English cricket team in South Africa in 1888-89

The 1888-89 South African cricket season saw the first two first-class

First-class cricket

First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...

cricket

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...

matches played in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. However, this designation was given many years later. The season saw the first tour by an England

English cricket team

The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...

team that was accorded first-class status. The tour was managed by Major Warton and captained by C. Aubrey Smith

Aubrey Smith

Sir Charles Aubrey Smith CBE , known to film-goers as C. Aubrey Smith, was an English cricketer and actor.-Early life:...

, under whose name the team played. The two games against representative South African sides were later designated as Test match

Test cricket

Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...

es, thereby making them the first two Tests South Africa

South African cricket team

The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...

played. England won both of them easily.

First-class season overview

The English touring team of 1888-89 consisted of 7 county-standard players and 6 of good clubs standard. Altham

Harry Altham

Harry Surtees Altham, CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer who became an important figure in the game as an administrator, historian and coach. His Wisden obituary described him as "among the best known personalities in the world of cricket"...

compared them to a weak English county. The South African team was extremely weak, and these games were not recognised as Tests by England at the time. Indeed Wisden's Cricketers Almanack noted that "it was never intended, or considered necessary, to take out a representative English team for a first trip to the Cape". The England team did, however, include some stars such as Johnny Briggs

Johnny Briggs (cricketer)

Johnny Briggs was a left arm spin bowler for Lancashire County Cricket Club between 1879 and 1900 who still stands as the second-highest wicket-taker in the county's history after Brian Statham...

and Bobby Abel

Bobby Abel

Robert Abel , nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey and England opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship...

, and George Ulyett

George Ulyett

George Ulyett was an English all-round cricketer, noted particularly for his very-aggressive batsmanship. A well-liked man , Ulyett was popularly known as "Happy Jack", once musing memorably that Yorkshire played him only for his good behaviour and his whistling...

, who replaced a player who had to return from South Africa due to a family bereavement.

Although the English team is said not to have paid its expenses, it was otherwise financially successful. The cricketers were warmly welcomed. England were led by Aubrey Smith

Aubrey Smith

Sir Charles Aubrey Smith CBE , known to film-goers as C. Aubrey Smith, was an English cricketer and actor.-Early life:...

, who became the most widely known of England's cricket captains as a result of becoming a "B" list Hollywood star. They played all their matches, except the two that later came to be regarded as Test matches, against odds, and lost some of them too. Of the 19 games they played, they won 13, including the 2 that later became recognised as Test matches, losing 4 and abandoning 2.

First Test - South Africa v England (12-13 March 1889)

South Africa South African cricket team The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...	84	&	129	England won by 8 wickets
	AB Tancred Bernard Tancred Augustus Bernard Tancred was a leading 19th century South African Test cricketer.Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Tancred attended St... 29 CA Smith Aubrey Smith Sir Charles Aubrey Smith CBE , known to film-goers as C. Aubrey Smith, was an English cricketer and actor.-Early life:... 5/19		AB Tancred Bernard Tancred Augustus Bernard Tancred was a leading 19th century South African Test cricketer.Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Tancred attended St... 29 AJ Fothergill Arnold Fothergill Arnold James Fothergill was an English cricketer.Despite having been born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Fothergill played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club between 1882 and 1884... 4/19	St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... Umpires: CR Deare and RG Warton Robert Warton (umpire) Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Gardner Warton umpired two Test matches in South Africa in 1889.Warton was born in Islington. He served in the British Army in Japan and South Africa. He organised the first cricket tour by an English representative team to South Africa in 1888-89...
England English cricket team The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...	148	&	67/2
	R Abel Bobby Abel Robert Abel , nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey and England opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship... 46 A Rose-Innes Albert Rose-Innes Albert Rose-Innes - was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on February 16, 1868 and died in East London, South Africa on November 22, 1946, aged 78. His first-class cricket career began at the same time that South Africa’s did, in 1889 with the first representative match between England and... 5/43		R Abel Bobby Abel Robert Abel , nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey and England opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship... 23* C Vintcent Charles Vintcent Charles Henry Vintcent was a South African cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 1889 to 1892.Educated Charterhouse School 1880 - 1884 School Football XI 1882-84.... 1/21

In the first Test, which was played on a green matting wicket in Port Elizabeth, South African captain Owen Dunell

Owen Dunell

Owen Robert Dunell was a South African cricketer who captained his country in its first Test match in 1888/89.Although born in Port Elizabeth, Dunell was educated in England at Eton College and Oxford University...

won the toss against Aubrey Smith and chose to bat. The game did not last long: The matting wicket did not induce high scores, with England's 148 in their first innings being the highest score. Around 3,000 spectators attended the first day. The game ended at 3.30pm on the second day with a crushing win for England. Scorecard

Second Test - South Africa v England (25-26 March 1889)

England English cricket team The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...	292			England won by an innings and 202 runs
	R Abel Bobby Abel Robert Abel , nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey and England opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship... 120 WH Ashley Gobo Ashley William Hare 'Gobo' Ashley was a South African cricketer who played in one Test in 1889.... 7/17			Newlands Newlands Cricket Ground Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town is a South African cricket ground. It's the home of the Cape Cobras, who play in the SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Pro20 competitions. It is also a venue for Test matches. Newlands is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket... , Cape Town Cape Town Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality... , South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... Umpires: JAE Hickson John Hickson (cricketer) John Arnold Einem Hickson was an English first-class cricketer and who umpired one Test match in South Africa in 1889.... and RG Warton Robert Warton (umpire) Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Gardner Warton umpired two Test matches in South Africa in 1889.Warton was born in Islington. He served in the British Army in Japan and South Africa. He organised the first cricket tour by an English representative team to South Africa in 1888-89...
South Africa South African cricket team The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...	47	&	43
	AB Tancred Bernard Tancred Augustus Bernard Tancred was a leading 19th century South African Test cricketer.Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Tancred attended St... 26* J Briggs Johnny Briggs (cricketer) Johnny Briggs was a left arm spin bowler for Lancashire County Cricket Club between 1879 and 1900 who still stands as the second-highest wicket-taker in the county's history after Brian Statham... 7/17		FW Smith 11 J Briggs Johnny Briggs (cricketer) Johnny Briggs was a left arm spin bowler for Lancashire County Cricket Club between 1879 and 1900 who still stands as the second-highest wicket-taker in the county's history after Brian Statham... 8/11

Monty Bowden

Montague Parker Bowden was an English cricketer and wicket-keeper, who played two Test matches against South Africa in 1888/9....

became England's youngest ever Test captain aged 23 years 144 days in the Second Test at Newlands

Newlands Cricket Ground

Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town is a South African cricket ground. It's the home of the Cape Cobras, who play in the SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Pro20 competitions. It is also a venue for Test matches. Newlands is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket...

, Cape Town

Cape Town

Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...

, replacing an injured Smith in Bowden's second and final Test. Bowden won the toss and chose to bat. 120 from opener Bobby Abel

Bobby Abel

Robert Abel , nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey and England opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship...

helped England to 292 all out on the first day. The South Africans then lost a quick wicket to finish day one on 2 for 1. South Africa were then totally humiliated on the second day. Johnny Briggs

Johnny Briggs (cricketer)

Johnny Briggs was a left arm spin bowler for Lancashire County Cricket Club between 1879 and 1900 who still stands as the second-highest wicket-taker in the county's history after Brian Statham...

took 7 for 17 (six bowled) as South Africa fell to 47, although Bernard Tancred

Bernard Tancred

Augustus Bernard Tancred was a leading 19th century South African Test cricketer.Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Tancred attended St...

became the first batsman to carry his bat

Carry the bat

In cricket, the term carry the bat refers to an opening batsman who is not dismissed when the team innings is closed...

in a Test in reaching 26 not out, the only score in the innings in double figures. They then followed-on, with Briggs then taking 8 for 11 in the second innings as the hosts were all out for 43. Briggs's second innings wickets were all bowled, setting a Test record that still has not been bettered. He also set a Test records for the number wickets in an innings (8)and the match (15), both later surpassed. The other two wickets were one bowled (Arnold Fothergill

Arnold Fothergill

Arnold James Fothergill was an English cricketer.Despite having been born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Fothergill played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club between 1882 and 1884...

) and one run out, making this the only instance of 9 batsmen being bowled in a Test innings. Scorecard

Monty Bowden

Bowden died 3 years later after being trampled by his own oxen after falling from his cart (he had stayed in South Africa), possibly as a result of an epileptic fit, and who therefore may not have known he ever played Test cricket. It is said that his body, which was taken to Umtali hospital, had to be protected from marauding lions before being interred in a coffin made from old whiskey cases.

First-class season overview

First Test - South Africa v England (12-13 March 1889)

Second Test - South Africa v England (25-26 March 1889)

Monty Bowden

External sources

Further reading