Cricket’s Oldest International Rivalry: Canada vs USA, 180 Years and Counting
Toronto, September 1844: In a historic clash predating even the invention of basketball, the 11 best cricketers from Toronto traveled south to take on the finest players from the United States. This match, the opening fixture of this year’s World Cup, marks the oldest international fixture in any sport, with a rivalry spanning 180 years.
The story behind this enduring contest is as curious as it is captivating. It all began as a practical joke in 1840, when a man claiming to be a Canadian player named George Phillpotts challenged the St George’s Club in New York to a match against his own Toronto Cricket Club. The unsuspecting New Yorkers, a “stuffy bunch of proud English expats,” set off north only to find the invitation was a hoax. However, the Toronto players, who had not been part of the prank, agreed to a match anyway, and thus began an annual tradition.
The 1844 encounter, held at St George’s Manhattan home on Bloomingdale Road, drew a crowd of over 5,000 – nearly as many as are expected for the opening game of this year’s World Cup in Grand Prairie, Texas. Led by their champion all-rounder David Winckworth, the Canadians won the toss, batted through to mid-afternoon, and posted 82 runs. The Americans, captained by carpet salesman Robert Tinson, responded with 64 runs, but the second day’s play was washed out.
When the match resumed 24 hours later, things took an odd turn. One of the umpires vanished, and the USA’s No 3 batsman, George Wheatcroft, also disappeared, leading to “ugly rumors” around his absence during this crucial moment. The Canadians went on to win by 23 runs, with Winckworth again top-scoring in their second innings.
The American players immediately challenged the Canadians to a “double or quits” game the very next day, but the visitors refused and returned home, unaware that their descendants would still be competing in this historic rivalry nearly two centuries later.
This captivating clash, marked by intrigue, practical jokes, and a fierce cross-border rivalry, stands as the oldest international match in any sport. As the 2023 World Cup approaches, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the next chapter in this enduring battle between Canada and the USA, a testament to the timeless appeal of the sport.
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