LORD HAWKE'S ENGLISH TEAM IN NEW ZEALAND 1902/3

Lord Hawke, an enthusiastic player, administrator and
patron of cricket, was invited by the NZCC to bring a
team to NZ in the 1902/3 season.

At this time all English touring teams were privately
organised, in the case of Australia as profit making
venture's but to other countries as goodwill "missions".
The first official MCC team did not travel until a year later.

Hawke had taken a number of these teams abroad but had
to withdraw from this one at the last minute with an injury.

The Team of twelve players (10 amateurs and 2 professionals)
spent 12 weeks touring New Zealand. They played 18 games
and won all of them.

The Party included well known players Pelham Warner
who was later knighted for services to cricket, Bernard
Bosanquet, said to be the inventor of the googly, and future
test opener Frederick Fane.

At the end of the tour they played two matches against New Zealand.

 Contributed by Simon Peters  (petersss@ihug.co.nz)