Cricket – the Philadelphia story …. Lord Hawke’s XI of 1891
Martin Chandler |Published: 2025
Pages: 123
Author: Smith, Steve
Publisher: Private
Rating: 3 stars
With this title, his fourth in two years on the subject of Philadelphian cricket, the seemingly indefatigable Steve Smith continues his efforts to bring the history of cricket in the one major centre North America has had to a wider audience.
Steve’s first book on the subject was a biography of the iconic Bart King, undoubtedly the best cricketer produced by the USA. That appeared in 2023 although a new edition of that one has just appeared. That was followed by an account of the Philadelphians first significant success when they got the better of a draw against a strong Australian side in 1878.
From 1878 Steve move forward 21 years to 1899 and a visit to North America by a side led by Ranji, and now he goes back eight years from there to 1891 and a visit from another English side, this one led by Lord Hawke, the autocratic captain of Yorkshire between 1883 and 1910.
Over a long career Hawke averaged a modest 20 with the bat and all of his five Test appearances came in South Africa with teams that were well short of truly representative of the full strength of England. Another man who played with Hawke in South Africa, Charles Wright, was also with him in Philadelphia.
By far the best cricketer in Hawke’s side had also played with him in South Africa, Sammy Woods. But Woods was a different proposition having played three Ashes Tests for Australia against England in 1888. The Australian was a top class pace bowler and more than useful batsman.
Two regular county players were also in the team, Kingsmill Key of Surrey and Herbie Hewitt of Somerset. The remaining seven men were also First Class cricketers, but none appeared on more than a handful of occasions. All twelve tourists were amateurs.
The trip began with two First Class matches against the Gentlemen of Philadelphia, a side drawn from the four leading clubs in the city. Honours were even in those games, the Philadelphians winning the first and the tourists the second. After that fixtures in New York, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Toronto and Ottawa proved much less taxing for the visitors.
As with any book of this type the tourists are all introduced to the reader and, on this occasionally, so are the main players for the home sides all of whom, given that King at this stage was a 17 year old colt who did not figure in any of the matches, are unfamiliar names.
In describing the matches on the tour Smith makes extensive use of quotes from contemporary reports, and is not afraid of lifting entire passages at times. This is something that works well and gives a contemporary feel to what is written.
It goes without saying that Hawke’s tour to North America is long forgotten and Steve Smith has doe a considerable service to those interested in cricket history in writing this account of it, and I dare say if not his next project then one that will follow in the not too distant future will be a book on the doings of the rather stronger side Hawke returned with three years later.
Cricket – the Philadelphia story …. Lord Hawke’s XI of 1891 is available either as a paperback or a hardback, the latter being a limited edition of 125 copies. It is available on Amazon or from our friends Roger Page and Red Rose Books.
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