The Victorian Pioneers

Book excerpt: This is the story of a team of a dozen English cricketers that traveled to Canada and North America in 1859 to compete in the very first intercontinental sporting tour. It tells of the early origins of the game and provides an intimate insight into the lives of the characters, which influenced the early development of the Victorian game, including each of the players who bravely embarked on the perilous transatlantic journey. The book reveals comprehensive information about each of the matches played during the tour and subsequent developments that brought about radical changes in the governance of the game. It provides an absorbing and informative read for the cricket enthusiast and those with an interest in the early history of the English game.