Canadian cricket team in the United States in 1844

The origins of the match began four years earlier, when a team from the St George's Club turned up in Toronto, almost destitute after a long journey by stage coach through New York State and across Lake Ontario by steamer, where a Mr. Phillpotts had invited St George's to play the Toronto Cricket Club at home. However, when the 18 men of St George's arrived on 28 August 1840, the Canadians were not expecting them: it was then discovered that the Mr. Phillpotts who had arranged the match was not the Toronto club's Secretary, George A. Phillpotts, but an impostor. Despite the invitation being a hoax, a cricket match was hastily arranged, which was attended by a good number of spectators, a brass band and Sir George Arthur, the governor of Upper Canada. The New York club won by 10 wickets, and left on such good terms that they invited the Canadians down for what was to be the first cricket match between national teams rather than local club teams. ==Match==

The US team was drawn from clubs in Philadelphia, Washington, DC and Boston, as well as a number in New York. Likewise, the Canadians tried to present a representative national team, rather than simply the Toronto CC team. Whether or not the Canadians managed to actually make it a cross-Canada national team is unclear, but letters written between the clubs indicate the Canadian team may have included players from the Guelph Cricket Club and Upper Canada College Club as well as the Toronto club. Advertisements and posters for the game found in libraries have the game as between the US and Canada, rather than two city teams. The game was scheduled for two days, and after the first day, Canada had been bowled out for 82, with the USA being 61 for 9 in reply. On the second day, bad weather prevented play, so the game was extended to a third day, when the USA were all out for 64, and Canada were bowled out for 63 in their second innings, setting the USA 82 runs to win. Canada bowled the US out for 58 to win the match by 23 runs. US player George Wheatcroft arrived too late on the third day, and was replaced in the field by Alfred Marsh, who did not bat. ==Match details==

In 1845, a return match was arranged at McGill University, Montreal, and the fixture, known as the Auty Cup, has been played sporadically ever since. The cricket statistician Bill Frindall wrote in 2002, "The USA has fielded many international teams. Their annual match against Canada has been staged since 1844, pre-dating the earliest encounters between England and Australia by 33 years." The opening match of the 2024 T20 World Cup was also played between the USA and Canada in the United States. ==See also==