Lot #253 ‘Cricket Match between the Australian Eleven and the Earl of Sheffield’s Eleven 1896’. A sumptuous silk luncheon menu produced for the visit of the Prince of Wales to the match played at Sheffield Park, Uckfield on the 11th to 13th May 1896. The exquisite printed silk menu hand coloured and fringed in gold braid shows, to the front cover of the menu, a view of Sheffield Park within a hand coloured gold border entwined with a ribbon in the colours of Lord Sheffield of red, yellow and purple, the

‘Cricket Match between the Australian Eleven and the Earl of Sheffield’s Eleven 1896’. A sumptuous silk luncheon menu produced for the visit of the Prince of Wales to the match played at Sheffield Park, Uckfield on the 11th to 13th May 1896. The exquisite printed silk menu hand coloured and fringed in gold braid shows, to the front cover of the menu, a view of Sheffield Park within a hand coloured gold border entwined with a ribbon in the colours of Lord Sheffield of red, yellow and purple, the title surmounted by an Earl’s coronet with the Earl of Sheffield’s coat of arms surmounted with a demi-griffin segreant holding between its claws a ducal coronet with motto ‘Quern te Deus esse jussit’ (What God has commanded you to be) to banner below. To the back cover of the menu, in similar vein, beautifully decorated with the Australian coat of arms within a highly decorated with flowers and floral designs, within a hand coloured gold border entwined with a ribbon in the colours of Lord Sheffield with two roundels at the foot and the head containing crossed cricket bats, stumps and balls. The whole opening to reveal the menu and details of the members of each team, the umpires and the scorers, printed in red, surrounded by a colourful border containing cricketing motifs of bats, balls, stumps, cricket bags etc. The menu printed by John Beal and Son, Printers of Brighton. The caterers were Booth & Sons. The menu, opened flat and including the fringed golf braid measures 11”x9”, and is contained in its original red satin lined box with lid in white showing a printed cricketers belt with Lord Sheffield monogram ‘S’ to centre as the belt buckle. The menu in wonderful condition, the box a little worn. A truly wonderful item produced for the Royal visit of the Prince of Wales, and almost certainly his menu, as card menus were also produced for the luncheon, he attended this opening match of the Australian tour on the first day, staying for lunch and watching the game in the afternoon, one of very few menus produced and probably one of few to survive from this prestigious visit. Previously sold by Knights as lot 253 in November 2016 as part of the Mike Smith Collection

This was probably the highlight of all matches played at Sheffield Park from Lord Sheffield’s personal perspective in that H.R.H. Prince of Wales attended the game on the first day 11th May 1896. Surviving menus for matches against the touring teams from the Australian’s first visit in 1884 to the last in 1896 were beautifully produced and decorated with no expense spared, but this menu produced to honour the visit of the Prince of Wales, surpasses all others. The arrangements for this match and the visit from royalty is beautifully described in two newspaper article published a few days later in Australia and New Zealand. The Brisbane Courier states ‘To the new members of the Australia Eleven no better illustration of English hospitality could have been afforded than the match at Sheffield Park, which stands out as the greatest success that has ever taken place there. Upon their arrival at the station, the Australians were met by Lord Sheffield, Dr W.G. Grace and other prominent local cricketers. Lord Sheffield was introduced to each member, and the team were then driven through the park to the ground. Lord Sheffield remaining at the platform to welcome the Prince of Wales. The drive from the station to the ground was profusely and lavishly decorated with Venetian masts, flags, flowers and triumphal arches. By 11.30 many thousands had thronged the ground, arriving from all parts of the country. The Prince of Wales arrived amidst a great display of enthusiasm and was conducted by Lord Sheffield to the pavilion, where W.G. Grace, Harry Trott and Prince Ranjitsinhji were in turn presented to the Prince of Wales... Grace, Trott and Ranjitsinhji lunched with the Royal party and the rest of the players in another marquee. On resuming at 3 o’clock there was an enormous attendance of spectators from all parts of Sussex, in addition to several train loads from London. From this time to until the Prince of Wales left the ground at 4 o’clock the attendance was the ‘greatest, and the record kept at all entrances of the park showed that 24,390 persons entered during the day’. The ‘Oamaru Mail’ (Otago, New Zealand) states ‘Australian weather welcomed the Australian Eleven to Sheffield Park, a hot sun, a cloudless sky and an almost still atmosphere. The ground, probably the prettiest in England, was surrounded by at least 10,000 people and the oaks in the freshest of spring leaf and the quaint and charming pavilions formed a delightful background. The road from the local station to the ground, a distance of two miles, was decorated with flowers, ever greens and arches from beginning to end, and the Royal Standard... with countless flags, the Australian predominating, swung idly in every direction... The reason of all this brilliance was that the Prince of Wales had promised to visit Sheffield Park to see the Australians open their campaign and punctually at half past eleven his Royal Highness arrived. Soon after he reached the ground he walked across to the Players Pavilion and was introduced to W.G. Grace and Harry Trott, the two captains. After eating an excellent luncheon provided in a special pavilion and to which were invited only his suite, Lord Sheffield’s special friends and Messrs Trott and Grace, the Prince watched the match for nearly two hours and did not leave the Park until half past four, having spent more time at a cricket match than he had ever done since he used to play the game himself as a boy. This was looked upon by the English public as a great compliment to Australia, and was no doubt intended as such’.
The public were never charged for entry to matches against the touring teams which were played very seriously, especially no doubt by Lord Sheffield’s team which often amounted almost to an England side, though in an atmosphere of ‘cordial happiness’. As for the match itself, it was the setting for the memorable encounter between W.G. Grace and Ernest ‘Jonah’ Jones, a lively Australian opening bowler as told by F.S. Jackson: ’Of all the fast bowlers the Australians have sent to this country, I think Jones was the best in my time. I have very good reasons for remembering him, as I took part in the first match he played in this country against Lord Sheffield’s XI at Sheffield Park, Sussex, in 1896. He was one of the most powerful men I ever met. I believe he was a miner, and in his early days of the tour was very wild in his delivery. This was probably because the Australians came practically straight off the ship to the match and were short of practice. Jones gave me the impression that his main effort was to show his immense pace. The wicket was dry and he bowled short, bumpy stuff. One ball from Jones hit W.G. under the arm, and later in the innings another one went head-high past him and over Kelly’s head to the boundary. This was the ball about which the Beard Story originated. I can see W.G. now. He threw his head back, which caused his beard to stick out. Down the pitch went W.G., stroking his beard, to Harry Trott and said: ‘Here, what is all this?’ And Trott said: ‘Steady, Jonah.’ To which Jones made that famous remark: ‘Sorry, Doctor, she slipped.’ I do not think the ball actually touched W.G.’s beard. That story was told afterwards, and I believe I was responsible. When I was out and returned to the Pavilion, I said: ‘Did you see that one go through W.G.’s beard?’ The ball was bouncing, and only Ranji appeared to like it. The pace that Jones was bowling impressed me because in the second innings, when I had made about 10, I had the misfortune to stop one with my ribs, but with the assistance of W.A.J. West, the umpire, who rubbed me, I was able to continue my innings.’
The match was drawn, for Australia, Darling top scored in their first innings of 257 with 67, Mold taking four wickets for sixty one runs, Lord Sheffield’s XI replied with a total of 195, Ranjitsinhji making 79 and Grace 49, Ernest Jones taking seven wickets for 84 runs including Grace caught by Kelly. Australia then made 194 in their second innings with Captain Trott making 59no and Pougher and Davidson taking three wickets apiece. Lord Sheffield’s XI had scored 180-4 before stumps were drawn, Jackson 95no and Ranji 42, Jones taking two wickets and again including Grace caught by Giffen for 26.
Acknowledgement: Roger Packham, author of ‘Cricket in the Park, the Life and Times of Lord Sheffield 1832-1909’.