by Arunabha Sengupta
International cricket arrived in the Cape, and thereby in South Africa, in late 1888. A product of the Old Boys’ network, like much of the politics, society and European life in the land.
Major Robert Warton, an Essex cricketer on paper, was a military officer posted in the Cape from 1883. During his 1888 visit to England, Warton was asked to assemble a team to visit South Africa. The man behind the request was William Milton, former England rugby international and the Western Province Cricket Club supremo.
The result was the motley collection of a few average and a few brilliant cricketers arriving at the Table Bay in December—eagerly awaited by a large crowd, of whom ‘a large percentage [were] Malays and Kaffirs.’
A public dinner for 120 people was arranged, graced by the Cape Colony governor, two former Prime Ministers, the Chief Justice, speaker of the House of Assembly, and parliamentary leader of the Afrikaner Bond—the grandest welcome ever accorded to any visitor.
There were five Test cricketers in the form of Bobby Abel, Maurice Read, Harry Wood, George Ulyett and Johnny Briggs. Besides, captain Aubrey Smith was an impressive medium-pacer with a curious run-up. Later to become the famed character actor in Hollywood, Smith had already toured Australia. Wicketkeeper Monty Bowden was another exceptional cricketer.
However, there were also the likes of Charles Coventry, on tour because he had been unable to get a commission in the army. Emile McMaster was supposedly in the side because he was ‘such a damn good after-dinner speaker’.
The team had a shaky start with four defeats in their first six odds matches. But, by the time the journey of 15,975 miles encompassing 146 days had been completed, they had won most of the others. These included the two representative matches that, in 1897, went on to become recognised as Test matches.
Owen Dunell was Port Elizabeth born with an Eton and Oxford pedigree. An early association footballer, he played for Oxford University as a full back and represented them in the 1877 FA Cup Final against Wanderers at Kennington Oval. From Trinity College, he graduated BA in 1878 and Master of Arts in 1883.
Now a businessman in Natal, Dunell was chosen to lead white South Africa in their first ever Test match.
Dunell, Eton and Oxford, leading against Aubrey Smith, Charterhouse and Cambridge. Dunell’s wife embroidered SA on each of the caps of the home cricketers. It could not have smacked more of an archetypal, and rather exclusive, Old Boys’ Club.
Played at Port Elizabeth, the Test not only saw the exclusion of the entire population of non-White cricketers across the land. Milton, the rather autocratic organiser, also drew flak for ignoring all of the deserving Afrikaner cricketers.
The South Africans nevertheless turned out a rather decent performance, especially with the ball. With the bat, the solid Bernard Tancred scoring impressive identical 29s in each innings. The margin of victory was 8 wickets for Smith’s side, which was not a complete loss of face for the hosts.
With the match ending earlier than expected, the teams mingled to form a Married XI and a Single XI. He hit an unbeaten 59.
Dunell also played the second Test match, but it was Milton who led South Africa in their second defeat.
The tour ended with Sir Donald Currie, founder of the Castle Shipping line and sponsor of the tour, donating a trophy to Kimberley, the best performing local side against the tourists. The Currie Cup would replace the Champions Bat as the major tournament in the land.
The side led by Dunell in 1889 was one of the White minority of South Africa, representing some 20% of their population. In fact, with the Afrikaners largely kept out of the first Test, it was an even less representative side.
In 1956-57, the White South African cricket side were engaged in a thrilling home series against England. They were still representing just about 20% of their country, and since 1889 had played only England, Australia and New Zealand.
That same season, the Africans, Indians and Coloured populations of the troubled nation, united under the South African Cricket Board Of Control, formed a representative team of non-White South Africans led by the brilliant Basil D’Oliveira
They beat the visiting Kenyan Asians in their first ever international series, and the following year toured East Africa and Kenya and won everything in sight.
Of course, with mixed sports being illegal according to the apartheid legislature, they could not play White sides.
This non-White Board, representing 80% of the South African population, requested ICC for affiliation. Of course, a non-White side playing other non-White sides was not the idea of proper Test cricket according to the Imperial Cricket Conference. They did not oblige.
However, a White side, representing 20% of South Africa, playing other White countries, was indeed proper Test cricket—the gentleman’s game approved at Lord’s.
Hence Owen Dunell remains the first ever official captain of South Africa, although by sheer power of logic and percentages it should by all rights be Basil D’Oliveira.
As for Dunell, he played only one more first-class match, and finished with 79 runs at 15.80
After a few years in Natal, he settled in England, living at New Alresford, Hampshire, ultimately in South Kensington, London.
Owen Dunnell was born on 15 July 1856.