Cricket’s unconditional love affair with the 1900 Olympics

The 1900 Olympics in Paris was a groundbreaking event in the history of the Olympics. Although it denotes cricket as a part of the events scheduled to take place in Vincennes, France, it was hoped by one and all that the sport was indeed expected to stay on in the Olympic games for the future editions to come.

As for the 1900 Olympics, it was special in its own way by virtue of the fact that it was played in the centurion year coupled with the fact that it served as an ambassadorship for goodwill although the First World War aka the Great War took place just a few years later. From an Indian perspective, this was indeed a groundbreaking event as it was the first time an Indian athlete took part in a track and field event. Norman Trevor took an active part in the triple jump event and came fourth, making his participation under the British Raj.

The 1900 Olympics also saw its first and only cricket match played. The occasion was consummated by the rivalry of Great Britain and France who were in action at the Exhibition Ground at Vincennes. Although the Crusades had ripped apart the relations between France and Great Britain, here they were, throwing their claim into a small game of cricket, thus underlining a true ambassadorship as well as peace.

The invites, as well as the event posters, showcased somewhat of a spectacle that was on the show for one and all to see. ‘Republique de France conte Anglattere’ were doing the rounds as many flocked to the Exhibition Ground in the beautiful city of Vincennes.  The match was a two-day match played between the two nations both contesting for bragging rights (since only the gold and silver medal were up for grabs).

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Kept with the official rules of the time – a two-day game, and a 12-man team as well. While both sets of players were representing their respective nations, the fact of the matter was that this was an encounter between the ‘Devon and Somerset Wanderers’ and the ‘French Athletic Club Union’. CBK Beachcroft and Philip Tomalin were the captains of Great Britain and France respectively. In a low scoring encounter, France demolished the Brits for 117 before they themselves were cleaned up for 78. The second innings saw the Brits bat quite well and declare at 145-5. However, France was bowled out for a paltry 26, one of the lowest recorded scores in cricketing history.