Greatest Cricket Moments

First MCC Tour to the North of England — Sheffield and Manchester, August 1828

1828-08-04MCC vs Sheffield, MCC vs ManchesterMCC tour of Sheffield and Manchester, August 18281 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

In August 1828 the MCC despatched its first tour to the north of England — playing Sheffield at Darnall and Manchester at the Wybrow Common ground. The tour lost both matches but established a regular MCC presence in the industrial north and is the foundation entry of MCC's nineteenth-century tour calendar.

What Happened

MCC tours had begun with the 1809 Petersfield visit and had grown gradually through the 1810s and 1820s. The August 1828 trip to Sheffield and Manchester — by mail-coach over five days — was the first to the industrial north. MCC fielded a strong side; Sheffield won at Darnall by 19 runs and Manchester at Wybrow Common by 4 wickets. The tour was the first of an annual northern circuit that lasted into the 1850s.

Timeline

Aug 1828

First MCC northern tour

1840s

Annual MCC tours of the industrial north

Aftermath

Northern tours became annual. By the 1840s MCC sides were touring as far as Newcastle and Carlisle.

⚖️ The Verdict

The MCC's first formal northern tour — a recognition of the rising cricket strength of the industrial north.

Tags

#roundarm-era#mcc#sheffield#manchester#tour#1828#iconic-moment

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