United States v Canada (1844)

The Canadian cricket team in the United States in 1844 was the first international team to travel to another country and the match between the two national sides that year, billed as "United States of America versus the British Empire's Canadian Province", was the first official international cricket match. The match took place between 24 and 26 September 1844 at the St George's Cricket Club, Bloomingdale Park in New York. Canada won by 23 runs. The game was watched by between 10,000 and 20,000 spectators and around $120,000 worth of bets were placed.

The origins of the match lay four years earlier when a team from the St George's Club turned up in Toronto, almost destitute after a hard slog by stage coach through New York State, and across Lake Ontario by steamer. A certain Mr Phillpotts had invited St George's to play the Toronto Cricket Club at home, but when the 18 men arrived on 28 August 1840, the Canadians were not expecting them and their mysterious host could not be found.

Despite the lack of preparations, a cricket match was hastily arranged, which was attended by a good number of spectators, a brass band and Sir George Arthur, the Governor of Upper Canada. The New Yorkers won, and left on such good terms that they invited the Canadians down for what was to be the first international cricket match.

The US team was drawn from clubs in Philadelphia, Washington, DC and Boston, as well as a number in New York. Likewise, the Canadians tried to present a representative national team, rather than simply the Toronto CC team. Whether or not the Canadians managed to actually make it international is unclear. Advertisements and posters for the game found in libraries have the game between the USA and Canada, rather than two city teams.

The game was scheduled for two days and the score after the first day saw Canada post 82, with the USA being 61 for 9 in reply. On the second day, bad weather prevented play, so the game was extended to a third day when the USA were all out for 64 and Canada scored 63 in their second innings, setting the USA 82 runs to win. Canada bowled the USA for 58, winning by 23 runs. The US player Wheatcroft arrived too late on the third day and was replaced in the field by Alfred Marsh, who did not bat.

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