Friday 15 April 2011

Beginning of first-class cricket

In 1864, a Madras v. Calcutta match was arguably the start of first-class cricket in India.
The most important fixture in the 19th century was the Bombay Presidency Match which evolved, first, into the Bombay Triangular and then into the Bombay Quadrangular. The match was first played in 1877 and then intermittently for several seasons until finally being given first-class status in 1892-93.
An English team led by George Vernon in 1889-90 was the first foreign team to tour India but none of the matches that it played are considered first-class.
First-class cricket definitely began in the 1892-93 season with two Europeans v Parsees matches at Bombay (match drawn) and Poona (Parsees won by 3 wickets). In the same season, Lord Hawke captained an English team that played four first-class matches including a game against "All India" on 26-28 January 1893.

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