Cricket in Cape Town

Cricket origins are covered in mystery, with added patriotic findings, making it very difficult to ascertain its origins. Falsely, many English writers claimed the game for England. Nevertheless, the game spread to the Cape Colony, and during the time of the first British occupation of the Cape (1795–1803) there were organised sporting activities being offered to colonists. There were also cricketers present who were aware that the Marylebone Cricket Club had been operating in England since 31 May 1787. By 1806, the game was established at the Cape along lines of class, colour and race. Slaves and free blacks were an integral part of the game, where they had to prepare the pitches and fields. Their descendants made the game their own over time and formed important cricket leagues in Cape Town. During the 20th century, they formed the Western Province Cricket Board that remained neglected by major sponsors who preferred to support establishment or white cricket associations. It was in this environment that St Augustine Cricket Club was established.