The book “Sixty Years of Canadian Cricket” was published in 1895. It was compiled by John E. Hall, Secretary of the Canadian Cricket Association, and R.O. McCulloch, a member of the Toronto Cricket Club. The copy of this book at Toronto’s central Reference Library was originally given by John E. Hall to the Toronto Cricket Club in June 1933.
Two individual centuries in an 1879 game on PEI a Canadian first
The first known domestic Canadian cricket match where two players scored a century for the same team took place on August 5th [or 6th], 1879. Johnson and Boughey “added 210 runs together at the tail of the (Halifax Garrison) innings” against the Phoenix club of Prince Edward Island. Johnson scored 100 not out and Boughey 117. A list of centuries known to have been scored in Canadian cricket is the source of Johnson and Boughey’s achievements in the book. Earlier in the book a summary of games during the 1870’s provides few words about an August 5th, 1879 game where Charlottetown scored 50 and the Halifax Garrison 250.

But Canadian cricket match records on the Cricket Archive database suggest there were two different games, one played on August 6th. The score for the “double centurions” match on Cricket Archive is given as Halifax Garrison 319, Phoenix Club of Prince Edward Island 55 on August 6th, 1879. It has the Charlottetown 50, Halifax Garrison 250 match score as being on August 5th, 1879.

So there’s some potential research that could be done to verify these two games for the budding Canadian cricket historian! And, possibly, an extra note on corrections needed in the front of “Sixty Years of Canadian Cricket.” Although, a re-check of the book may be needed. Canadian cricket’s Atlantic T20 Championship begins on Friday, July 6th, in Stratford, PEI, next door to Charlottetown.

In recent times, three Canadian batsmen scored centuries at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, Ontario as Canada reached 588 all out in an ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda in August 2006. John Davison opened the innings and made 165. He was joined in a third wicket stand of 233 by Ian Billcliff, who scored 128. Abdool Samad, batting at number eight, scored 119. Samad and Umar Bhatti, who struck 50, added 149 runs for the eighth wicket. Canada scored 60 for one wicket in 12.2 overs, with time running out in the last hour of the game, to win by nine wickets. All three centuries were, and remain, personal bests in first-class cricket.

Only a hit out of the ground was an “automatic” six runs ….

During a game between Eastern Ontario and Western Ontario in September 1871, Mr .J Wright “sent the ball twice out of the field” to score six runs. A hit over the boundary line or fence was not an automatic six in those days, unlike the current era.

Mr. Wright’s two sixes came from a personal score of 28 as Eastern Ontario tallied 123 in the first innings. Wright scored a few more runs in the second innings, but his side was bowled out for 107. Western Ontario rallied to win the game with a second innings 116 for five wickets after a first innings total of 115.

Those who love flashing signs for “4″ and “6″ at T20 and 50-over games in the modern age, – notwithstanding celebratory screams and background music – would certainly not be appreciated by Mr. Frederick Gale. Some of Mr. Gale’s recollections of Canadian cricket are contained in an article in “Sixty Years of Canadian Cricket”.

Mr. Gale was pleased about the “absence of noisy appeals by the wicketkeeper” on the chance of an lbw decision “made by a chorus of the field who could not have any possibility of seeing the line of the ball.” Perish the thought that there are too many appeals in any modern games of cricket. Especially one-day, or T20 games where a team has made a mess of batting first.

He was unimpressed by players “rushing in (to the pavilion) for a sprinkle of rain” – perhaps OK in a major storm or hurricane, or even a gale, if supported by bucket loads of rain?. Nor did he appreciate batsmen “not making any attempt to hit the ball sent up on the offside for fear of spoiling an average.” The latter idea is closer to modern thinking of keeping the score ticking over, looking for the one’s and two’s, and turning them into two’s and three’s if possible. So you must run your runs.

But, and this is not for the unfit batsman on a blindingly hot day, Mr. Gale complains about batsmen not being made to “run all their runs”. For example, some “48 boundary hits in a total of 338″ is not what proper cricket is about. This is just “not cricket according to the old school. Not all runs were run out” (which means not all runs were ‘properly’ scored by physically running from one end to the other, and then back for the next, etc, etc).

He does admit that some run outs were achieved by some methods contrary to the spirit of cricket. It seems some fielders might continue looking for a ball under the stands, chairs, etc whilst someone else might manage to get the ball to the wicket to achieve a run out dismissal.

Mr. Gale might not sound too progressive on some things, but progressive on others. He commented on decisions made by committees at English county clubs “much comprised of members who do practically not understand the game in its true sense, but who get on committees for aggrandizement and position.”

Well, one does not meet too many committee or board members from the various levels of Canadian cricket who admit to not understanding the game in its true sense. Although there are some who are not too interested in a second, or independent opinion. But that happens in life beyond the cricketing boundary, whether running the runs, or sleeping though the action.

Mr. T. C. Patterson’s reminiscences of Canadian cricket indicated “there has been progress….but not as much as in Philadelphia or Australia.” Apparently rich people controlled the game in Australia, and there was no shortage of funds in Philadelphia. Well, Australia is still doing quite well in cricket, but Philadelphia is not flying so high in modern day cricket.

Some of the “Remarks” by Mr. F.W. Terry were, possibly, a touch ahead of their time. In batting and bowling “cricket needs a brain perfectly free from any cloud.” He moves on to the scientific aspects of fielding. “In fielding and throwing to the bowler or wicket-keeper, science is very predominant. No green-horn can pick up and throw in to the wicketkeeper unless he has taken pains to practise and make himself proficient in this department of the game. I am quite sure that fielding is thought too little of, especially by those who consider themselves first-class in the game as a whole.”

So thinking, fitness, preparation and the blending of the physical and mental aspects of the great game of cricket….with or without boundaries being all-run or not. With wicket-keeping “a science within itself” and point standing just six-to-eight yards from the bat “not twelve to fifteen yards off…..that position is not cricket ”, according to our friend Mr. Gale.

But on some of the basic principles – the mission statements and goals – Mr. Gale is, possibly, close to modern. “The game of cricket was, and ought to be a trial of courage, training, condition and endurance, plus skill and nerve.” Batting helmets? (The odd beamer?) Fielding circles? (Point halfway to the boundary?)

Mr. Patterson made comment about “bad cricket….many a time redeemed by the joviality of the players, or by their physical unfitness for the game.”

But he liked the personal gain from others weaknesses and failings. When batting, he enjoyed “taking a lad’s delight in sweeping the half volleys of opposing rustics from the neighbouring villages.” But there may have been just the odd time when one of the “yokels” or “rustics” might have dismissed Mr. Patterson cheaply. If it happened, if just once, he might not have been too pleased about the accompanying joviality of the fielding side. But perhaps it never did happen.

A groundsman may have continued to produce “a capital wicket” from “a field of ridges and furrows” to prevent such a ‘disaster’. Long may there be “many kindnesses and unbounded hospitality” around Canadian cricket fields! Loudly let the trumpet bray on the hope of such joy, peace, and harmony in Canadian cricket.

Eddie Norfolk