Portal:Australia/Featured article/Week 29, 2006



The Sydney Riot of 1879 was one of the earliest riots at an international cricket match. It occurred at the Association Ground, Moore Park now known as the Sydney Cricket Ground. The game was between a touring English team captained by Lord Harris and the New South Wales Cricket Association led by Dave Gregory. The riot was sparked off by a controversial umpiring decision, when Australian star batsman Billy Murdoch was controversially given out by umpire George Coulthard (pictured). It was alleged that betting men in the New South Wales pavilion encouraged Gregory to make a stand and disrupt the game. The immediate aftermath of the riot saw the England team cancel the remaining games due to be played in Sydney. There was also much comment in both the local and English press. Later a letter from Lord Harris about the incident was printed in the English newspapers, and caused a new outrage in New South Wales when it was later printed in the colonial press. The New South Wales Cricket Association then volleyed off a reply, which further damaged relations. The riot led to a breakdown of goodwill that threatened the immediate future of England-Australia cricket tours. The friction between the cricketing authorities was finally eased when Lord Harris agreed to lead an England representative side at the Oval in London more than a year later.