The first recorded instance of cricket being played in Canada dates back to 1785 when matches were held at Ile-Ste-Helene in the Province of Quebec. This location is now the site of the Montreal Exposition buildings. The origins of cricket in Canada are unclear, but it is widely believed that British soldiers introduced the game after the battle at the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City in 1759.
Canadian cricket has its roots mainly in Upper Canada, particularly around the town of York, now Toronto, in the province of Ontario. In the early years of the 19th century, George A. Barber, a young English schoolmaster, promoted the game in the city. He is now regarded as the father of Canadian cricket.
A man of many talents, Barber was the editor of the Toronto Herald and a master at Upper Canada College. In 1827, he helped found the prestigious Toronto Cricket Club, and in 1829, played a significant role in introducing cricket to the newly established college. Barber initiated the historic series between the Toronto Cricket Club and Upper Canada College in 1836. These matches are still played annually, and both clubs have produced many talented cricketers who have represented their country.
In 1844, Canada and the United States met for their first international at the St. George's Club in New York, now the site of the New York University Medical Center. Historians consider this contest to be the oldest international sporting fixture in the world, predating the famous England versus Australia series by over thirty years.
In 1859, George Parr led the first touring team from England to Canada. Although the tourists were much stronger than the locals, the visit was a great success and became the first cricket tour in history. Fred Lillywhite's book, 'The English Cricketers' Trip to Canada and the United States', which describes the adventure, was a product of the tour. It is one of the earliest books on the sport and is now a prized possession in any collector's library.
When Canada became a nation in 1867, cricket was already so popular that it was declared the national sport by the first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, and his colleagues, according to Canadian cricket historian Donald King in 'The Canadian Cricketer' in April 1973. However, cricket began to decline with the advancement of baseball in the United States after the Civil War (1861-65), despite tours by Australian and English teams.
In 1872, the third English touring side arrived in Canada under the leadership of R.A. Fitzgerald. Among the team was the legendary Dr. W.G. Grace, who lived up to his colossal reputation by scoring a magnificent 142 against the Toronto Cricket Club. This innings stood for over one hundred years as the highest individual effort by an English batsman in Canada until David Gower surpassed it in 1976 during the D.H. Robins XI tour, where he scored against Manitoba in Winnipeg.
That same year, Toronto cricketer Ross McKenzie set a world record by bowling a cricket ball 140 yards 9 inches. Twelve years later, England's Robert Percival bowled 140 yards 2 feet at Durham Sands, but McKenzie's remains the second longest ever.
The first Australian team to tour Canada was led by Dave Gregory in 1878. The team included greats such as Charlie Bannerman, Fredrick Spofforth, W.L. Murdoch, and John MacBlackham. It is worth noting that Bannerman scored 125 in a match played in Montreal. It is also remembered that he made 165 retired hurt in the first test match at Melbourne in 1877.
During these years of active cricket in the east, the sport was rapidly spreading to the west. By 1864, Winnipeg's Northwestern Cricket Club had been founded, and by 1876, the renowned Victoria Cricket Club was established on the Wes Coast. After the establishment of these two historic clubs, other teams emerged in the Prairie Provinces, Alberta, and British Columbia. The sport was gaining popularity throughout the country, particularly in western Canada.
During the summer of 1880, the first Canadian cricket team travelled to England under the leadership of Thomas Dale. The team faced several issues during their tour. Despite these setbacks, they continued to play. Local authorities did not recognize them as an official team, and Dale was arrested during the match against Leicestershire on charges of desertion from the British Army. In one instance, the Rev. T.D. Phillips sailed from Canada to take control of the team, but unfortunately, the tour collapsed, and the Canadians returned home.
In 1887, a Canadian team led by Dr. E.R. Ogden undertook their first official tour of the British Isles. The team was capable and played on level terms against several counties. They recorded wins over Ireland, Derbyshire, Warwickshire, and Leicestershire and were far from disgraced, but previous attempts at touring had been unsuccessful. During his sensational tour, Edward Ogden, an all-rounder, scored 98 against Durham, 133 against Hampshire, and captured 9 for 83 against the MCC at Lord's.