History of cricket in New Zealand from 1890–91 to 1918

This article describes the history of New Zealand cricket from the 1890-91 season until 1918.

Administration

The New Zealand Cricket Council was formed at a meeting of provincial delegates from around New Zealand at the City Hotel in Christchurch on 27 December 1894. Its main purposes were to co-ordinate domestic cricket and to organize tours of New Zealand teams abroad and of foreign teams to New Zealand.[1]

Domestic cricket

There was no formal championship competition in New Zealand until the Plunket Shield was inaugurated in 1906. Until then, regular first-class matches were played by Canterbury, Otago, Auckland, Wellington and occasionally by Hawke's Bay.

The 1906-07 season featured the inaugural Plunket Shield which was the New Zealand State Championship from 1906 to 1975.

The Plunket Shield was presented by the then governor-general, Lord Plunket, and was played on a challenge basis until 1920-21, since which time it has been a league. It was usually won by either Canterbury or Auckland.

Plunket Shield winners

International tours of New Zealand

New South Wales 1893-94

New South Wales toured New Zealand in January and February 1894, playing seven first-class matches. The match in Christchurch against New Zealand was the New Zealand national team's first first-class match; New South Wales won.[2]

Fiji 1894-95

Fiji toured New Zealand in January and February 1895, playing matches against eight provincial sides. Six of these matches are now regarded as first-class.[3]

New South Wales 1895-96

New South Wales toured New Zealand in December 1895 and January 1896, playing five first-class matches. They again played New Zealand in Christchurch; this time New Zealand won.[4]

Australia 1896-97

Australia toured New Zealand in November 1896, playing five matches. All their matches were against teams of more than 11 players, so they are not regarded as first-class. Australia won the match against a New Zealand XV.[5]

Queensland 1896-97

Queensland toured New Zealand in December 1896 and January 1897, playing five first-class matches, including one against New Zealand, which New Zealand won.[6]

Lord Hawke's XI 1902-03

An English team managed by Lord Hawke played the New Zealand national team (twice) and the main provincial teams: Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago.

The MCC team was captained by Plum Warner and included Bernard Bosanquet, Frederick Fane, Cuthbert Burnup and George Thompson.

See: Lord Hawke's XI cricket team in Australia and New Zealand in 1902–03

Australia 1904-05

Australia toured New Zealand in the 1904-05 season to play first-class matches against the New Zealand national team (twice), Canterbury and Otago.

See: Australian cricket team in New Zealand and Fiji in 1904–05

Marylebone Cricket Club 1906-07

MCC played two first-class matches against New Zealand and also played two first-class matches against each of the four main provincial teams, Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago, and one first-class match against Hawke's Bay.

The MCC team was captained by Teddy Wynyard and included future Test players like Johnny Douglas and George Simpson-Hayward.

See: Marylebone Cricket Club cricket team in New Zealand in 1906–07

Australia 1909-10

Australia played first-class matches against the New Zealand national team (twice), Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Hawke's Bay.

See: Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 1909–10

Australia 1913-14

Australia played two first-class matches against New Zealand, first-class matches against Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago, and three minor matches.

See: Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 1913–14

References

  1. "Cricket conference: Formation of a New Zealand council". The Press. LI (8987). 28 December 1894. p. 3.
  2. "New South Wales in New Zealand 1893-94". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  3. "Fiji in New Zealand 1894-95". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  4. "New South Wales in New Zealand 1895-96". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. "Australia in New Zealand 1896-97". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  6. "Queensland in New Zealand 1896-97". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 January 2018.

Further reading

  • Greg Ryan, The Making of New Zealand Cricket, 1832-1914, Cass, 2004
  • Don Neely & Richard Payne, Men in White: The History of New Zealand International Cricket, 1894–1985, Moa, 1986
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