T20 World Cup 2024 to start with cricket’s oldest rivalry as USA take on Canada

The T20 World Cup 2024 will kick off with the world’s oldest rivalry, even older than Ashes. It will begin with a match between co-hosts USA and Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on 1 June (2 June in India) and not many know that first ever international cricket match was also played between the USA and Canada, in 1844 at the St George’s Cricket Club in New York.

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In fact, the first match between England and Australia was only played in 1877, 33 years after the USA and Canada played the first ever international cricket match. That match was won by Canada by 23 runs.

As per a report in the BBC, five thousand people watched the first day of the USA vs Canada match at St George’s Club while around $100,000 was put on betting on the result of the game.

Canada batted first in the match after the USA won the toss and scored 82 in the first innings after David Winckworth, George Sharpe and Freeling scored 12 runs each. Sam Wright took a fifer for the USA while Henry Groom got three wickets. In reply, USA captain Robert Tinson as USA were bowled out for 64. Winckworth and Fred French took four wickets each in the first innings.

With a lead of 18 runs, Canada posted 63 in the second innings with Winckworth starring again scoring 14 runs while captain George Phillpotts added 13 runs to give USA a target of 81 runs. Groom this time took a five-wicket haul for the USA while Wright scalped four wickets.

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In the final innings, USA were bowled out for 58 and lost by 23 runs as George Sharpe took six wickets. Winckworth and French also took a wicket each.

It was expected to be a two-day match but due to rain on Day 2 which resulted in no play, the match is finished over three days.

Cricket history in USA

The first ever cricket match in the USA was a result of the colonial era as it was promoted as ‘The United States of America versus the British Empire’s Canadian Province’ game and cricket remained a popular sport in the USA before baseball succeeded its popularity and other sports like baseball and American football took precedence.

The USA has been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1965, however, they have never taken part in ODI or T20 World Cup. Their first and last appearance in a major ICC event came in 2004 when they played in the Champions Trophy.

The USA have frequently competed in tournaments for non-Test nations.

Grassroots participation has grown over recent years though with thriving local leagues and the T20 format has been used to develop a stronger base with Minor League Cricket and Major League Cricket emerging in the past few years.

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It is too soon for those structures to have had an impact on the national side but smart use of the qualification criteria has seen the side become increasingly competitive.

The team coached by Australian Stuart Law head into the tournament on the back of a 2-1 T20I series win over Bangladesh that has provided them with real belief.

The Americans won the opening two games before resting several key starters to provide some opportunity for their back-ups.

The USA, captained by Monank Patel, will have to face giants India and Pakistan along with Ireland and Canada in the group stage.

The addition of former New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson has introduced some World Cup experience and top-class quality into the squad.

Anderson moved to the USA in 2020 playing domestic cricket and as his last game for New Zealand was in 2018 he was able to switch in 2022 due to the ‘four year rule’ which applies in these cases.

Vice-captain Aaron Jones, who was born in New York but grew up playing in Barbados, says the American team is determined to make a statement in the tournament.

“We want to show everybody in the world that USA can actually be a cricketing country and obviously be role models for the kids coming up,” he told AFP.

Jones is one of a number of players with experience of playing cricket outside the USA and he has been impressed by the standard of the associate level nations.

“It’s just about getting the opportunity and obviously grasping that opportunity. Afghanistan is a really good team right now and they came through from associate. Ireland obviously came from associate. So the opportunity is there and we just need to really and truly take it and showcase our talent to the world,” he added.

Law has been able to work with a fixed core of players including pace bowler Ali Khan, who grew up in Pakistan and has played in the Caribbean Premier League.

Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh represented India in the Under-19 World Cup in 2012 while Miami-born Steven Taylor has extensive experience in Caribbean cricket.

Jones, who was persuaded by Taylor to join the USA team, rejects any idea that the USA is in the tournament just to make up the numbers.

“We want to win games. We want to bring as much competition as any other team in the tournament,” he said.

The shortest form of the game does create the opportunity for more surprises and Jones believes his team are capable of producing some.

“We are a very good team. Obviously we showed that against Bangladesh, one of the best teams in the world,” he said.

“I wouldn’t call it an upset if we beat Pakistan or India. I will just say that we played better cricket on the day. It is a game of cricket. The bigger teams can lose as well.”

With agency inputs