History of cricket in New Zealand from 1890-91 to 1918

This article describes the history of New Zealand cricket from the 1890-91 season until 1918.

Domestic cricket

There was no formal championship competition in New Zealand until the Plunket Shield was inaugurated in 1906. Until then, regular first-class matches were played by Canterbury, Otago, Auckland, Wellington and occasionally by Hawke's Bay.

The 1906-07 season featured the inaugural Plunket Shield which was the New Zealand State Championship from 1906 to 1975.

The Plunket Shield was presented by the then governor-general, Lord Plunket, and was played on a challenge basis until 1920-21, since which time it has been a league. It was usually won by either Canterbury or Auckland.

Plunket Shield winners

* 1906-07 – Canterbury
* 1907-08 – Canterbury
* 1908-09 – Auckland
* 1909-10 – Auckland
* 1910-11 – Canterbury
* 1911-12 – Auckland
* 1912-13 – Canterbury
* 1913-14 – Canterbury
* 1914-15 – Canterbury
* 1915-18 – no competition due to World War I

International tours of New Zealand

New South Wales 1893-94

Fiji 1894-95

New South Wales 1895-96

Queensland 1896-97

Australia 1896-97

Lord Hawke's XI 1902-03

An English team managed by Lord Hawke played the New Zealand national team (twice) and the main provincial teams: Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago.

The MCC team was captained by Plum Warner and included Bernard Bosanquet, Frederick Fane, Cuthbert Burnup and George Thompson.

See : [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/Tours_1902-03.html CricketArchive 1902-03]

Australia 1904-05

Australia toured New Zealand in the 1904-05 season to play first-class matches versus the New Zealand national team (twice), Canterbury and Otago.

See : [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/Tours_1904-05.html CricketArchive 1904-05]

Marylebone Cricket Club 1906-07

MCC played two first-class matches versus New Zealand national team and also played twice against each of the four main provincial teams: Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. A further match was played against Hawke's Bay.

The MCC team was captained by Teddy Wynyard and included future Test players like Johnny Douglas and George Simpson-Hayward.

See : [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/NZ/1906-07_NZ_Marylebone_Cricket_Club_in_New_Zealand_1906-07.html CricketArchive 1906-07]

Australia 1909-10

Australia played first-class matches versus the New Zealand national team (twice), Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Hawke's Bay.

See : [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/Tours_1909-10.html CricketArchive 1909-10]

Australia 1913-14

Australia played first-class matches versus the New Zealand national team and some of the provincial teams including Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago.

See : [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/Tours_1913-14.html CricketArchive 1913-14]

References

External sources

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/NZ.html CricketArchive – New Zealand season itineraries]

Further reading

* Greg Ryan, "The Making of New Zealand Cricket, 1832-1914", Cass, 2004