The two teams in the opening T20 World Cup match have a fascinating and storied history, with a significant achievement to their name.
In the early days, long before the advent of Twenty20 cricket and the prestigious Ashes series, and even before basketball came into existence, a group of Toronto's finest cricketers embarked on a journey to the United States. Their mission? To engage in a two-day match against the top 11 American cricketers.
In September 1844, several years before the inaugural America's Cup, a decade before the first Open championship, and over three decades before the first Test match, an event took place. Canada versus USA, the opening fixture of this year's World Cup, is not only the oldest international match in this sport but also believed by historians to be the oldest in any sport.
It's peculiar that this rather intriguing story began as a practical joke, especially considering that the series has been running for 180 years, intermittently depending on the state of relations between the two nations.
In the summer of 1840, a man who identified himself as George Phillpotts, a Canadian player, issued a challenge to the St George's Club in New York. He proposed a match between his team, the Toronto CC, and the St George's Club. According to reports, St George's was a group of proud English expats who believed they were the top club in the country. The players embarked on a journey to the north and, after nearly a week of travel, discovered that the invitation they had received was a deceptive trick.
Whoever this Phillpotts person was, they definitely weren't the wicketkeeper for TCC. They had yet to go to New York that week and needed to learn about the proposal. Interestingly, the Toronto players had already planned an away game for that weekend. However, despite the inconvenience, they still agreed to play against the guests, considering the effort the New Yorkers had made to come and play.
Despite Toronto's loss, the reports indicate that everyone had a great time. The players even celebrated with numerous toasts to the sons of St George, St Patrick, St David, and St Andrew. At some point during this, the two teams decided to turn it into a yearly event.
After Toronto emerged victorious in the previous match, St George's decided to level the playing field by recruiting three talented players from Philadelphia for their next visit to the north. The Canadians declined to participate, as they maintained that only individuals from the two clubs were eligible. It was during the fallout from this dispute that St George's suggested turning the match into a representative game featuring the best players from all clubs on both sides of the border. They announced a challenge through the media. The Torontonians agreed, and in September 1844, they journeyed south to compete for a prize of $1,000.
The group was quite peculiar, with David Winckworth as their leader. He was renowned for his cautious batting and his speedy round-arm bowling. He started with John Wilson, a recent arrival from England, who was reputed to be one of the finest longstop fielders in the country. This was due to his exceptional skill in using his right shin as a long barrier.
Among their selections was George Barber, a unique individual with nine fingers. Barber's cricket skills were showcased in a remarkable single-wicket match, where he batted for an impressive two days without allowing his opponent to even step onto the crease. Another notable addition was John Beverly Robinson, who would later go on to become the mayor of Toronto. The team also included Harry Maddock, an underarm bowler known for his short stature and distinctive black beaver hat. Lastly, their club professional, Fred French, served as their groundsman, caretaker, and cook. French was well-known for his dish of "chops with tomato sauce."
Robert Tinson, a businessman who sold carpets, led the Americans. James Turner, who scored the first recorded century on the continent with 120 against St George's, was also chosen. Sam Wright, a professional player from Sheffield, had joined the team as well. Harry and George Wright, in addition to being professional cricketers, gained greater recognition for their baseball careers with the Cincinnati Red Stockings. Both men were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, with Harry earning the title of "Father of the Professional Game."
The game took place at St George's Manhattan home on Bloomingdale Road, and based on contemporary press coverage, it is the topic of conversation for all the influential people in New York. Just over 5,000 people showed up, which is almost the same number expected at Grand Prairie in Texas for the opening game of this World Cup.
Canada won the toss and batted until mid-afternoon, scoring 82 runs. Winckworth, George Sharpe, and an unidentified player named "Freeling" each contributed 12 runs. The USA responded with a total of 64 runs, with Tinson leading the scoring with 14. The second day's play was cancelled due to bad weather, so it was decided to resume the game 24 hours later.
Things took an unexpected turn during the delay. One of the umpires mysteriously disappeared after making a controversial LBW decision against the Americans and the USA's No. Three batter, George Wheatcroft, also vanished. The Weekly Herald reported that nearly $100,000 had been bet on the game and mentioned that rumours were circulating about the gentleman's absence during such a critical moment.
Canada scored 63 runs in their second innings, with Winckworth leading the way with a solid 14. They then bowled out the USA for 58 runs, securing a 23-run victory. The American players wasted no time in challenging them to a rematch the very next day. The Canadians declined and went back home with a sense of accomplishment, unaware that their future generations would continue this rivalry for nearly two centuries.