A brief history of cricket

Cricket in Bermuda

The earliest match recorded in Bermuda is 30 August 1844, when the Garrison lost to another army team. By 1845 the Bermuda Cricket Club had been formed and the game was being played not only by British troops stationed there but by locals.

Philadelphia Zingari visited Bermuda in March 1891, playing the first international matches there, and the first Bermuda touring team, Hamilton Cricket Club, played in New York and Philadelphia in 1905.

The cricketing strength of the island fell away after the First World War, tours of poor quality sides taking place. The only tour of significance in the inter-War period being that of Sir Julien Cahn's team in 1933 - the five matches they played being the subject of much discussion for several years afterwards.

After the Second World War, enthusiasm for cricket gained ground and many tours have been undertaken both two and from Bermuda - the first Bermudian side visited England in 1960.

The highlight of the season is the annual Cup Match, played between two of the island's leading clubs - Somerset and St. George's. The match was first played in 1902 and the day has frequently been declared a public holiday and has taken on a carnival atmosphere.

Alma Hunt was, perhaps, the best cricketer produced by the island - he had some success in a trial match in Trinidad in 1933 prior to the selection of the West Indian side to tour England the following season, but doubts were raised about his eligibility - in the end he was not chosen. He was later an outstanding professional with Aberdeenshire and played for Scotland.

Bermuda became an Associate member of the ICC in 1966 and it was their delegate, Alma Hunt, who first proposed that a competition be held among the Associate members. This proposal led to the first ICC Trophy in England in 1979. In the second ICC Trophy in 1982, Bermuda advanced to the final without losing a match, but subsequent competitions have not seen this high standard kept up.