A gentleman’s game: South Africa’s first cricket games

The British annexation of the Cape in 1795 introduced cricket to South Africa. It is believed that Charles ANGUISH, who had played for Surrey and Middlesex, might have swung a cricket bat after being appointed Comptroller of the Customs at the Cape in 1797. He was an early MCC member (1787) who died soon after at the Cape.

In 1808, two military teams played the first recorded match in Cape Town. The Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser of 02 January 1808 announced that “A grand match at cricket will be played for 1000 rix dollars a side on Tuesday, January 5, 1808, between the officers of the artillery mess, having Colonel Austen of the 60th regiment, and the officers of the Colony, with General Clavering. They will pitch the wickets at 10 o’clock.”

Another early reference is from January 1810, when the Ordnance Department and the Officers of the 87th Regiment played against the “Officers of the rest of the Army” on Green Point Common. The prize was also 1000 rixdollars. Early matches took place on Green Point Common and on Higg’s Field in Wynberg. Green Point Common has been used continuously for cricket since those days, making it one of the oldest cricket venues in the world, even older than Lord’s in London, which was built in 1814.

At Wynberg in January 1842, a civilian named TAYLOR scored 110 against the military team, marking the first century in South Africa. The first cricket club in Cape Town was Wynberg Cricket Club, formed in 1844. Cape Town and The Colony played their inaugural match in October of that year. In 1845, a match was held between the Indians, who were British soldiers that had served in India, and the Civilians. In 1846, a Simon’s Town team took on a World team at Wynberg.

In the Eastern Cape, three clubs were started in 1843-4. These were at Sidbury, near Grahamstown, the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club; and the Grahamstown Cricket Club. The Port Elizabeth club was formed in 1843, with its first match reported in the Grahamstown Journal. In 1844, the Algoa Bay Cricket Club was formed and included G.H. CHABAUD, William H. HARRIES, and DUNSTERVILLE. On New Year’s Eve 1844, the Port Elizabeth club played a match, Married vs Single, which was reported in the Cape Frontier Times of Grahamstown. The scoreboard read as follows:

Married — 1st Innings
J. MURRELL, snr., run out, 21
J. SCALLAN, bowled P. SCALLAN, 9
J. WHITE, bowled J. TEE, 0
E. SLATER, bowled F. ROSS, 0,
J. TITTERTON, J. TEE, 1
F. EASTES, caught J. MURRELL, 13
S. CARR, bowled J. TEE, 0
G.P. VINEY, not out, 0
Non-members of the Club:
W.M. HARRIES, caught C. TAYLOR, 0
J. ROLLS, bowled J. TEE, 3
W. KEMSLEY, run out, 0
Bye balls: 6
Total: 44

Single — 1st Innings
P. SCALLAN, bowled Mr. KEMSLEY, 20
G. WOOD, bowled F. EASTES, 1
P. MURRAY, bowled F. EASTES, 6
John TEE, caught MURRELL snr., 9
John CAMPBELL, bowled VINEY, 3
P. ROSS, not out, 0
G. MURRELL, bowled MURRELL snr., 15
C. TAYLOR, stumped MURRELL snr., 0
Non-members of the Club:
J. WOOD, bowled VINEY, 0
C. COOPER, bowled HARRIES, 1
J. LLOYD, bowled SLATER, 3
Bye balls: 3
Total: 43

In 1876, Port Elizabeth town council presented a Champion Bat as a trophy in the first cricket tournament between towns. Teams represented Cape Town, Grahamstown, King William’s Town and Port Elizabeth. King William’s Town emerged victorious in the tournament. The bat is on display at the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club. After Port Elizabeth’s disappointing performance, their cricket club imported the first professional coach to South Africa. Henry Hayward WEBSTER was brought out by Dr Owen Robert DUNELL, South Africa’s first cricket captain. Henry was born on 08 May 1844 in Handsworth, Sheffield, Yorkshire, and died on 05 March 1915 in Port Elizabeth.

In 1887 there was a “non-European” match between Cape Town’s Albert Cricket Club and Kimberley’s Red Crescent Club. That same year saw Malay cricketers taking part in the Jubilee procession. In 1888 Sir Donald CURRIE sponsored the first English cricket team to visit South Africa. February 1891 saw a match between the Malays and Europeans. In 1892, 18 Malay cricketers played a match against visiting English cricketers. In 1892, the Malay Union Cricket Club received permission to play on Green Point Common. Simon’s Town, Woodstock, and the Docks all fielded both white and coloured players.

In 2008, Newlands cricket ground celebrated its 120th birthday. Its origins go back to Thomas Barry HEROLD, secretary-treasurer of the Western Province Rugby Union. He wanted the Union to have its grounds. In 1888 the Western Province Cricket Club was also looking for its grounds. Land belonging to Lydia Corrina, Vicomtesse DE MONTFORT, was selected as the ideal location. The Vicomte gave Lydia the land, known as Mariendal, as a wedding gift when she married him. She was the daughter of Jacob LETTERSTEDT, a brewer who received the title deeds in 1845. The Rugby Union leased a plot of 150 yards by 150 yards. Lot 27 was leased by the cricket club in 1887 for £50. After a pitch was laid down, it was officially opened in January 1888 with a two-day match between the Mother Country team and the Colonial-born team. In 1888, they signed a long-term lease agreement for 25 years, increasing the rent to £100. In 1894 the ground was purchased for £3000 and another field laid out, which was then known as the Pond End. The first English touring side, under the leadership of Aubrey SMITH, played the first Test match at Newlands in 1888/1889. In 1902, the pine trees extending from the B field along Camp Ground Road and around the pavilion were replaced by oak trees. Australia’s first visit to South Africa (1902-1903) included three Test matches at Newlands.

In 1939 The Cricketer said, “The ground is a paradise: the stately oaks on one side and the towering mountain on the other, like a majestic sentinel guarding a greensward in a setting unparalleled for beauty in any cricket ground in the world.” In his book The World of Cricket, E.W. SWANTON referred to Newlands as one of the world’s cricket wonders.

The 1948-1949 MCC tour of South Africa saw the gates at Newlands being closed for the first time in its history; such was the interest in the matches.

On 01 December 1948, the memorial scoreboard with its clock was unveiled by the Governor-General, Gideon Brand VAN ZYL, a cricket supporter with connections to the Green Point Cricket Club. The tablet, which bears no names, bears the following inscription: “In memory of cricketers of Southern Africa who gave their lives for their country. They played the game. Ter gedagtenis aan die krieketspelers van Suidelike Afrika wat hulle lewens vir hulle land gegee het.” The Transvaal Cricket Union presented the clock and tablet. The Transvaal Cricket Union built a new stand that could seat 1300 people and separate accommodation for the media in 1956. The architect was Brian MANSBERGH. The architects extended the grass ramps and repositioned the Oaks and pavilion boundaries to accommodate 1000 scholars and junior club members. After a fire, they rebuilt and improved the tearoom under the oaks. In June 1958, Frank CREESE, the WPCC secretary-groundsman, retired after 35 years. Ron L. AINSLIE succeeded him as WPCC secretary, while his son Ronnie took on the roles of groundsman and caterer.

In 1969-1970, Newlands saw a Test double-century (209) in South Africa’s first innings by Graeme POLLOCK, who had pulled a leg muscle and needed a runner, against Australia. Admission cost 70 cents for adults and 35c for children. A seat in the Main Stand cost R2.40, in the Railway Stand R1.80, in the Oaks Enclosure R1.60, in the Planes Enclosure R1.50 and Temporary Stand R1.40.

In 1986, floodlights were installed for the first day-night match at Newlands, against Transvaal on December 3, 1986. In 2003 South Africa hosted the first ICC Cricket World Cup, and Newlands was chosen to host the opening ceremony.

Sources:
The history of South African cricket; by M.W. Luckin; W.E. Horton and Co., Johannesburg, 1915
Cricket in southern Africa: two hundred years of achievements and records; by Jonty Winch; Johannesburg, 1997
Century at Newlands 1864-1964: a history of the Western Province Cricket C; by S.E.L. West & W.J Luker; Western Province Cricket Club, Newlands, 1965

Note: this article was originally written in 2008.