Steve Smith Cricket - the Philadelphia story . . . Lord Hawke's XI of 1891

Described as "quasiathletic aristocrats who would be more at home handling a ladys fan than the willow bat," Lord Hawkes "eat, drink and be merry" cricketing party arrived in North America in 1891. They were to play a series of eight matches in the USA and Canada two of which, the games against Philadelphia, were firstclass matches. While Hawkes party could likely beat the Canadians and the Americans of Baltimore, New York, Boston and Chicago equipped with a ladys fan, the Philadelphians were different. Lord Hawke admitted as much when upon his arrival he stated "The only players we are anyway afraid of are the Philadelphians, who have been playing excellent cricket this year."The Philadelphians did not disappoint. | Steve Smith Cricket - the Philadelphia story . . . Lord Hawke's XI of 1891