North v. South
Encyclopedia
The North of England
and South of England
teams appeared in first-class cricket
between the 1836
and 1961 seasons
, most often in matches against each other but also individually in games against touring teams, MCC
and others.
Until international cricket
became firmly established towards the end of the 19th century, the North v. South match was one of the major fixtures in the cricketing calendar along with Gentlemen v Players
. Indeed it was really the major fixture because whereas the Gentlemen teams were often very weak, North v. South could potentially showcase the best 22 players in the country.
In all, the North played against the South 155 times in first-class matches.
on 11 & 12 July 1836 and the North won by 6 wickets.
The first four games took place between 1836 and 1838 but then the fixture disappeared for eleven years until it was resurrected in the 1849 season
. There were two matches in 1836 and one each in 1837 and 1838.
One of the features of the fixture right from the start was that players could play for either team depending on current residency; or if they were "borderline", thus a player in the Midlands might well change sides often. In the first four games alone, no less than six players represented both sides.
The total appearances by players in the 1836 to 1838 matches were:
and the United South of England Eleven
. There were 11 games involving the United sides and then one (the last) in 1880 when the United South played against the official North.
, when there was a 50 over match at Trent Bridge
, which the South won by 9 runs.
North of England cricket team
The North of England appeared in first-class cricket between 1836 and 1961, most often in the showcase North v. South matches against the South of England although there were also games against touring teams, MCC and others....
and South of England
South of England cricket team
The South of England appeared in first-class cricket between 1836 and 1961, most often in the showcase North v. South matches against the North of England although there were also games against touring teams, MCC and others....
teams appeared in first-class cricket
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...
between the 1836
1836 English cricket season
The 1836 English cricket season saw the first real move towards setting up a county club. Although Sussex had been a major centre of cricket since the 17th century , there had apparently been no move towards a permanent county organisation until 17 June 1836 when a meeting in Brighton set up a...
and 1961 seasons
1961 English cricket season
-Honours:*County Championship - Hampshire*Minor Counties Championship - Somerset II*Second XI Championship - Kent II*Wisden - Bill Alley, Richie Benaud, Alan Davidson, Bill Lawry, Norm O'Neill-Test series:...
, most often in matches against each other but also individually in games against touring teams, MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
and others.
Until international 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...
became firmly established towards the end of the 19th century, the North v. South match was one of the major fixtures in the cricketing calendar along with Gentlemen v Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
. Indeed it was really the major fixture because whereas the Gentlemen teams were often very weak, North v. South could potentially showcase the best 22 players in the country.
In all, the North played against the South 155 times in first-class matches.
Early matches – 1836 to 1838
The inaugural North v. South fixture was held at Lord’sLord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
on 11 & 12 July 1836 and the North won by 6 wickets.
The first four games took place between 1836 and 1838 but then the fixture disappeared for eleven years until it was resurrected in the 1849 season
1849 English cricket season
-Events:23, 24 & 25 July: Yorkshire v Lancashire at the Hyde Park Ground in Sheffield.It was the first match to involve both Yorkshire and Lancashire county teams and therefore, the first Roses match...
. There were two matches in 1836 and one each in 1837 and 1838.
One of the features of the fixture right from the start was that players could play for either team depending on current residency; or if they were "borderline", thus a player in the Midlands might well change sides often. In the first four games alone, no less than six players represented both sides.
The total appearances by players in the 1836 to 1838 matches were:
- 4 – Ned WenmanNed WenmanEdward Gower Wenman was an English cricketer in the mid-19th century.Coming to eminence in 1831, he was a key member of the great Kent team of the 1840s and generally rated one of the best wicket-keepers of the period...
, Fuller PilchFuller PilchFuller Pilch was an English cricketer. Described as "the greatest batsman ever known until the appearance of W. G. Grace", the right-hand batting Pilch played 229 first class cricket matches between 1820 and 1854 for an assortment of counties, including Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Surrey, as well...
, George JarvisGeorge JarvisGeorge Jarvis was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1826 to 1841. He was a brother of Charles Jarvis....
, George MillyardGeorge MillyardGeorge Millyard was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1835 to 1842...
, James CobbettJames CobbettJames Cobbett was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1826 to 1841....
, Sam RedgateSam RedgateSamuel Redgate was a famous English professional cricketer who played for Nottingham Cricket Club and Nottinghamshire CCC from the 1830 to the 1846 season....
, Thomas BarkerThomas Barker (Nottinghamshire cricketer)Thomas Barker was an English professional cricketer, who played first-class cricket from 1826 to 1845. He was a right-handed batsman and a roundarm fast bowler. He became an umpire when his playing career ended....
, Tom MarsdenTom MarsdenThomas Marsden was a famous English cricketer whose career spanned the 1826 to 1841 seasons.... - 3 – Emmanuel VincentEmmanuel VincentEmmanuel Vincent was an English professional cricketer, who played first-class cricket from 1826 to 1837.Born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, Vincent was a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, who was mainly associated with Sheffield, and made twenty known appearances in first-class matches. ...
, William LillywhiteWilliam LillywhiteFrederick William Lillywhite was a famous English cricketer during the game's roundarm era...
, James DearmanJames DearmanJames Dearman was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1826 to 1846....
, James TaylorJames Taylor (Sussex cricketer)James Taylor was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1834 to 1844...
, Thomas BeagleyThomas BeagleyThomas Beagley was an English professional cricketer. He had two brothers Henry and John who also played first-class cricket.-Career:...
, Thomas BoxThomas BoxThomas Box was a famous English cricketer who is remembered as one of the most outstanding wicketkeepers of the 19th century.-Player:...
, William Clifford, William GarratWilliam GarratWilliam Garrat was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1832 to 1845.... - 2 – Alfred MynnAlfred MynnAlfred Mynn was an English cricketer during the game's "Roundarm Era". He was a genuine all-rounder, being both an attacking right-handed batsman and a formidable right arm fast bowler. The noted cricket writer John Woodcock ranked him as the fourth greatest cricketer of all time. Simon Wilde...
, Bartholomew GoodBartholomew GoodBartholomew Good was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1831 to 1847....
, Charles CreswellCharles CreswellCharles Creswell was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1836 to 1843. Mainly associated with Nottinghamshire, he made 12 known appearances in first-class matches. He represented the North in the North v...
, Francis FennerFrancis FennerFrancis Phillips Fenner was an English cricketer for Hampshire. A right-arm fast bowler, Fenner took 176 wickets for his county at 19.00 from his 54 first-class appearances from 1829 until 1856....
, George RotheraGeorge RotheraGeorge Rothera was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1835 to 1837. Mainly associated with Nottinghamshire, he made 10 known appearances in first-class matches. He represented the North in the North v...
, Jem BroadbridgeJem BroadbridgeJames "Jem" Broadbridge was an English professional cricketer who is widely accounted the outstanding all-rounder in England during the 1820s. He is best remembered for his part in the introduction of roundarm bowling...
, Richard MillsRichard Mills (cricketer)Richard Mills was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1825 to 1843....
, Tom AdamsTom Adams (cricketer)Thomas Miles Adams was an English cricketer in the mid-19th century. He was a member of the great Kent team of the 1840s and played for both MCC and the All-England Eleven...
, William HillyerWilliam HillyerWilliam Richard Hillyer , was a prominent cricketer for Kent County Cricket Club, MCC and many other sides in the days before county and international cricket was organised into regular competitions.... - 1 – Arthur RichArthur RichArthur Saunders Rich was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1833 to 1838. A left-handed batsman, he made six known appearances in first-class matches. He represented the South in the North v...
, Daniel HaywardDaniel HaywardDaniel Hayward was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1832 to 1851...
, Edward GrimstonEdward GrimstonThe Honourable Edward Harbottle Grimston was an English amateur cricketer and a Conservative Party politician who held a seat in the House of Commons from 1835 to 1841.- Cricket :...
, Frederick Ponsonby, Henry HallHenry Hall (cricketer)Henry Hall was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1827 to 1837. Hall played for Sheffield and made 14 known appearances in first-class matches. He represented the North in the North v. South series.-Further reading:* Arthur Haygarth, Scores & Biographies, Volume 2 ,...
, John BayleyJohn E. G. BayleySir John Edward George Bayley, 2nd Baronet was an English baronet and amateur cricketer.Born in London, he was the son of Sir John Bayley, 1st Baronet and his wife Elizabeth, the youngest daughter of John Markett. Bayley was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in 1835 and went then to the...
, John GibsonJohn Gibson (cricketer)John Gibson was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1837 to 1842. He played for Nottinghamshire and made four known appearances in first-class matches. He represented the North in the North v. South series....
, Joe GuyJoe GuyJoseph Guy was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1837 to 1854....
, John WenmanJohn WenmanJohn Gude Wenman was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1825 to 1838. He was a cousin of Ned Wenman. He played for Kent and made nine known appearances in first-class matches. He represented the Players in the Gentlemen v Players series and the South in the...
, Thomas HeathThomas Heath (cricketer)Thomas Heath was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1828 to 1848....
, William Clarke, William DorrintonWilliam DorrintonWilliam Dorrinton was an English cricketer for Kent, Hampshire, Suffolk and the Marylebone Cricket Club in a 94–match first–class career which began in 1836 and lasted until 1847, a year before his death...
, William WardWilliam Ward (cricketer)William Ward was a noted English cricketer. He came from an affluent family which owned property on the Isle of Wight. He was educated at Winchester College, and then received financial training in Antwerp.-Life and career:William Ward was a prominent right-handed batsman and an occasional slow...
, Will CaldecourtWill CaldecourtWilliam Henry Caldecourt was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1821 to 1844....
An annual event
From 1849, the match became virtually an annual fixture and was often contested two or three times in the same season.United Elevens
During the 1870s the fixture received competition in the shape of matches between the equivalent professional touring teams, the United North of England ElevenUnited North of England Eleven
The United North of England Eleven was an itinerant cricket team founded in 1869 by George Freeman and Roger Iddison with the backing of Lord Londesborough who became the team's president. As its name suggests, its purpose was to bring together the best players of England's northern counties and...
and the United South of England Eleven
United South of England Eleven
The United South of England Eleven was an itinerant cricket team founded in November 1864 by Edgar Willsher, as secretary, and John Lillywhite, as treasurer....
. There were 11 games involving the United sides and then one (the last) in 1880 when the United South played against the official North.
20th century
The fixture's popularity waned as international cricket expanded and it was played less frequently in the 20th century until it was finally ended with the advent of limited overs cricket, which left no space for it in an already crowded calendar. Ironically, the last North v. South contest to date took place in the 1971 season1971 English cricket season
The 1971 English cricket season saw a first series win by India in England. This was a huge surprise at the time because England, having just won the Ashes in Australia, had a very strong team.-Honours:*County Championship - Surrey...
, when there was a 50 over match at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
, which the South won by 9 runs.
External sources
Further reading
- Rowland BowenRowland BowenMajor Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970 - Arthur HaygarthArthur HaygarthArthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
, Scores & Biographies, Volume 2 (1827-1840), Lillywhite, 1862