
Basic equipment for playing cricket – bat, stumps and ball
When fossicking in the archives I have at times come across fascinating and totally irrelevant material. It seems to be a shame not to share this, so I have created the ‘Lucky Dip’ category. ‘Lucky Dip’ contains what I regard as ephemera but what may be central to the interests of others.
What better time than the start of the current Ashes encounter to reflect on the English tour of Australia when the first test match was played between Australia and England. For international readers not familiar with the game I have provided a list of sites which give basic explanations of this sport at the end of this post.
Work Stops for Cricket in 1876
I am currently researching the history of teaching reading in Australia, so I was quite surprised to come across a reference to the England vs New South Wales cricket match that was held between 7th and 11th December 1876.
In 1876, the NSW Council of Education had to consider the weighty issue of allowing Council employees to attend the international cricket match. This is what I read in the Council’s minute book:
Read the Chief Clerk’s memorandum requesting that the office may be closed at noon on the 7th, 8th, and 9th December.
The Council resolved that the office be closed at 12 noon on Saturday (9th), and that one half of the clerks have leave on Thursday from the same hour, and the remainder on Friday.
Minute Book No. 9, Council of Education, 4 Dec. 1876, p. 332. Held at the New South Wales State Archives, NRS 2646.
This match predates the first test match between Australia and England which was held during the same English tour in 1877. Clearly the game held an important place in Sydney at this time. Continue reading →
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