Records indicate that cricket was played within the archipelago as early as 1879 and quickly became the sport of choice for the British in the colony. The success of the 1882 Tour by Lord Harris' MCC side saw a further growth in the game and led to the founding in 1884 of the famous Royal Southwark Cricket Club in the capital Southwark. Also known as "The Spotted Tiger", the club became the centre of Southwark social life and remains the spiritual home of cricket in Morac-Songhrati-Meads. The same year also saw the first recorded inter island match, between Meads Island and Bombay Castle, with regular inter island matches beginning soon after.

The Kingdom of Humanity made its international debut in 1890, against Hong Kong and in 1905 played Singapore for the first time, beginning what has become one of the fiercest rivalries in international cricket. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries cricket flourished in the Kingdom and was easily the most popular sport in the colony not only well entrenched throughout Meads Island but also widely played in the outer islands.

One influential supporter of the game was the monarch King Franklin I, who personally sponsored many of the top players and donated the trophy, the Franklin Shield, which is still played for by the Songhrati cricket clubs.

Read more about King Franklin I on our History Page

Although the tyranny of distance and the tropical climate combined to frustrate the development of cricket in the archipelago, the quality of cricket played was high, as can be evidenced by the 1927 tour to the islands by an Australian Eleven. The Australian side played a series of hard fought matches against the Kingdom of Humanity, one of which the Kingdom won by 39 runs. This remains the only victory by a Kingdom of Humanity/Morac-Songhrati-Meads side over Australia and is still discussed in Songhrati cricketing circles.

This successful period also produced the only Songhrati born cricketer to play test cricket. Calvin Page was born in Southwark and played his only test for Australia against England at Lords in 1932, making 15 and 29 and taking one catch. He is described in 'The Complete Who's Who of Test Cricketers' as "An enterprising and aggressive right-handed batsman of rather uncertain defence…Calvin Page was an extraordinary quick mover in the field. It was said he glided over the ground like a snake." He appears unlucky to have been dropped after his sole test, as his 29 (out of 187 all out) was one of the highest scores of the Australian second innings.

Cricket received a boost in 1964 when a Commonwealth Eleven which included Gary Sobers toured Morac-Songhrati-Meads. In one memorable match Gary Sobers was bowled first ball by local player Greg Stapleton, a moment Mr Stapleton no doubt still dines out on. Gary Sobers thrilled the local crowd in the next match however by taking five wickets in five deliveries.

Unfortunatley the foreign invasion of Morac-Songhrati-Meads has meant the indefinite suspension of cricket over the archipelago. One fears what has happened to the wonderful Royal Southwark Grandstand or the well cared for pitches throughout the nation.

One thing is for certain; the moment Songhrati regains its independence, cricket will again be played in Songhrati.

Please visit our other sites

The Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads
Our History
Our Sporting Life
Our Geography