English cricket team in South Africa in 1888–89

The 1888-89 South African cricket season saw the first two first-class cricket matches played in South Africa. However, this designation was given many years later. The season saw the first tour by an England team that was accorded first-class status. The tour was managed by Major R. G. Warton, under whose name the team played, and captained by C. Aubrey Smith. The two games against representative South African sides were later designated as Test matches, thereby making them the first two Tests South Africa played. England won both of them easily.

The team consisted of seven county-standard players and five of good club standard. Harry Altham compared them to a weak English county side.

Three other players also took part in a few matches. James Roberts played in the first match then returned home owing to the death of his father. Ulyett replaced him. A. C. Skinner played only four matches, being in the team more for his value as an entertainer than as a player.Major Warton played only in the final match.

The South African team was extremely weak, and these games were not recognised as Tests by England at the time. Indeed, Wisden's Cricketers Almanack noted that "it was never intended, or considered necessary, to take out a representative English team for a first trip to the Cape". The England team did, however, include some stars such as Briggs, Abel and Ulyett.

Although the tour is said not to have paid its expenses, it was otherwise successful. The cricketers were warmly welcomed. England were led by Aubrey Smith, who later became the most widely known of England's cricket captains as a result of becoming a Hollywood star. They played all their matches against odds, except the two that later came to be regarded as Test matches, and lost some of them too. Of the 19 games they played, they won 13, including the two Tests, losing 4 and drawing 2.

AB Tancred 29
CA Smith 5/19

...
Wikipedia