1912 Triangular Tournament

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1912 Triangular Tournament
Date 27 May � 22 August 1912
Location England
Result England won the nine-match tournament 4�2�0
Teams
England Australia South Africa
Captains
C. B. Fry Syd Gregory Frank Mitchell
Most runs
Jack Hobbs (391)
Wilfred Rhodes (263) Warren Bardsley (392)
Charles Kelleway (360) Dave Nourse (220)
Aubrey Faulkner (194)
Most wickets
Sydney Barnes (39)
Frank Woolley (17) Bill Whitty (25)
Gerry Hazlitt (19) Sid Pegler (29)
Aubrey Faulkner (17)
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The 1912 Triangular Tournament was a Test cricket competition played between
Australia, England and South Africa, the only Test-playing nations at the time.

The ultimate winners of the tournament were England, with four wins in their six
matches, but the tournament was deemed a failure, with disappointing crowds and
uncompetitive cricket, caused in part by a weakened Australia team.

The tournament is one of only three tournaments in Test history to have been played
between more than two nations, the others being the Asian Test Championships of
1998�99 and 2001�02.

Contents [hide]
1 Background
2 Teams
3 Notable incidents
4 Tests
4.1 First match: Australia v South Africa at Old Trafford, 27�28 May 1912
4.2 Second match: England v South Africa at Lord's, 10-12 Jun 1912
4.3 Third match: England v Australia at Lord's, 24-26 Jun 1912
4.4 Fourth match: England v South Africa at Headingley, 8-10 Jul 1912
4.5 Fifth match: Australia v South Africa at Lord's, 15-17 Jul 1912
4.6 Sixth match: England v Australia at Old Trafford, 29-31 Jul 1912
4.7 Seventh match: Australia v South Africa at Trent Bridge, 5-7 Aug 1912
4.8 Eighth match: England v South Africa at The Oval, 12-13 Aug 1912
4.9 Ninth match: England v Australia at The Oval, 19-22 Aug 1912
5 Results table
6 See also
7 References
8 Further reading
9 External links
Background[edit]
The idea of a competition involving all three of the nations then playing Test
cricket (Australia, England and South Africa) was proposed at the first meeting of
the Imperial Cricket Council in July, 1909. The original proposal was for a
tournament to be held every four years, with the first hosted by England in 1912.

For a variety of reasons, the tournament was not a success. The summer was one of
the wettest since records began in 1766: rainfall in the three months of June, July
and August was more than twice the annual average, and August, 1912, was the
coldest, dullest and wettest August of the 20th century. At that time, pitches were
not covered to protect them against rain, so the batsmen were at a distinct
disadvantage on the proverbial sticky wicket. These problems were exacerbated since
Tests in England were in those days played over three days rather than the five
days that is now usual. Two of the matches between England and Australia were drawn
due to the weather, with the final match being played on a pitch said to be "better
suited to water polo".[1]

In addition, disputes between the players and management in Australia meant that
six leading Australian players refused to tour (including the captain, Clem Hill,
and Victor Trumper, neither of whom played for Australia again), weakening a side
that had otherwise been level with England in recent Ashes series. The leg spin and
googly bowlers in the South African side were very effective on the matting pitches
then in use in South Africa, but were less threatening on English grass pitches. As
a result, England dominated, winning four of their six matches and drawing the
other two.

Finally, the British public showed little interest: in the words of The Daily
Telegraph: "Nine Tests provide a surfeit of cricket, and contests between Australia
and South Africa are not a great attraction to the British public."[2]

The tournament was so unsuccessful that it has never been repeated. The idea of a
tournament of international cricket matches between more than two countries was not
repeated, outside of regional tournaments in East Africa and the West Indies, until
the invention of One Day International cricket and the first Cricket World Cup in
1975. The only other Test cricket tournaments in history were the Asian Test
Championships played during the 1998�99 and 2001�02 seasons, which were also not
great successes.

Teams[edit]
England
C. B. Fry (captain)
Jack Hobbs
Wilfred Rhodes
Reginald Spooner
Frank Woolley
Johnny Douglas
Jack Hearne
Pelham Warner
Frank Foster
Schofield Haigh
Tiger Smith
Sydney Barnes
Gilbert Jessop
Harry Dean
Ernie Hayes
Bill Hitch
Walter Brearley
Australia
Syd Gregory (captain)
Warren Bardsley
Barlow Carkeek
Sid Emery
Gerry Hazlitt
Claude Jennings
Charles Kelleway
John McLaren
Charlie Macartney
Jimmy Matthews
Edgar Mayne
Roy Minnett
David Smith
Harold Webster
Bill Whitty
South Africa
Frank Mitchell (captain)
Louis Tancred (captain)
Rolland Beaumont
Tom Campbell
Claude Carter
Joe Cox
Aubrey Faulkner
Gerald Hartigan
Charles Llewellyn
Dave Nourse
Sid Pegler
Reggie Schwarz
Sibley Snooke
Louis Stricker
Herbie Taylor
Tommy Ward
Gordon White
[3]

Notable incidents[edit]
Perhaps the most notable incident of the series was Australian bowler Jimmy
Matthews taking two hat-tricks in the same Test match, one in each innings of the
opening match against South Africa, the only time a bowler has taken two hat-tricks
in the same Test.

Tests[edit]
First match: Australia v South Africa at Old Trafford, 27�28 May 1912[edit]
27�28 May 1912
Scorecard
Australia
v
South Africa
448 (122.3 overs)
W Bardsley 121
SJ Pegler 6/105 (45.3 overs)
265 (116 overs)
GA Faulkner 122
WJ Whitty 5/55 (34 overs)
95 (f/o) (28.2 overs)
HW Taylor 21
C Kelleway 5/33 (14.2 overs)
Australia won by an innings and 88 runs
Old Trafford, Manchester
Umpires: GW Webb and A White
Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
CB Jennings, SH Emery and W Carkeek (all AUS), and GPD Hartigan, HW Taylor, R
Beaumont, TA Ward (all SA) made their Test debuts.
Report
Australia won by an innings and 88 runs inside 2 days.
Australia batted first, completing their first innings score of 448 on the first
day, with centuries for Charles Kelleway and Warren Bardsley. Sid Pegler took 6
wickets for 105 runs. South Africa were 16 for 1 at the close.
South Africa were bowled out for 265 on the second day (with a century for Aubrey
Faulkner, and Bill Whitty taking 5 wickets for 55 runs). They were within 30 runs
of saving the follow on when Jimmy Matthews took a hat-trick to dismiss the last
three batsmen. 183 runs behind, the South Africans were asked to bat again, and
were bowled out again on the same day for 95 (Kelleway taking 5 for 33). Matthews
took a second hat-trick in the second innings.
Australian bowler Jimmy Matthews took a double hat-trick, one in each of South
Africa's innings, both hat-tricks being taken on the same day, 28 May 1912.
Matthews took no other wickets in the match.
South Africa's debutant wicket-keeper Tommy Ward was Matthews' 3rd victim in both
innings. Ward's is the only known instance of a king pair on debut in Test cricket.
Second match: England v South Africa at Lord's, 10-12 Jun 1912[edit]
10�12 June 1912
Scorecard
South Africa
v
England
58 (26.1 overs)
AW Nourse 13
FR Foster 5/16 (13.1 overs)
337 (119 overs)
RH Spooner 119
SJ Pegler 7/65 (31 overs)
217 (82 overs)
CB Llewellyn 75
SF Barnes 6/85 (34 overs)
England won by an innings and 62 runs
Lord's, London
Umpires: W Richards and WAJ West
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
CP Carter (SA) made his Test debut.
Report
England won by an innings and 62 runs.
Heavy rain in the week before the match delayed the start on the first day until
after 3pm, and then batting conditions were treacherous. South Africa were all out
for 58 in their first innings within 90 minutes. Frank Foster and Sydney Barnes
bowled 26.1 overs unchanged, taking 5 wickets each. England's opening batsmen Jack
Hobbs and Wilf Rhodes found the conditions much easier to cope with, and England
were 122 for 1 at the close.
On a sunny second day, Reggie Spooner scored 119, and Frank Woolley 73, with Pegler
taking 7 for 65. England were all out for 337, with a first innings lead of 279
runs. South Africa were 114 for 4 at the close.
South Africa were bowled out for 217 on the third day, with Charlie Llewellyn
scoring 75 and Barnes taking another 6 wickets.
Third match: England v Australia at Lord's, 24-26 Jun 1912[edit]
24�26 June 1912
Scorecard
England
v
Australia
310/7d (90 overs)
JB Hobbs 107
SH Emery 2/46 (12 overs)
282/7 (127.2 overs)
CG Macartney 99
W Rhodes 3/59 (19.2 overs)
Match drawn
Lord's, London
Umpires: J Moss and AE Street
England won the toss and elected to bat.
H Dean (ENG) and DBM Smith (AUS) made their Test debuts.
Report
Match drawn.
The match was ruined by the weather. Only about 3 hours were played on the first
day due to two interruptions for rain. Play was not too difficult on the wet pitch
to begin with, but became treacherous as the pitch dried. At the close, England
were on 211/4. England added 30 runs in 20 minutes on the second day.
The third day was sunny, and England declared at 310 for 7 (Hobbs 107).
In reply, Australia made 282 for 7 before rain ended play, playing defensively to
avoid defeat. Charlie Macartney scored 99 runs before being caught out, becoming
only the third player in Test cricket to be dismissed one run short of a century.
[3]
Fourth match: England v South Africa at Headingley, 8-10 Jul 1912[edit]
8�10 July 1912
Scorecard
England
v
South Africa
242 (78.1 overs)
FE Woolley 57
AW Nourse 4/52 (26.1 overs)
147 (56.3 overs)
SJ Pegler 35*
SF Barnes 6/52 (22 overs)
238 (90.2 overs)
RH Spooner 82
GA Faulkner 4/50 (24.2 overs)
159 (58.2 overs)
LJ Tancred 39
SF Barnes 4/63 (21.2 overs)
England won by 174 runs
Headingley, Leeds
Umpires: W Richards and A White
England won the toss and elected to bat.
Report
England won by 174 runs.
England were bowled out for 242 in their first innings (Woolley 57; Dave Nourse
4/52) before the end of the first day's play, and South Africa were 141/8 at the
close.
South Africa were all out for 147 on the second day (Pegler 35; Barnes 6/52), and
England added 238 in their second innings (Spooner 82; Aubrey Faulkner 4/50).
Having set South Africa a target of 334 to win, they reached 105/7 at the close of
the second day's play, and were bowled out again for 159 on the third day (Louis
Tancred 39, Barnes 4/63).
Fifth match: Australia v South Africa at Lord's, 15-17 Jul 1912[edit]
15�17 July 1912
Scorecard
South Africa
v
Australia
263 (89 overs)
HW Taylor 93
WJ Whitty 4/68 (31 overs)
390 (128.5 overs)
W Bardsley 164
SJ Pegler 4/79 (29.5 overs)
173 (57.1 overs)
CB Llewellyn 59
TJ Matthews 4/29 (13 overs)
48/0 (12.1 overs)
ER Mayne 25*
Australia won by ten wickets
Lord's, London
Umpires: J Moss and AE Street
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
ER Mayne (AUS) made their Test debuts.
Report
Australia won by 10 wickets.
South Africa were bowled out for 263 on the first day (Herbie Taylor 93; Bill
Whitty 4/68), and Australia were 88/2 at the close.
Australia reached 390 all out on the second day, 127 runs ahead, with centuries for
Kelleway and Warren Bardsley (his 164 being the highest score in the tournament)
and four wickets for Pegler. South Africa were 146/8 at the close.
After bowling South Africa out for 173 on the third day (Llewellyn 59; Matthews
4/29), setting a target of 47 to win. Claude Jennings and debutant Ernie Mayne
reached 48 runs for no loss within half an hour, to win the match.
Sixth match: England v Australia at Old Trafford, 29-31 Jul 1912[edit]
29�31 July 1912
Scorecard
England
v
Australia
203 (92.5 overs)
W Rhodes 92
WJ Whitty 4/43 (27 overs)
14/0 (13 overs)
CB Jennings 9*
Match drawn
Old Trafford, Manchester
Umpires: GW Webb and WAJ West
England won the toss and elected to bat.
Report
Match drawn.
In a rain affected match, play started at nearly 3pm on the first day, and around
5pm on the second day. With less than 110 overs possible over three days, England
reached 185/6 at the end of the first day, and were all out for 203 (Wilf Rhodes
92; Gerry Hazlitt 4/77 and Bill Whitty 4/43) on the second day.
Australia reached 14 for no loss before no further play was possible on the
remainder of the second day or on the third day, and the match was drawn.
Seventh match: Australia v South Africa at Trent Bridge, 5-7 Aug 1912[edit]
5�7 August 1912
Scorecard
South Africa
v
Australia
329 (128.5 overs)
AW Nourse 64
TJ Matthews 2/27 (20.5 overs)
219 (94.1 overs)
W Bardsley 56
SJ Pegler 4/80 (36 overs)
Match drawn
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Umpires: GW Webb and WAJ West
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
Report
Match drawn.
Despite a sodden pitch, cloudy weather allowed South Africa to reach 266/8 at the
end of the first day. They were dismissed for 329 (Nourse 64), and the second day
closed with Australia all out for 219 (Bardsley 56, Pegler 4/80). No play was
possible on the third day.
Eighth match: England v South Africa at The Oval, 12-13 Aug 1912[edit]
12�13 August 1981
Scorecard
South Africa
v
England
95 (42.3 overs)
HW Taylor 23
SJ Snooke 23
SF Barnes 5/28 (21 overs)
176 (56.1 overs)
JB Hobbs 68
GA Faulkner 7/84 (27.1 overs)
93 (32.4 overs)
AW Nourse 42
SF Barnes 8/29 (16.4 overs)
14/0 (4.3 overs)
JB Hobbs 9*
England won by ten wickets
The Oval, London
Umpires: W Richards and A White
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
Report
England won by 10 wickets.
In a low-scoring match, South Africa were bowled out for 95, with five wickets each
for Barnes and Woolley. England reached 176 and then bowled South Africa out again
for 93 (Barnes bowling unchanged to take 8/29), setting England a target of 13 runs
to win. Jack Hobbs and Young Jack Hearne took only 27 balls to score 14 for no loss
before lunch on the second day, to win by 10 wickets.
Ninth match: England v Australia at The Oval, 19-22 Aug 1912[edit]
19�22 August 1912
Scorecard
England
v
Australia
245 (114.1 overs)
JB Hobbs 66
RB Minnett 4/34 (10.1 overs)
111 (54.4 overs)
C Kelleway 43
FE Woolley 5/29 (9.4 overs)
175 (86.4 overs)
CB Fry 79
GR Hazlitt 7/25 (21.4 overs)
65 (22.4 overs)
CG Macartney 30
FE Woolley 5/20 (7.4 overs)
England won by 244 runs
The Oval, London
Umpires: J Moss and AE Street
England won the toss and elected to bat.
Report
England won by 244 runs.
The tournament rules did not anticipate that two teams could complete their matches
with the same number of wins and therefore contained no tie-breaking conditions.
Therefore, to ensure an overall winner, the match was played as a timeless Test,
with the 3-day time limit removed. Regardless, the match finished during the fourth
day.
Despite heavy rain the day before the match, England reached 223/8 on the first
day. There was only 1 1/2 hours play on the second day due to rain, during which
England were dismissed for 245, with half centuries for Jack Hobbs and Frank
Woolley and four wickets each for Bill Whitty and Roy Minnett. Australia were 51/2
when play was abandoned for the day.
Australia were dismissed for 111 on the third day, with five wickets each for
Barnes and Woolley and only Kelleway and Bardsley reaching double figures. The last
7 wickets fell for 21 runs England lost two quick wickets after lunch but batting
became easier after a further rain delay and England were 64/4 at the close, 198
runs ahead.
England were dismissed on the fourth day for 175 in their second innings, with CB
Fry scoring 79 and Gerry Hazlitt taking 7/25. With England over 300 ahead,
Australia were dismissed for just 65, with again only two batsmen reaching double
figures (opener Claude Jennings and number 3 Charles Macartney), Woolley taking
5/20 and Harry Dean 4/19.
Results table[edit]
Team Played Won Lost Drawn
England 6 4 0 2
Australia 6 2 1 3
South Africa 6 0 5 1
See also[edit]
Big Six cricket dispute of 1912
References[edit]
Jump up ^ [1]
Jump up ^ [2]
Jump up ^ Triangular Tournament (Aus Eng RSA) May/Aug 1912 - Averages
Further reading[edit]
H S Altham, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962
Derek Birley, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999
Rowland Bowen, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre &
Spottiswoode, 1970
Bill Frindall, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877-1978, Wisden, 1979
David Frith, The Golden Age of Cricket 1890-1914, Lutterworth, 1978
Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993
various writers, A Century of South Africa in Test & International Cricket 1889-
1989, Ball, 1989
Roy Webber, The Playfair Book of Cricket Records, Playfair Books, 1951
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1913
Patrick Ferriday Before the Lights Went Out - The 1912 Triangular Tournament Von
Krumm Publishing 2011
External links[edit]
CricketArchive re Australian tour
Cricket Archive re South African tour
The original damp squib (from Cricinfo)
Report of the tournament from 334notout.com
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Australia The Ashes England
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England squad � Ashes 1912 (15th series win)
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Australia squad � Ashes 1912
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