Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
To be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
6th, 7th, 8th & 9th August 2026
Lot 299
Estimate: £60/90
‘The English Cricket Team on Tour, South Africa 1891/92’. Original sepia photograph of the team with Umpire J. Leaney, standing and seated in rows, wearing cricket attire and tour caps. Players featured include W.W. Read (Cpt), J.T.Hearne, Pougher, Brann, Ferris, W.L. Murdoch, G.G. Hearne, A. Hearne, Wood, Brockwell, Chatterton etc. The photograph is laid down to the official photographers mount with title and players names printed to lower border. the photograph by J.E. Middlebrook of Kimberley, measures 7.5”x5.25” and overall, framed and glazed with modern overmount 14”x12”. Some fading to image otherwise in good condition. A rarely seen early tour photograph
W.W. Read’s team were unbeaten on the tour of South Africa, winning fourteen matches including ‘The Test Match’ and drawing seven. They were far too strong, particularly in bowling, for the opposition it met, J.T. Hearne and Martin captured over 100 wickets each... It seems unrealistic that the only match played on equal terms is now described as a Test match. For one thing, two Australian Test cricketers, Ferris and Murdoch, as county players became members of the touring party, but went on to represent England. At the end of the tour the captain, Walter Read and manager, Edwin Ash were arrested until they provided security to cover a loan of £1000 which had been advanced by a Cape Colony businessman to cover expenses not met by the gates. There was just time for them to be ferried to the ship before it departed....