Object number
M.2015.770
Title
Major Wharton's XI, South Africa 1888-1889
Date
1888 - 1889
Creator
Material
Size
21 cm x 27.5 cm
Description
Black and white group portrait of Major Wharton's Cricket Team with some South African opponents. Players are dressed in a variety of suits with many wearing different hats whilst some others hold their, a number of gentlemen are holding canes. Located in front of a building with the sign "Castle Hotel".
Display caption
In 1888-89 the first official side to tour
South Africa was organised by Major R
Gardener Warton, an army officer who
had been stationed as part of the General
Staff in the Cape since 1883. At the farewell
luncheon, its captain Charles Aubrey Smith
commented on the balance of the team ‘a
combination of professionals and amateurs
in sympathetic touch…showing an example
to all sportsmen’ – and emphasised that
its strength was not intended ‘to crush the
germs of cricket’ developing in South Africa.
The publicity surrounding the tour was
continuous and considerable with every
inconsequential detail remarked upon and
written about in great detail. The side played
some terrifically entertaining cricket in
response to an enthusiastic welcome and
in Kimberley, the visitors were said to have
been entertained far into the night and gone
straight out to play without heading to bed.
Wisden reported that the tour did not cover
its expenses but its backers had ensured it
was underwritten by Cecil Rhodes.
South Africa Exhibition, 2017
Association
Exhibitions
Object name
Object Category
