1912 Triangular Tournament

Last updated

1912 Triangular Tournament
Date27 May – 22 August 1912
Location England
ResultEngland won the nine-match tournament 4–2–0
Teams
Flag of England.svg  England Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia South Africa Flag 1910-1912.svg  South Africa
Captains
C. B. Fry Syd Gregory Frank Mitchell
Most runs
Jack Hobbs (391)
Wilfred Rhodes (263)
Warren Bardsley (392)
Charles Kelleway (360)
Dave Nourse (220)
Aubrey Faulkner (194)
Most wickets
Sydney Barnes (39)
Frank Woolley (17)
Bill Whitty (25)
Gerry Hazlitt (19)
Sid Pegler (29)
Aubrey Faulkner (17)

The 1912 Triangular Tournament was a Test cricket competition played between Australia, England and South Africa, the only Test-playing nations at the time.

Contents

The ultimate winners of the tournament were England, with four wins in their six matches, but the tournament was deemed a failure, with disappointing crowds and uncompetitive cricket, caused in part by a weakened Australia team.

The tournament was the first tournament in Test history to be played between more than two nations. It was the only such tournament until the Asian Test Championships of 1998–99 and 2001–02, and the ICC World Test Championship which began in 2019.

Background

The idea of a competition involving all three of the nations then playing Test cricket (Australia, England and South Africa) was proposed at the first meeting of the Imperial Cricket Council in July, 1909. The original proposal was for a tournament to be held every four years, with the first hosted by England in 1912.

For a variety of reasons, the tournament was not a success. The summer was one of the wettest since records began in 1766: rainfall in the three months of June, July and August was more than twice the annual average, and August, 1912, was the coldest, dullest and wettest August of the 20th century. At that time, pitches were not covered to protect them against rain, so the batsmen were at a distinct disadvantage on the proverbial sticky wicket. These problems were exacerbated since Tests in England were in those days played over three days rather than the five days that is now usual. Two of the matches between England and Australia were drawn due to the weather, with the final match being played on a pitch said to be "better suited to water polo". [1]

In addition, disputes between the players and management in Australia meant that six leading Australian players refused to tour (including the captain, Clem Hill, and Victor Trumper, neither of whom played for Australia again), weakening a side that had otherwise been level with England in recent Ashes series. The leg spin and googly bowlers in the South African side were very effective on the matting pitches then in use in South Africa, but were less threatening on English grass pitches. As a result, England dominated, winning four of their six matches and drawing the other two.

Finally, the British public showed little interest: in the words of The Daily Telegraph : "Nine Tests provide a surfeit of cricket, and contests between Australia and South Africa are not a great attraction to the British public." [1]

The tournament was so unsuccessful that it has never been repeated. The idea of a tournament of international cricket matches between more than two countries was not repeated, outside of regional tournaments in East Africa and the West Indies, until the invention of One Day International cricket and the first Cricket World Cup in 1975. The only other Test cricket tournaments in history were the Asian Test Championships played in 1998–99 and 2001–02, which were also not great successes, until the ICC World Test Championship began in 2019.

Squad

[2]

Notable incidents

Perhaps the most notable incident of the series was Australian bowler Jimmy Matthews taking two hat-tricks in the same Test match, one in each innings of the opening match against South Africa, the only time a bowler has taken two hat-tricks in the same Test.

Tests

First match: Australia v South Africa at Old Trafford, 27–28 May 1912

27–28 May 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
448 (122.3 overs)
W Bardsley 121
SJ Pegler 6/105 (45.3 overs)
265 (116 overs)
GA Faulkner 122
WJ Whitty 5/55 (34 overs)
95 (f/o) (28.2 overs)
HW Taylor 21
C Kelleway 5/33 (14.2 overs)
Australia won by an innings and 88 runs
Old Trafford, Manchester
Umpires: GW Webb and A White

Second match: England v South Africa at Lord's, 10–12 Jun 1912

10–12 June 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
58 (26.1 overs)
AW Nourse 13
FR Foster 5/16 (13.1 overs)
337 (119 overs)
RH Spooner 119
SJ Pegler 7/65 (31 overs)
217 (82 overs)
CB Llewellyn 75
SF Barnes 6/85 (34 overs)
England won by an innings and 62 runs
Lord's, London
Umpires: W Richards and WAJ West
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
  • CP Carter (SA) made his Test debut.

Third match: England v Australia at Lord's, 24–26 Jun 1912

24–26 June 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
310/7d (90 overs)
JB Hobbs 107
SH Emery 2/46 (12 overs)
282/7 (127.2 overs)
CG Macartney 99
W Rhodes 3/59 (19.2 overs)
Match drawn
Lord's, London
Umpires: J Moss and AE Street
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.
  • H Dean (ENG) and DBM Smith (AUS) made their Test debuts.

Fourth match: England v South Africa at Headingley, 8–10 Jul 1912

8–10 July 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
242 (78.1 overs)
FE Woolley 57
AW Nourse 4/52 (26.1 overs)
147 (56.3 overs)
SJ Pegler 35*
SF Barnes 6/52 (22 overs)
238 (90.2 overs)
RH Spooner 82
GA Faulkner 4/50 (24.2 overs)
159 (58.2 overs)
LJ Tancred 39
SF Barnes 4/63 (21.2 overs)
England won by 174 runs
Headingley, Leeds
Umpires: W Richards and A White

Fifth match: Australia v South Africa at Lord's, 15–17 Jul 1912

15–17 July 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
263 (89 overs)
HW Taylor 93
WJ Whitty 4/68 (31 overs)
390 (128.5 overs)
W Bardsley 164
SJ Pegler 4/79 (29.5 overs)
173 (57.1 overs)
CB Llewellyn 59
TJ Matthews 4/29 (13 overs)
48/0 (12.1 overs)
ER Mayne 25*
Australia won by 10 wickets
Lord's, London
Umpires: J Moss and AE Street
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
  • ER Mayne (AUS) made their Test debuts.

Sixth match: England v Australia at Old Trafford, 29–31 Jul 1912

29–31 July 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
203 (92.5 overs)
W Rhodes 92
WJ Whitty 4/43 (27 overs)
14/0 (13 overs)
CB Jennings 9*
Match drawn
Old Trafford, Manchester
Umpires: GW Webb and WAJ West
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.

Seventh match: Australia v South Africa at Trent Bridge, 5–7 Aug 1912

5–7 August 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
329 (128.5 overs)
AW Nourse 64
TJ Matthews 2/27 (20.5 overs)
219 (94.1 overs)
W Bardsley 56
SJ Pegler 4/80 (36 overs)
Match drawn
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Umpires: GW Webb and WAJ West
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

Eighth match: England v South Africa at The Oval, 12–13 Aug 1912

12–13 August 1912
(3-day match)
Scorecard
v
95 (42.3 overs)
HW Taylor 23
SJ Snooke 23

SF Barnes 5/28 (21 overs)
176 (56.1 overs)
JB Hobbs 68
GA Faulkner 7/84 (27.1 overs)
93 (32.4 overs)
AW Nourse 42
SF Barnes 8/29 (16.4 overs)
14/0 (4.3 overs)
JB Hobbs 9*
England won by 10 wickets
The Oval, London
Umpires: W Richards and A White
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.

Ninth match: England v Australia at The Oval, 19–22 Aug 1912

19–22 August 1912
(Timeless Test)
Scorecard
v
245 (114.1 overs)
JB Hobbs 66
RB Minnett 4/34 (10.1 overs)
111 (54.4 overs)
C Kelleway 43
FE Woolley 5/29 (9.4 overs)
175 (86.4 overs)
CB Fry 79
GR Hazlitt 7/25 (21.4 overs)
65 (22.4 overs)
CG Macartney 30
FE Woolley 5/20 (7.4 overs)
England won by 244 runs
The Oval, London
Umpires: J Moss and AE Street
  • England won the toss and elected to bat.

Results table

TeamPlayedWonLostDrawn
England6402
Australia6213
South Africa6051

See also

Related Research Articles

The history of Test cricket between 1884 and 1889 was one of English dominance over the Australians. England won every Test series that was played. The period also saw the first use of the word "Test" to describe a form of cricket when the Press used it in 1885. It has remained in common usage ever since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian cricket team in England in 1948</span> Visit to England by the Australian cricket team in 1948

The Australian cricket team in England in 1948 is famous for being the only Test match side to play an entire tour of England without losing a match. This feat earned them the nickname of "The Invincibles", and they are regarded as one of the greatest cricket teams of all time. According to the Australian federal government, the team "is one of Australia's most cherished sporting legends". The team was captained by Don Bradman, who was making his fourth and final tour of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Imperial Force Touring XI</span>

When the First World War ended in November 1918, thousands of Australian servicemen were in Europe as members of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and many remained until the spring of 1919. In England, a new first-class cricket season was planned, the first since 1914, and an idea that came to fruition was the formation of an Australian touring side made up of servicemen. Agreement was reached with the Australian Corps HQ in London, commanded by Field Marshal William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood, and the Australian Imperial Force Touring XI was formed, initially under the captaincy of pre-war Test player Charlie Kelleway. Kelleway departed after only six matches following a dispute about the fixtures list. A players' meeting elected future Test player Herbie Collins as team captain for the remainder of the tour, despite the fact that Collins' military rank was lance corporal and there were seven officers in the party. The bulk of the team remained intact for nearly nine months from May 1919, playing 33 matches in Great Britain, ten in South Africa on their way home and then another three in Australia itself before disbanding in February 1920. Of the 46 matches, 39 are adjudged first-class and the team had only four defeats, all of these in England. The players lived on their army pay and all profits from gate money went to an AIF Sports Control Board.

An England team toured Australia between November 1920 and March 1921. The tour was organised by the Marylebone Cricket Club and matches outside the Tests were played under the MCC name. The tour itinerary consisted of 13 first-class matches, including a series of 5 Test matches against Australia in which The Ashes were at stake.

1909 was the 20th season of County Championship cricket in England and featured a Test series between England and Australia. Kent won the championship and Australia, captained by Monty Noble, won the Test series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian cricket team in England in 1902</span> International cricket tour

The Australian cricket team toured England during the 1902 English cricket season. The five-Test series between the two countries has been fondly remembered; in 1967 the cricket writer A. A. Thomson described the series as "a rubber more exciting than any in history except the Australia v West Indies series in 1960–61". Australia had won the previous three Test rubbers between the two countries, and now won their fourth successive series, by two matches to one with two draws. In the process they "beat the records of all their predecessors in the country" by losing only two of 39 matches during the tour, their defeats being against England in the Fifth Test and in the first of their two fixtures against Yorkshire. The remaining 37 matches gave 23 wins for Australia and 14 draws.

The New Zealand cricket team toured England in the 1965 season, playing three Test matches in the first half of a damp summer. England later hosted a second three-match series against South Africa, the first time two Test series were played in a single English cricket season since the 1912 Triangular Tournament.

The South African cricket team toured England in the 1955 season to play a five-match Test series against England. England won the series 3–2 with no matches drawn.

The South Africa national cricket team toured Australia in the 1993–94 season to play three test matches against Australia in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. These were played from 26 December 1993 to 1 February 1994. The tour was the first made by the South Africa cricket team to Australia in 30 years and was undertaken as the apartheid system was being dismantled in South Africa and the country transitioned to democratic government. Kepler Wessels captained the South Africans in the first two tests. After a hand injury, Hansie Cronje replaced him for the third test. Allan Border was Australia's captain for the series.

The history of the England cricket team can be said to date back to at least 1739, when sides styled "Kent" and "All England" played a match at Bromley Common. Over 300 matches involving "England" or "All England" prior to 1877 are known. However these teams were usually put together on an ad hoc basis and were rarely fully representative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy</span> Cricket final

The 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy was a One Day International cricket tournament held in Kenya. New Zealand were crowned champions and cashed the winner's cheque of US$250 000. It was their first win in a major ICC tournament. Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh and Marlon Samuels made their ODI debuts during the competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English cricket team in Australia in 1911–12</span> International cricket tour

The English cricket team in Australia in 1911–12 was led by Plum Warner, but Johnny Douglas took over the captaincy for all five Test matches when Warner fell ill early in the tour. Despite losing the first Test at Sydney, a side which included Jack Hobbs, Frank Woolley, Sydney Barnes and Wilfred Rhodes hit back to win the remaining four Tests. They thus regained The Ashes.

The England cricket team toured South Africa under the auspices of the Marylebone Cricket Club from December 1905 to March 1906. There were five Test matches, and seven first-class games against South African provincial teams. While the team won a number of their first-class matches, they also lost several, and South Africa won the Test series 4 to 1.

Lindsay Hassett was the vice-captain and one of three on-tour selectors for Don Bradman's famous Australian cricket team, which toured England in 1948. The Australians went undefeated in their 34 matches; this unprecedented feat by a Test side touring England earned them the sobriquet The Invincibles, and resulted in them being regarded as one of the greatest teams of all time. A right-handed batsman, Hassett played in all five Tests; he was a middle-order batsman in all but the Fourth Test, when he stood in as an opener due to an injury to Sid Barnes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sid Barnes with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948</span> Contribution of Sid Barnes to the 1948 tour

Sid Barnes was a key member of Donald Bradman's famous Australian cricket team, which toured England in 1948. The team went undefeated in their 34 matches; this unprecedented feat by a Test side touring England earned them the sobriquet The Invincibles. A right-handed opening batsman, Barnes was part of Bradman's first-choice team and played in four of the five Tests—he missed one match due to injury—partnering the left-handed Arthur Morris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Loxton with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948</span> 1948 season of Australian cricketer

Sam Loxton was a member of Donald Bradman's famous Australian cricket team, which toured England in 1948. Bradman's men went undefeated in their 34 matches; this unprecedented feat by a Test side touring England earned them the sobriquet The Invincibles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 Women's Cricket World Cup</span> International cricket tournament

The 1982 Women's Cricket World Cup, known as the 1982 Hansells Vita Fresh World Cup for sponsorship purposes, was an international cricket tournament played in New Zealand from 10 January to 7 February 1982. Hosted by New Zealand for the first time, it was the third edition of the Women's Cricket World Cup, coming four years after the previous 1978 World Cup in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 ICC World Twenty20</span> Third ICC World Twenty20 competition

The 2010 ICC World Twenty20 was the third ICC World Twenty20 competition, an international Twenty20 cricket tournament that was held in the West Indies between 30 April and 16 May 2010. It was won by England, who defeated Australia in the final. Kevin Pietersen was named as player of the tournament.

The 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup Final was a one-day cricket match between Australia and New Zealand played on 29 December 1997 at Eden Gardens in Calcutta, India. It marked the culmination of the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup, the sixth edition of the tournament. Australia won the final by five wickets, clinching their fourth World Cup title. It was Australia's third appearance in a World Cup final, while New Zealand were making their second successive appearance.

References

  1. 1 2 "Reference at content-usa.cricinfo.com".
  2. "Triangular Tournament (Aus Eng RSA) May/Aug 1912 – Averages".
  3. Frindall, Bill (2000). The Wisden Book Of Test Cricket: Volume 1 1877–1970. London: Headline Book Publishing. p. 124. ISBN   0747272735.

Further reading