R. S. Lucas' XI cricket team in West Indies in 1894–95

A team of cricketing amateurs under the captaincy of Mr. R. Slade Lucas toured the West Indies in the 1894-95 season playing matches between January and April 1895. They played a total of 16 matches of which 8 are regarded as first-class.

The idea for the tour was mainly that of Dr. R.B. Anderson who had lived in Tobago for 23 years. Assistance was also provided by Lord Hawke, Lord Stamford and Mr. Neville Lubbock.

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company gave special terms for the round trip and concessions were made with regard to the telegraphic transmission of news. The tourists were to be the guests of the clubs in the different islands. The idea was to take a side about the standard of a second-class county eleven.

A party of 13 was taken:

The standard of the team can be seen from the fact that only 5 of the tourists had played any first-class cricket prior to the tour and of these Bush, Sewell and Smith-Turberville had not played a first-class match since 1886. Only Lucas and Bromley-Davenport had played recently at first-class level. Lucas had played for Middlesex since 1891 and Bromley-Davenport for Cambridge University in 1892 and 1893. Indeed, only these two players ever played a significant amount of first-class cricket in England. The standard of the matches was therefore well below that of first-class cricket in England. All the 13 played at least one first-class match on the tour.

The 13 left Southampton on the 'Medway' on January 16, 1895 and reached Barbados on January 28 playing their first match the next day.

Matches played were:

First-class matches are highlighted. A further match against Grenada in March was abandoned. The matches against Jamaica and Jamaica Born are recognised as the first first-class matches to take place in Jamaica.

Of the 8 first-class matches, 4 were won, 3 lost and 1 drawn. Overall 10 matches were won, 4 lost and 2 drawn.

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