Cricket: A British sport played in Argentina

British influence in Argentina ....

In spite of the fact that Argentina was never a British colony, the English influence in our country and our customs are strong ......

The bond between these two nations goes way back in time, to the days of the Colony, when Buenos Aires was a very important port of trade for British goods. Such was the importance that Great Britain tried –unsuccessfully- twice to conquer it… Soon they realized that the best relationship would be based in good terms and mutual confidence. It was the beginning of a beautiful and profitable friendship, Argentina provided prime materials of great quality and England reattributed with high qual items. Even more, the British were the ones who developed and built all our National Railway System. Back then, when the bond was so tight many British families chose Argentina to be their Second homeland, and with their luggage they brought their culture and traditions. Five o’clock tea, Rugby & Cricket, British, Scottish and Wales bilingual schools, country clubs and of course Irish Pubs… are some of the traditions brought to Argentina early I the 1800 and are still very alive. Such was the English pride, that among the families they spoke only English in a Spanish speaking country, and it has remained still that way to our days, where high class families speak in English among themselves as a sign of prestige.

Argentina is one of the few Latin countries that publishes a local English news paper –several have been the papers, but today the Buenos Aires Herald is the local English paper fully written by native English, American and Australian citizens living in Argentina.

England has provided the world with some of the most popular sports. First and foremost: football or soccer as the Americans know it. Rugby and water polo are also primarily British inventions. However, Cricket is the most traditional and English trademark sport whatsoever. The British Sport was very welcomed in Argentina from the beginning. And it’s important to point out that Argentina is the first non-former British colony that has incorporated this sport to its traditions. the first local reference to the game is to be found in the issue of October 22 of the British Packey - an English language newspaper founded in 1826 -which reported that the Buenos Aires Cricket Club had been formed by about 25 members who `have lately played some excellent games at that manly exercise ... and who might not be ashamed to take up a bat, even by the side of the men of Kent'.

Throughout the 1800s Cricket is established in Argentina, the first international matches are played. By the 1930s Argentina’s cricket reaches a high standard and these years are to be referred as the Argentinean Cricket’s golden years. Some say that after WW 2 this game begins to decline. But some 20 years latter it rises back from it’s ashes as many fine individual cricketers begin to make their mark. An Argentinean team participates for the first time at the ICC Trophy.

But Argentinean Cricket would regain it’s past strength throughout the 90s participating in international competitions as well as maintaining a local standard of encounters among the local clubs. The highlight of the domestic season is the annual North v South match which is played over three days and it’s not only about the game, for around it there’s a big folk reunion like going on, tea parties, meetings with friends and of course a great social event.

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