Greatest Cricket Moments

West Indies' Tour of England, 1933 — Constantine, Headley and a New Force

1933-06-24England v West IndiesMCC v West Indies, three-Test series2 min readSeverity: Moderate

Summary

The 1933 West Indies tour of England — three Tests, fifteen first-class fixtures, Headley's 169 not out at Old Trafford and Constantine's bouncer-led attack at Jardine — established the Caribbean side as more than a touring novelty and set the template for the West Indies team that would, a generation later, dominate the game.

Background

West Indies had played Tests since 1928 but were still building a Test programme. The 1933 tour was their first real high-profile English summer, four years after the small 1928 visit.

What Happened

West Indies had been a Test side since 1928 but had toured England previously only as an amateur curiosity. The 1933 squad, captained by Jackie Grant and built around Constantine, Martindale and the 23-year-old George Headley, was a substantial Test outfit.

They lost the three-Test series 2-0 (one drawn). The drawn middle Test at Old Trafford produced two of the tour's iconic moments: Headley's 169 not out (his first hundred in England) and Constantine's bouncers at Jardine, who responded with 127. The first Test at Lord's ended in an innings defeat; the Oval Test ended in another innings defeat.

The tour's reception in England was warmer than the 1928 visit. Wisden's 1934 'Five Cricketers of the Year' included Headley. The fast-bowling tactics that England had pioneered as Bodyline now travelled back, complicating the moralism of MCC's earlier protests.

Key Moments

1

Lord's Test: West Indies lose by an innings.

2

Old Trafford Test: Headley 169*; Constantine bowls at Jardine.

3

Jardine 127; match drawn.

4

Oval Test: West Indies lose by an innings.

5

Wisden 1934 names Headley among the year's Five.

Timeline

Jun 1933

First Test at Lord's; England win by innings.

Jul 1933

Old Trafford: Headley 169*, Jardine 127, draw.

Aug 1933

Oval: England win by innings.

Apr 1934

Wisden 1934 names Headley among the Five.

Notable Quotes

“They are coming, those islands' bowlers.”

— Plum Warner, June 1933

Aftermath

Headley would tour England again in 1939 and score twin hundreds at Lord's. Constantine remained based in Lancashire as a league professional; Martindale played until 1939. West Indies recorded their first Test series win on this trip's return tour by England in 1934-35.

⚖️ The Verdict

The arrival, in earnest, of West Indies as a Test power — and a tour that drew the first complete Headley reputation in England.

Legacy & Impact

The 1933 tour is the moment West Indies cricket turns from novelty to force. Subsequent histories of Caribbean cricket date the modern team's arrival to this summer, and the Lancashire leagues' welcome of Constantine to its tail-end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did West Indies win a Test on the tour?▾
No — they lost two and drew one.
Was this their first England tour?▾
No — they toured in 1928. This was their first major three-Test tour.
Who was West Indies' standout player?▾
George Headley — Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1934 on the basis of this tour.

Tags

#west-indies#1933#england-tour#learie-constantine#george-headley#first-major-tour

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