History of Australian cricket to 1876
Encyclopedia
This is an article that describes the history of Australian cricket from its known beginnings until the eve of the first-ever Test matches
between Australia and England, which took place in the 1876-77 season.
made their voyages of discovery in the 17th century. But their expeditions came to nothing and it was not until 1766, which is about when the Hambledon Club
was founded, that the Australian story really begins. It was in 1766 that the Royal Society
commissioned Captain James Cook
(1728–1779) to lead an astronomical expedition to the Pacific Ocean
for the primary purpose of charting a transit of Venus
. He had a second purpose which was to search for a southern continent called Terra Australis, and to establish if this had a connection with the lands visited by Tasman. In April 1770, Cook's expedition became the first Europeans to reach the east coast of Australia at a place called Point Hicks on the coast of Victoria.
Cook’s voyages were a highly significant precursor to the worldwide spread of cricket. It was not until 1788 that colonisation of Australia began but cricket soon arrived there too and we have our first definite references to the sport in Australia in 1804, when the January edition of The Sydney Gazette recorded that recent weather had been favourable to cricketers.
Cricket soon became a very popular sport in Australia, especially in the south-eastern colonies and first-class status
was achieved as early as the 1850s.
issued a challenge to the Launceston Cricket Club
for a match that was eventually played in the 1850-51 season. On 11 & 12 February 1851, Tasmania v Victoria at Launceston Racecourse was the inaugural first-class
match played in Australia. Tasmania won by 3 wickets.
made its debut in 1855-56 when it defeated Victoria by 3 wickets in the inaugural major match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
.
The 1857-58 season was a milestone as it featured three major matches involving all of New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. Victoria played in all three matches and won them. They defeated New South Wales by 171 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then defeated Tasmania twice: at Launceston by an innings and 20 runs; and at Hobart by 69 runs.
Although it was impossible due to travel constraints to arrange major matches between the colonies in every season, there was a steady rate of growth, especially at club level. The sport received a considerable boost when English teams began arriving in the colonies in 1861-62 and especially when the legendary WG Grace himself toured Australia in 1873-74. By 1876, standards in Australia had become very high indeed especially with the emergence of a world-class bowler like Fred Spofforth
. Australia was then ready to oppose England on level terms.
For detailed information about early domestic cricket in Australia, see : Intercolonial cricket in Australia
and List of Australian intercolonial cricket matches
, the English team was a great success that inspired later tours.
For more information about this tour, see : American cricket team in Australia in 1861-62]]
organised a tour by an English team under the captaincy of George Parr
, which also visited New Zealand. No first-class matches were played. The American team was unbeaten and its overall record was 16 played, 10 wins and six draws.
organised a tour by an English team under the captaincy of WG Grace, which played 15 matches in all but none were first-class.
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...
between Australia and England, which took place in the 1876-77 season.
Origins
Cricket was already established in England by the time Willem Jansz and Abel TasmanAbel Tasman
Abel Janszoon Tasman was a Dutch seafarer, explorer, and merchant, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of the VOC . His was the first known European expedition to reach the islands of Van Diemen's Land and New Zealand and to sight the Fiji islands...
made their voyages of discovery in the 17th century. But their expeditions came to nothing and it was not until 1766, which is about when the Hambledon Club
Hambledon Club
The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England.-Foundation:...
was founded, that the Australian story really begins. It was in 1766 that the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
commissioned Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
(1728–1779) to lead an astronomical expedition to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
for the primary purpose of charting a transit of Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
. He had a second purpose which was to search for a southern continent called Terra Australis, and to establish if this had a connection with the lands visited by Tasman. In April 1770, Cook's expedition became the first Europeans to reach the east coast of Australia at a place called Point Hicks on the coast of Victoria.
Cook’s voyages were a highly significant precursor to the worldwide spread of cricket. It was not until 1788 that colonisation of Australia began but cricket soon arrived there too and we have our first definite references to the sport in Australia in 1804, when the January edition of The Sydney Gazette recorded that recent weather had been favourable to cricketers.
Cricket soon became a very popular sport in Australia, especially in the south-eastern colonies and first-class status
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...
was achieved as early as the 1850s.
Commencement of first-class cricket
In March 1850, the Melbourne Cricket ClubMelbourne Cricket Club
The Melbourne Cricket Club is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia....
issued a challenge to the Launceston Cricket Club
Launceston Cricket Club
Launceston Cricket Club is a cricket team which represents the city of Launceston in the Northern Tasmanian Cricket Association grade cricket competition...
for a match that was eventually played in the 1850-51 season. On 11 & 12 February 1851, Tasmania v Victoria at Launceston Racecourse was the inaugural 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...
match played in Australia. Tasmania won by 3 wickets.
Development of inter-colonial cricket
Tasmania and Victoria played each other three times up to 1855 and then the New South Wales teamNew South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
made its debut in 1855-56 when it defeated Victoria by 3 wickets in the inaugural major match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
.
The 1857-58 season was a milestone as it featured three major matches involving all of New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. Victoria played in all three matches and won them. They defeated New South Wales by 171 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then defeated Tasmania twice: at Launceston by an innings and 20 runs; and at Hobart by 69 runs.
Although it was impossible due to travel constraints to arrange major matches between the colonies in every season, there was a steady rate of growth, especially at club level. The sport received a considerable boost when English teams began arriving in the colonies in 1861-62 and especially when the legendary WG Grace himself toured Australia in 1873-74. By 1876, standards in Australia had become very high indeed especially with the emergence of a world-class bowler like Fred Spofforth
Fred Spofforth
Frederick Robert "Fred" Spofforth , also known as "The Demon Bowler", was arguably the Australian cricket team's finest pace bowler of the nineteenth century and was the first bowler to take 50 Test wickets, and the first to take a test hat-trick in 1879...
. Australia was then ready to oppose England on level terms.
For detailed information about early domestic cricket in Australia, see : Intercolonial cricket in Australia
Intercolonial cricket in Australia
Intercolonial cricket in Australia was the name used to describe first-class cricket matches played between the various colonies of Australia prior to federation in 1901. After federation, they became known as Interstate matches. By the 1880s regular intercolonials were being played, generally...
and List of Australian intercolonial cricket matches
1861-62
The inaugural English tour of Australia was organised by Messrs Spiers & Pond. Led by HH StephensonHH Stephenson
Heathfield Harman "HH" Stephenson was a famous English cricketer during the game's roundarm era....
, the English team was a great success that inspired later tours.
For more information about this tour, see : American cricket team in Australia in 1861-62]]
1863-64
The Melbourne Cricket ClubMelbourne Cricket Club
The Melbourne Cricket Club is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia....
organised a tour by an English team under the captaincy of George Parr
George Parr (cricketer)
George Parr was an English cricketer, whose first-class career lasted from 1844 to 1870....
, which also visited New Zealand. No first-class matches were played. The American team was unbeaten and its overall record was 16 played, 10 wins and six draws.
1873-74
The Melbourne Cricket ClubMelbourne Cricket Club
The Melbourne Cricket Club is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia....
organised a tour by an English team under the captaincy of WG Grace, which played 15 matches in all but none were first-class.