A souvenir of a long forgotten tour

Martin Chandler | 9:25am BST 22 September 2024

The primary tour of England by a West Indian facet befell in the summertime of 1900. The go to lasted from the start of June, the primary day’s aggressive cricket being on the Crystal Palace floor towards WG Grace’s London County facet, and concluded two months later, the ultimate match being a two day recreation towards Norfolk.

The vacationers performed 17 matches in all, of both two or three days length. Not one of the fixtures have been First Class, however the West Indians nonetheless confronted some sturdy opposition.

The preparations for the tour have been made by a non-public membership, the West Indian membership who, at the moment, operated from the Howard Lodge in Norfolk Avenue in London. One of many membership’s acknowledged objects, on formation in 1898, was to afford services for organising in reference to the West Indies and British Guiana, annual cricket matches and different kindred amusements recognised by our English Universities and Public Colleges.

The following story of the West Indian membership would likely be an fascinating one however, for now, all I’m conscious of is that closed within the Seventies. If, and I do know not whether or not that is the case, it had by no means moved from the Howard Lodge then its demise could nicely have been attributable to the resort’s closure on account of the demolition of Norfolk Avenue.

The touring get together was led by Aucher Warner, the older (by 14 years) brother of ‘Plum’. There have been 15 gamers, all bar two of them amateurs. Ten of the get together have been white and simply 5 black. The black gamers have been the 2 professionals, Tommie Burton and ‘Float’ Woods, in addition to Fitz Hines and the 2 most recognisable names, Lebrun Constantine (father of Learie) and Charles Olliviere (who stayed behind after the tour and certified to play for Derbyshire).

The opening fixture proved to be one thing of a mismatch as London County proved far too sturdy for the vacationers, finally operating out winners by an innings and 198 runs. The subsequent three video games, towards Worcestershire, Warwickshire and the Gents of the MCC have been defeats as nicely, earlier than victory was lastly achieved over a Minor Counties XI.

Gloucestershire then handed out one other heavy defeat earlier than, thanks largely to a century from visitor opener ‘Plum”, the West Indians defeated Leicestershire. The low level of the tour, an innings defeat to Minor County Wiltshire was nonetheless to return, however by and huge the West Indians, little question partially because of an growing familiarity with English circumstances, grew to become extra aggressive because the tour progressed and their finest efficiency got here on the Oval the place they achieved an innings defeat over Surrey. The house facet weren’t at full energy, nevertheless it was a big victory nonetheless.

By the tip of the tour the West Indians had received 5 occasions, drawn 4 matches and misplaced eight and the journey was thought of a hit. The 2 main batsmen had been Ollivierre and Constantine, and the 2 skilled bowlers, Woods and Burton, have been probably the most profitable bowlers by a distance, in respect of each common and wickets taken.

The shortage of any First Class fixtures makes this tour, regardless of its wider significance, very a lot a minor one and no writer went close to it. There may be nevertheless one up to date memento of the tour, a properly produced 50 web page booklet that was printed by the West Indian Membership. Unsurprisingly the booklet is a scarce one and copies hardly ever seem available on the market. It’s an fascinating interval piece.

The booklet begins with an summary of the tour by ‘Plum’ which summarises the background to Anglo-West Indian cricket earlier than happening to explain the tour’s progress, and thence to move judgment on the enjoying data of the person West Indians. 

Modesty prevents ‘Plum’ making point out of his personal contribution towards Leicestershire, however his observations can at occasions be fairly sharp. Of Woods he noticed that the tempo bowler was on events as much as his finest West Indian type, however at different occasions he appeared to lose coronary heart very simply. Of the batsmen typically one remark is that in the early a part of the tour they have been each individually, and as a staff, the worst judges of a run I’ve ever seen.

After the Report there’s a abstract of the outcomes adopted by the essential enterprise of a scorecard of every match and the tour averages. That takes the booklet to its half method level, and there’s some fascinating narrative to comply with.

To start with there are a few reprints from The Subject, {a magazine} with reference to countryside pursuits and area sports activities that continues to be in print to this present day. Each are constructive of their response to the West Indian go to.

By far the biggest a part of the booklet nevertheless, 23 pages, is dedicated to a verbatim account of the speeches and toasts given on the Banquet to the Guests given by the West Indian Membership. There may be even an inventory of the music that was performed though, maybe disappointingly, no menu to tell us as to what the friends dined on.

We do nevertheless know who attended, as there’s a record of the names of the 57 who did, the night being chaired by one in every of English cricket’s grandees, Lord Harris. The West Indian gamers have been current, together with Hinds and Ollivierre. Sadly plainly Woods and Burton, presumably due to their standing as professionals, weren’t there, however there in no clarification for Constantine’s absence – I want to suppose there was a principled objection concerned.

And so that’s that for one of many extra uncommon gadgets in my assortment, nevertheless it wasn’t fairly the final phrase on the 1900 tour as, greater than twenty years later, a e-book was printed in Trinidad with reference to the tour, and the subsequent two West Indian excursions to England. Written by native journalist Lloyd Sydney Smith I actually ought to get spherical to studying it.