes..3
Leg byes..2
Total..253
American Eleven - Second Inning
J Moore b Hornby..3
C Haines c Schultz b Lane..0
C Newhall b Lane..0
R Newhall st Webbe b Lane..23
R Cross st Webbe..5
F Brewster c Hornby b Lane..5
D Newhall c Royle b Hornby..6
JF Sutter b Lane..11
E Moeran run out..0
P Kessler c Hornby b Lane..1
JE Sprague not out..0
No ball..1
Total..55
1879: Four years passed since the previous contest between USA and Canada. This year saw the contest become more regular and USA won back to back until 1884. By that year, Canadians had not tasted victory in 27 years!
1880: In the summer of 1880, the first team to leave Canadian shores journeyed to England under the captaincy of Thomas Dale. The tourists were not considered to be official by local authorities and in addition, the side ran into several problems. Dale was arrested during the match against Leicestershire and accused of being a deserter from the British Army. The Rev. T. D. Phillips sailed from Canada and took control of the team, but unfortunately the tour collapsed and the hapless Canadians returned home.
October 7, 1880: English vs American players in Philadelphia
A cricket match between twelve Englishmen, both amateur and professionals, and twelve American amateurs, commenced in Germantown Cricket Club at Nicetown on a soggy turf.
Americans batted first and Law played very well. Coming in with the score at 13 for 3, he played a neatly compiled innings of 54 runs mostly from singles and twos. He was the last man out.
Americans
George Newhall..0
C Moeran..0
JR Moore run out ..2
Robert Newhall b Lane..12
Law..54
R Hargrave b Smith..6
C.Newhall b Lane..0
Clark c Moeran b Lane..15
D.S. Newhall..1
F.E. Brewster..1
Caldwell..0
Total..98
At 3:45, the Englishmen sent Bromhead and Brooks to bat. Bromhead was caught by D Newhall with the score on 11. Brooks added another 8 runs with Smith and was caught at leg by Moore with the score on 19. Tyers joined Smith and the two settled in. When play ended for the day, the score was 45 with Smith on 16 and Tyers on 18.
On October 7, Tyers was bowled by Law without adding to his overnight score. Smith went on to score 27 before he was caught at mid off by Law. The score was 59 for 4. Patterson batted neatly to make 17 and Kessler a well earned 26. Giles carried his bat for 4 and the total for the English Innings was 120.
The Americans went in for their second inning and quickly lost 4 wickets with just 5 on the board.
RS Newhall and JR Moore coming in with the score on 5 for 4 tried to build the innings and added 44 runs together before Newhall was caught brilliantly by Patterson for 24. Moore joined by Clark kept going after the ball until he gave an easy catch on 19. D Newhall scored 20 and by the time the last wicket fell, the Americans put up 86. The total lead was 64 and the time was now 4:55PM.
The Englishmen lost 5 wickets for just 10 runs in the first half hour. With darkness looming, bad light was called and stumps were drawn. The match thus ended in a draw. Americans fought well on this day against their English opponents.
Picture and archive credits: Not a word on USA cricket can be written without acknowledging Tom Melville, P David Sentance, Amar Singh, and Deb Das. We are grateful to them for their terrific books and fine articles which provide in-depth and insightful commentary. What we have done here is merely constructed a timeline. Also fascinating are the rich histories available via UPenn and Haverford + Bryn Mawr Archives. Canadian cricket pictures were obtained from the provincial government archives.
Most of all, we relied on NY Times archives as well as our own collection of books and magazines that we were fortunate to obtain when the KA Auty Library was auctioned off by the Ridley College in Ontario.
We depended on New England colleges for history of college cricket, especially Yale, Dartmouth, and Harvard archives. Of course, Wikipedia is among the most extensive sources these days. Pictures are presumed to be out of copyright owing to their antiquity. Copyright for this compilation contained here belongs to dreamcricket.com and reprinting is permitted with proper acknowledgement and link back.
Scorecards were licensed from Cricket Archive.
