History of cricket in South Africa from 1918–19 to 1945

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This article describes the history of South African cricket from the aftermath of the First World War in 1919 to the end of the Second World War in 1945.

Domestic cricket from 1919 to 1945

Domestic first-class matches focused on the Currie Cup competition which, although it was the national championship, was not always contested because of travel constraints and other reasons. The Currie Cup was not held in seasons when there was a Test tour of South Africa, though it was held in 1931–32 when the South African Test side traveled to Australia and New Zealand.

Until 1926 all cricket in South Africa was played on matting pitches. The first Currie Cup match to be played on a turf pitch was held at the Kingsmead ground in Durban in December 1926, between Natal and Border. The first Test matches on turf pitches were held during the English tour of 1930–31. By the end of the 1930s, all first-class matches in South Africa were played on turf pitches.

Currie Cup winners from 1919–20 to 1944–45

Not contested: 1919–20, 1922–23, 1924–25, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1935–36, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1944–45.
1920–21: Western Province
1921–22: undecided
1923–24: Transvaal
1925–26: Transvaal
1926–27: Transvaal
1929–30: Transvaal
1931–32: Western Province
1933–34: Natal
1934–35: Transvaal
1936–37: Natal
1937–38: Natal and Transvaal (shared)

Second World War

From the outset of the war, South Africa was actively involved as a member of the Allies. The war brought austerity and cricket was considered by many to be frivolous in such circumstances. Only one first-class game was played in South Africa during the wartime seasons.

This match took place during the 1942 New Year period at Newlands in Cape Town between Western Province and Transvaal. It ended in a draw. Western Province batted first and scored 237 in 79.1 overs. In reply, James Pickerill's 71 was the top score, and Reginald Lofthouse's 4–63 was the best return as Transvaal made 251 for 8 declared. Sidney Kiel top-scored in the match with 128 not out as Western Province declared on 236 for 8. This didn't quite leave enough time for a result and Transvaal had made 166–6 when stumps were drawn.

International tours of South Africa from 1919–20 to 1944–45

Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) 1919–20

Main article: Australian Imperial Force Touring XI § Tour of South Africa

Western Province v AIF – AIF won by 2 wickets
Transvaal v AIF – match drawn
Natal v AIF – AIF won by 310 runs
Natal v AIF – AIF won by an innings and 42 runs
Transvaal v AIF – AIF won by an innings and 14 runs
South Africa v AIF – AIF won by 8 wickets
South Africa v AIF – AIF won by an innings and 129 runs
Western Province v AIF – match drawn

The AIF team had players of the caliber of Jack Gregory, Herbie Collins, Bert Oldfield, and Nip Pellew.

Australia 1921–22

Main article: Australian cricket team in South Africa in 1921–22

1st Test at Lord's, Durban – match drawn
2nd Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – match drawn
3rd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – Australia won by 10 wickets

England 1922–23

Main article: English cricket team in South Africa in 1922–23

1st Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 168 runs
2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – England won by 1 wicket
3rd Test at Kingsmead, Durban – match drawn
4th Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – match drawn
5th Test at Kingsmead, Durban – England won by 109 runs

England 1924–25

Main article: S. B. Joel's XI cricket team in South Africa in 1924–25

A team captained by Lionel Tennyson and including 12 past or future England Test players toured South Africa between November 1924 and February 1925.

England 1927–28

Main article: English cricket team in South Africa in 1927–28

1st Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – England won by 10 wickets
2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – England won by 87 runs
3rd Test at Kingsmead, Durban – match drawn
4th Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 4 wickets
5th Test at Kingsmead, Durban – South Africa won by 8 wickets

England 1930–31

Main article: English cricket team in South Africa in 1930–31

1st Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 28 runs
2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – match drawn
3rd Test at Kingsmead, Durban – match drawn
4th Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – match drawn
5th Test at Kingsmead, Durban – match drawn

Australia 1935–36

Main article: Australian cricket team in South Africa in 1935–36

1st Test at Kingsmead, Durban – Australia won by 9 wickets
2nd Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – match drawn
3rd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – Australia won by an innings and 78 runs
4th Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – Australia won by an innings and 184 runs
5th Test at Kingsmead, Durban – Australia won by an innings and 6 runs

England 1938–39

Main article: English cricket team in South Africa in 1938–39

1st Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – match drawn
2nd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – match drawn
3rd Test at Kingsmead, Durban – England won by an innings and 13 runs
4th Test at Old Wanderers, Johannesburg – match drawn
5th Test at Kingsmead, Durban – match drawn

References

Bruce Murray and Christopher Merrett, Caught Behind: Race and Politics in Springbok Cricket, Wits University Press and University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, Johannesburg and Scottsville, 2004, p. 42.

External links

CricketArchive – itinerary of South African cricket

v t e South African cricket seasons
to 1918 1918–19 to 1945
1942–43 South African cricket season
1945–46 to 1970 1970–71 to 1990
1971–72 South African cricket season
1990–91 to 2000 from 2000–01

v t e International cricket tours of South Africa
Test and LOI tours
Australia	1902–03 1921–22 1935–36 1949–50 1957–58 1966–67 1969–70 1993–94 1996–97 1999–2000 2001–02 2005–06 2008–09 2011–12 2013–14 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2019–20 2023
Bangladesh	2002–03 2008–09 2017–18 2021–22
England	1888–89 1891–92 1895–96 1898–99 1905–06 1909–10 1913–14 1922–23 1927–28 1930–31 1938–39 1948–49 1956–57 1964–65 1995–96 1999–2000 2004–05 2009–10 2015–16 2019–20 2020–21 2022-23
India	1992–93 1996–97 2001–02 2006–07 2010–11 2013–14 2017–18 2020 (cancelled) 2021–22 2023–24 2024-25
Kenya	2001–02 2008–09
New Zealand	1953–54 1961–62 1994–95 2000–01 2005–06 2007–08 2012–13 2015 2016
Pakistan	1994–95 1997–98 2002–03 2006–07 2012–13 2013–14 2018–19 2020–21 2024–25
Sri Lanka	1994–95 1997–98 2000–01 2002–03 2011–12 2016–17 2018–19 2020–21 2024-25
West Indies	1998–99 2003–04 2007–08 2014–15 2022–23
Zimbabwe	1999–2000 2004–05 2006–07 2009–10 2010–11 2017–18 2018–19 2023-24
Tournaments hosted
Multiple teams	1992–93 1994–95 1996–97 1997–98 1999–2000 2001–02 2003 2007 2009 2022–23
Other tours
Note: during the isolation of South Africa from international cricket between 1970 and 1991, there were seven unofficial tours (italicised below) by various teams, collectively known as the South African rebel tours.
Australian	1919 1985–86 1986–87
Bangladeshi	2000–01
Dutch	1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 2000–01 2001–02 2003–04 2005–06 2021–22
English	1924–25 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1981–82 1989–90 1999–2000
Irish	2000–01 2011–12 2016–17
Kenyan	1995–96
Multi-national	1959–60
Namibian	1992–93 1993–94
Scottish	1991–92 1992–93 2012–13
Sri Lankan	1982–83
West Indian	1982–83 1983–84
See also: International cricket in South Africa from 1971 to 1981

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