Cricket the Philadelphia Story … Plum Warner’s XI of 1898

Martin Chandler | 9:08am GMT 15 February 2026

Published: 2025
Pages: 104
Author: Smith, Steve
Publisher: Private
Rating: 3 stars

I have already reviewed Steve Smith’s account of Plum Warner’s tour of Philadelphia that took place a year before this one, in 1897. On that occasion the ‘big’ matches between the tourists and the Gentlemen of Philadelphia were shared and efforts were made to arrange a decider, but those came to nothing.

So Warner returned a year later with a different side, the problem no doubt being, as always with amateurs, fitting in with players’ availability. The 1897 trip lasted just over three weeks, and this one, with eight fixtures, two weeks longer.

So who did Warner enlist in 1898? The side was probably a little stronger than 1897, at least in terms of depth. There were once again two future Test players. At this time a seam bowling all rounder rather than the pioneer of the googly he would become, Bernard Bosanquet is the better known, and Frank Mitchell the other. Bosanquet later led his own side to Philadelphia, of which Mitchell was a member, and Mitchell had already led a team to Philadelphia in 1895.

But this time Warner did have a stronger side at his disposal. Cyril Sewell and Cuthbert Burnup may no longer be instantly recognisable names, but they were both good young amateur batsmen with an established First Class pedigree. In many ways however the most interesting member of the side was a young Lancastrian orthodox slow left arm spinner, Jerry Ainsworth.

The 21 year old Ainsworth was to make just 11 First Class appearances in his life, the first two against the Gentlemen of Philadelphia on this tour. His First Class career record is 50 wickets at 15.82, and on this tour he took 75 at 6.25. What might he have become if other commitments had not taken his life in other directions?

In 1898 Ainsworth’s wickets helped Warner’s team go through their tour unbeaten, and although they were tested by the Philadelphians in the second First Class fixture Warner himself led from the front and took his side to victory. Outside those matches the only occasion on which the tourists were tested was when they drew with a Philadelphia Colts side, but then there were 22 colts ranged against them.

Those who have read other books in the series will be familiar with the format and the reconstruction of all aspects of the tour with extensive use of quotes from contemporary reports. There is, naturally, nothing to wrong with sticking with a formula that works and, once again, Steve Smith provides his reader with an interesting description of a far away time.

As ever Cricket the Philadelphia Story … Plum Warner’s XI of 1898 is available via Amazon or from Red Rose Books at a discounted price.