Egypt national cricket team
Encyclopedia
The Egypt national cricket team was the team that represented the country of Egypt
in international cricket
matches. They were active from 1909 until World War II
.
by British residents in 1851. Cricket was very much a recreational activity until the opening of the Suez Canal
saw the British population increase (see History of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty).
More clubs were established by the military, who began to dominate the local game. In October 1884, a combined Army and Navy team played against A Shaw's XI
who were on their way to Australia
for an Ashes
tour.
, and standards were good enough for the Marylebone Cricket Club
to send a team to tour in 1909. A national side was raised for the first time, and the MCC played three matches against them, winning two and losing the other. They also played matches against local clubs in addition to teams representing the military and civilian populations.
I Zingari
toured in March 1914. They played three matches against the national side in addition to matches against Cairo and Alexandria Cricket Club. The matches against the national side saw two draws and one win for the tourists. A return visit of sorts took place later in the year with a combined Egypt/Sudan team playing the MCC at Lord's
in a two-day match. The MCC won by ten wickets.
The Free Foresters
were the third tourists in 1927, playing twice against the national team, losing the first match and drawing the second. One player in the Free Foresters team on the tour was Hubert Martineau
, who was to provide regular opposition for Egypt in the forthcoming years.
Martineau took a team to Egypt every year between 1929 and 1939. The tours typically included two matches against the national side in addition to matches against club and military teams.
Martineau's tours ceased with the outbreak of the Second World War
, and whilst cricket was played in the country during the war, the matches were solely recreational activities for troops stationed in the country. The national team never played again after the war.
Attempts were made to restart cricket, with an Egyptian club team touring England
in 1951, playing the MCC at Lord's. The players in these clubs were from the upper classes and supported the Egyptian monarchy, leading to little support for cricket when the monarchy was abolished in 1953. The new government took no interest in the game and cricket began a steady decline, with schools stopping their teaching of the game. Gezira Sporting Club
played a match against Pakistan in 1954, but the match was ended early so that the Pakistan players could visit the pyramids
and the Sphinx
.
Cricket grounds began to be built over, and it wasn't until the late 1990s that the game saw a resurgence amongst the Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and British expatriate communities. As of 2001, attempts were being made to reintroduce cricket into schools. A cricket league in Cairo was being played by April 2008 and it is hoped that Egypt will eventually take part in the North West African Championship.
, who played Test cricket
for South Africa and Zimbabwe, was born in Zagazig
, Egypt
. The following players played first-class cricket
and played for Egypt:
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in international cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
matches. They were active from 1909 until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early years
Cricket was first played in Egypt in the 19th century, and a cricket club was formed in AlexandriaAlexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
by British residents in 1851. Cricket was very much a recreational activity until the opening of the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
saw the British population increase (see History of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty).
More clubs were established by the military, who began to dominate the local game. In October 1884, a combined Army and Navy team played against A Shaw's XI
Alfred Shaw
Alfred Shaw was an eminent Victorian cricketer and rugby footballer, who bowled the first ball in Test cricket and was the first to take five wickets in a Test innings . He who organised the first British Isles rugby tour to Australasia in 1888...
who were on their way to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for an Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
tour.
International matches start
By 1909, cricket had become the main sporting and social activity of the British populationHistory of Modern Egypt
The definition of modern history has varied in accordance to different definitions of Modernity. Some scholars date it as far back as 1517 with the Ottomans’ defeat of the Mamlūks in 1516–17...
, and standards were good enough for the Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
to send a team to tour in 1909. A national side was raised for the first time, and the MCC played three matches against them, winning two and losing the other. They also played matches against local clubs in addition to teams representing the military and civilian populations.
I Zingari
I Zingari
I Zingari are English and Australian amateur cricket clubs.-History:...
toured in March 1914. They played three matches against the national side in addition to matches against Cairo and Alexandria Cricket Club. The matches against the national side saw two draws and one win for the tourists. A return visit of sorts took place later in the year with a combined Egypt/Sudan team playing the MCC at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
in a two-day match. The MCC won by ten wickets.
The Free Foresters
Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1856 for players from the Midland counties of England. It is a 'wandering' club, having no home ground....
were the third tourists in 1927, playing twice against the national team, losing the first match and drawing the second. One player in the Free Foresters team on the tour was Hubert Martineau
Hubert Martineau
Hubert Melville Martineau was an English patron of cricket and organiser of his own team. He also played three first-class matches between 1931 and 1932...
, who was to provide regular opposition for Egypt in the forthcoming years.
Martineau took a team to Egypt every year between 1929 and 1939. The tours typically included two matches against the national side in addition to matches against club and military teams.
Decline
Although Egypt were playing matches regularly against Martineau's team, the quality of cricket in the country began to decline in the 1930s. As cricket was dominated by the military, the players changed often, leading to a lack of consistency. Players from the local civilian population were often ignored, and only one native Egyptian ever played for the team.Martineau's tours ceased with the outbreak of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and whilst cricket was played in the country during the war, the matches were solely recreational activities for troops stationed in the country. The national team never played again after the war.
Attempts were made to restart cricket, with an Egyptian club team touring England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1951, playing the MCC at Lord's. The players in these clubs were from the upper classes and supported the Egyptian monarchy, leading to little support for cricket when the monarchy was abolished in 1953. The new government took no interest in the game and cricket began a steady decline, with schools stopping their teaching of the game. Gezira Sporting Club
Gezira Sporting Club
The Gezira Sporting Club is the largest multi-sport facility in Egypt. It was founded in 1882 and was originally called Khedivial Sporting Club. It is located on the island of Zamalek in Cairo.-History:...
played a match against Pakistan in 1954, but the match was ended early so that the Pakistan players could visit the pyramids
Egyptian pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid-shaped masonry structures located in Egypt.There are 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008. Most were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found...
and the Sphinx
Great Sphinx of Giza
The Great Sphinx of Giza , commonly referred to as the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining or couchant sphinx that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt....
.
Cricket grounds began to be built over, and it wasn't until the late 1990s that the game saw a resurgence amongst the Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and British expatriate communities. As of 2001, attempts were being made to reintroduce cricket into schools. A cricket league in Cairo was being played by April 2008 and it is hoped that Egypt will eventually take part in the North West African Championship.
Players
The only Egyptian native to play for the national team was Abdou Hassanein, who took 17 wickets in his two matches. John TraicosJohn Traicos
Athanasios John Traicos is a former cricketer who represented South Africa and Zimbabwe at international level. He was primarily an off spin bowler, and is one of a small number of cricketers to have played at the highest level for more than one country.Traicos was born in Zagazig, Egypt in 1947...
, who played Test cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for South Africa and Zimbabwe, was born in Zagazig
Zagazig
Zagazig is a town in Lower Egypt. Situated in the eastern part of the Nile delta, it is the capital of the governorate of Sharqia.As of 1999, its population was approximately 279,000. It is built on a branch of the Fresh Water or Ismaïlia Canal and on al-Muˤizz Canal , and is 47 miles by rail...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The following players played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
and played for Egypt:
- Geoffrey MacLarenGeoffrey MacLarenGeoffrey MacLaren was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Lancashire in addition to playing three matches for Egypt. His elder brothers Archie and James also played for Lancashire, as did his uncle Alexander Rowley...
- played for LancashireLancashire County Cricket ClubLancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
in 1902. - Richard MoreRichard MoreRichard Edwardes More was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University and Middlesex, amongst others, in addition to playing for the Egypt national cricket team.-Biography:Born in Shropshire in 1879, Richard More...
- played for MiddlesexMiddlesex County Cricket ClubMiddlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
between 1901 and 1910. - Geoffrey RawsonGeoffrey RawsonMajor-General Geoffrey Grahame Rawson CB OBE MC was a senior British Army officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars and had a notable cricket career, playing first-class cricket for the Army in 1921....
- played for the British Army cricket teamBritish Army cricket teamThe Army cricket team is a cricket side representing the British Army. The team played a number of first-class matches between 1912 and 1939, although a combined "Army and Navy" side had played two games against a combined Oxford and Cambridge team in 1910 and 1911...
in 1921. - Basil ClarkeBasil Clarke (cricketer)Basil Frederick Clarke was an Indian-born English cricketer. A right-handed batsman, he played county cricket for Gloucestershire and Leicestershire and also played twice for the Egypt national cricket team.-Biography:...
- played for GloucestershireGloucestershire County Cricket ClubGloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
between 1914 and 1920 and for LeicestershireLeicestershire County Cricket ClubLeicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
in 1922. - James LeafJames LeafJames Gordon Leaf was a British Army officer and English cricketer who played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team and played international matches for the Egypt national cricket team.-Biography:...
- played for the Army in 1937. - Philip PankPhilip PankPhilip Esmond Durrell Pank was an Indian born English cricketer. A left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he played first-class cricket in India in 1918 and in England in 1925 and played four times for the Egypt national cricket team.-Biography:Born in Jaypore in 1892, Philip Pank made his first-class...
- played for the Army in 1925. - Harold HindeHarold HindeHarold Montague Hinde was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler, he played minor counties cricket for Berkshire, also playing a first-class match for the combined Minor Counties team and for the Egypt national cricket team.-Biography:Born in Southsea in 1895,...
- played for the combined Minor CountiesMinor counties of English cricketThe Minor Counties are the cricketing counties of England and Wales that are not afforded first-class status. The game is administered by the Minor Counties Cricket Association which comes under the England and Wales Cricket Board...
in 1924. - Arthur TurnerArthur Turner (cricketer)Arthur Jervois Turner was an English cricketer, rugby union player and soldier. A right-handed batsman, right-arm underarm medium pace bowler and occasional wicket-keeper, he played first-class cricket for various teams between 1897 and 1914, predominately for Essex. He also played for the Egypt...
- played for EssexEssex County Cricket ClubEssex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
between 1897 and 1910. - Ronald JoyRonald JoyRonald Cecil Graham Joy was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he played for Essex between 1922 and 1928...
- played for Essex between 1922 and 1928. - Thomas SturgessThomas SturgessThomas Moore Sturgess was an Indian cricketer. A wicket-keeper, he played first-class cricket in India in the 1940s, having previously represented the Egypt national cricket team.-Biography:...
- played for the Europeans in India in the 1940s. - Godfrey FirbankGodfrey FirbankLieutenant-Colonel Godfrey Christopher Firbank MC was an English cricketer. A left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he played first-class cricket for the Army and for the Combined Services in addition to international matches for Egypt....
- played for the Combined ServicesCombined Services cricket teamThe Combined Services cricket team represents the British armed forces. The team played at first-class level in England for more than forty years in the mid-twentieth century. Their first first-class match was against Gentlemen of England at Lord's in 1920, while their last was against Oxford...
in 1922 and for the Army in 1927. - Eric ColeEric ColeMajor-General Eric Stuart Cole, CB, CBE was a senior British Army officer and telecommunications expert. He saw active service in the Second World War, with his most important contribution being the planning of communications for the invasion of Normandy...
- played for KentKent County Cricket ClubKent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 1938. - Oswald Smith-BinghamOswald Smith-BinghamOswald Cyril Smith-Bingham was a South African born Indian cricketer. He played three times for the Egypt national cricket team against HM Martineau's XI in the early 1930s and later played two first-class matches in India for a Viceroy's XI, including one against the MCC.-References:...
- played first-class cricket in IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in the 1930s. - Francis Rogers - played for Gloucestershire between 1924 and 1931.
- Robert Osborne-SmithRobert Osborne-SmithRobert Edward Osborne-Smith was a Jersey born Indian cricketer. He played one first-class cricket match for the Indian Army against Northern India in the 1934/35 Ranji Trophy...
- played for the Indian Army in the 1930s. - Robert MelsomeRobert MelsomeBrigadier Robert George William Melsome MBE was a senior British Army officer and English cricketer. He saw active service during the Second World War, but spent much of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany....
- played for Gloucestershire between 1925 and 1938. - Rodney PalmerRodney PalmerRodney Howell Palmer was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler, he played for Hampshire County Cricket Club between 1930 and 1933...
- played for HampshireHampshire County Cricket ClubHampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
between 1930 and 1933. - Alexander WilkinsonAlexander WilkinsonColonel William Alexander Camac Wilkinson DSO, MC and Bar, GM was a highly decorated British Army officer and English cricketer. Australian born, he served with the British Army in both the First and Second World Wars...
- played for the MCC between 1914 and 1939. - Joshua ChaytorJoshua ChaytorCaptain Joshua David Gerald Chaytor was an Irish-born cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he played first-class cricket in the 1924 English cricket season and also represented the Egypt national cricket team.-Biography:Born at Knockmaroon House, County Dublin,...
- played for the Free Foresters in 1924. - Archibald Cassels - played for the Army between 1932 and 1935.
- Rowland MussonRowland MussonWing Commander Rowland Gascoigne Musson was an English cricketer and pilot. He played Lancashire League cricket for East Lancashire and first-class cricket for the Combined Services.-Biography:...
- played for the Combined Services in 1937. - Grahame CruickshanksGrahame CruickshanksGrahame Lawrence Cruickshanks was a South African cricketer. A left-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper, he played first-class cricket for Eastern Province and also represented the Egypt national cricket team in five matches in the mid 1930s.-Biography:Grahame Cruickshanks was born in Port...
- played for Eastern ProvinceEastern Province cricket teamEastern Province cricket team is the team representing the Eastern Province in domestic first-class cricket in South Africa.-Honours:* Currie Cup - 1988–89, 1991–92; shared - 1989–90* Standard Bank Cup - 1989–90, 1991–92...
in 1931/32. - Edward CawstonEdward CawstonEdward Cawston was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler, he played first-class cricket for Sussex and Cambridge University between 1928 and 1933 and also represented the Egypt national cricket team in 1936.-Personal life:Born in Wantage in 1911, Edward...
- played for SussexSussex County Cricket ClubSussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
between 1928 and 1931. - Thomas HalseySir Thomas Halsey, 3rd BaronetSir Thomas Edgar Halsey, 3rd Baronet DSO was an English cricketer, naval officer , and Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire....
- played for Cambridge UniversityCambridge University Cricket ClubCambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
in 1920. - Cyril HamiltonCyril HamiltonMajor Cyril Penn Hamilton was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm slow bowler, he played eight first-class matches between 1932 and 1936, also representing the Egypt national cricket team in 1938 and 1939.-Biography:Born in Adelaide in 1909, Hamilton made his first-class...
- played for Kent in 1935. - Jeff LintonJeff LintonBrigadier James Edward Fryer "Jeff" Linton DSO was a Welsh cricketer and British Army officer. He served with the Royal Artillery during World War II after previously playing first-class cricket for Glamorgan County Cricket Club in the 1932 English cricket season as a right-handed batsman and...
- played for GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
in 1932. - Ronald YeldhamRonald YeldhamRonald Ernest Stephen Yeldham was an Indian born cricketer. He played six first-class cricket in British India between 1925 and 1927, including one for the MCC. He later played twice for Egypt against HM Martineau's XI....
- played first-class cricket in India in the 1920s. - Michael PackeMichael PackeMichael St John Packe was an English historian, biographer, and cricketer. He was the author of The Life of John Stuart Mill , and four other historical works. A right-handed batsman, he played for Leicestershire County Cricket Club between 1936 and 1939, captaining them in 1939...
- played for Leicestershire between 1936 and 1939. - John WalfordJohn WalfordJohn Erskine Scott Walford was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he played 11 first-class matches between 1923 and 1932, six for Worcestershire and five for the British Army cricket team...
- played for WorcestershireWorcestershire County Cricket ClubWorcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
between 1923 and 1930. - Ralph Crake - played for the MCC in 1901.
- John Burrough - played for Cambridge University between 1893 and 1895.