Charles Finlason
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Finlason - Sometimes dubbed the father of Kimberley cricket, Charlie Finlason was born in Camberwell
, London
on February 19, 1860 and died in Surbiton
, Surrey
on July 31, 1917, aged 57. He was an author and journalist by trade and emigrated to Kimberley in the Northern Cape
province of South Africa
when he was a young man. Later, in the early 1890’s, he followed the relatively new trail to Rhodesia
(by ox-drawn cart no less!) with near disastrous yet entertaining consequences that he wrote about as he went. Affectionately known as “Fin”, he was a delightfully humorous character but a complete novice when it came to trekking. Being unable to read a compass sufficiently and oblivious to the dangers that he put himself in, he was fortunate to survive the trip without being eaten or trampled underfoot by wild game; indeed, even to get to his destination, Salisbury, without getting lost was an achievement!
As a cricketer
, he liked to score runs quickly, often losing his wicket
early as a result, and he was a fast bowler that later learned the science of break-bowling. He played for Kimberley Pirates Cricket Club (not first-class
) but his first match of any real significance was South Africa’s inaugural Test
played against Major Robert Gardner Warton’s touring England
side at St. George’s Park
, Port Elizabeth in March 1889. Under the captaincy of C.A. Smith
, England won the match by eight wickets and Finlason’s contribution for South Africa was just six runs from both innings
and bowling figures of 0 wickets for 7 runs. Interestingly, 1888/89 was the first season of serious cricket in South Africa with matches played on level terms becoming the norm. Indeed, this Test match was the very first first-class match in the country with the result that the entire South African team that day made their combined first-class and Test debuts. When off the field of play during the match, Finlason put his journalistic background to use but reportedly upset the visitors with his disparaging comments about them.
Over the next two seasons, 1889/90 and 1890/91, Finlason played four further first-class matches for Transvaal
, Griqualand West
and Kimberley. Whilst moderately successful with the ball, he was generally ineffectual with the bat although he recorded one score of 154 not out, his only century, for Kimberley against Transvaal in a Currie Cup
match played at Johannesburg
in April 1891. This “timeless” match played over seven days proved to be Finlason’s last first-class match and his efforts helped Kimberley to their only Currie Cup domestic title. In 1892, he played three matches at Johannesburg against W.W. Read’s
touring side
, none of them first-class, but was not selected for the sole Test of the visit, played at Newlands
, Cape Town
. His death in 1917 went unrecorded at the time and therefore no obituary appeared within the pages of Wisden for him. He was a one-time editor of the Johannesburg Star newspaper.
Camberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on February 19, 1860 and died in Surbiton
Surbiton
Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is situated next to the River Thames, with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, more recent residential blocks and grand, spacious 19th century townhouses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
on July 31, 1917, aged 57. He was an author and journalist by trade and emigrated to Kimberley in the Northern Cape
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of an international park shared with Botswana...
province of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
when he was a young man. Later, in the early 1890’s, he followed the relatively new trail to Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(by ox-drawn cart no less!) with near disastrous yet entertaining consequences that he wrote about as he went. Affectionately known as “Fin”, he was a delightfully humorous character but a complete novice when it came to trekking. Being unable to read a compass sufficiently and oblivious to the dangers that he put himself in, he was fortunate to survive the trip without being eaten or trampled underfoot by wild game; indeed, even to get to his destination, Salisbury, without getting lost was an achievement!
As a cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
, he liked to score runs quickly, often losing his wicket
Wicket
In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
early as a result, and he was a fast bowler that later learned the science of break-bowling. He played for Kimberley Pirates Cricket Club (not first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
) but his first match of any real significance was South Africa’s inaugural Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
played against Major Robert Gardner Warton’s touring England
English cricket team in South Africa in 1888-89
The 1888-89 South African cricket season saw the first two first-class cricket matches played in South Africa. However, this designation was given many years later. The season saw the first tour by an England team that was accorded first-class status. The tour was managed by Major Warton and...
side at St. George’s Park
Sahara Oval St George's
St George’s Park Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is the home of the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, one of the oldest cricket clubs in South Africa, and the Eastern Province Club...
, Port Elizabeth in March 1889. Under the captaincy of C.A. Smith
Aubrey Smith
Sir Charles Aubrey Smith CBE , known to film-goers as C. Aubrey Smith, was an English cricketer and actor.-Early life:...
, England won the match by eight wickets and Finlason’s contribution for South Africa was just six runs from both innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
and bowling figures of 0 wickets for 7 runs. Interestingly, 1888/89 was the first season of serious cricket in South Africa with matches played on level terms becoming the norm. Indeed, this Test match was the very first first-class match in the country with the result that the entire South African team that day made their combined first-class and Test debuts. When off the field of play during the match, Finlason put his journalistic background to use but reportedly upset the visitors with his disparaging comments about them.
Over the next two seasons, 1889/90 and 1890/91, Finlason played four further first-class matches for Transvaal
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
, Griqualand West
Griqualand West cricket team
The Griqualand West cricket team is the first-class cricket team that represents the province of Griqualand West in South Africa. For the purposes of the SuperSport Series, Griqualand West has merged with Free State to form the Eagles from October 2004....
and Kimberley. Whilst moderately successful with the ball, he was generally ineffectual with the bat although he recorded one score of 154 not out, his only century, for Kimberley against Transvaal in a Currie Cup
SuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
match played at Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in April 1891. This “timeless” match played over seven days proved to be Finlason’s last first-class match and his efforts helped Kimberley to their only Currie Cup domestic title. In 1892, he played three matches at Johannesburg against W.W. Read’s
Walter Read
Walter William Read was an English cricketer, who was a fluent right hand bat. An occasional bowler of lobs, he sometimes switched to quick overarm deliveries. He captained England in two Test matches, winning them both...
touring side
History of cricket in South Africa to 1918
This article describes the history of South African cricket from its known beginnings until the end of the First World War in 1918.First-class cricket was introduced to South Africa in the 1888-89 season with the arrival of the first English touring team and the presentation by Sir Donald Currie of...
, none of them first-class, but was not selected for the sole Test of the visit, played at Newlands
Newlands Cricket Ground
Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town is a South African cricket ground. It's the home of the Cape Cobras, who play in the SuperSport Series, MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Pro20 competitions. It is also a venue for Test matches. Newlands is regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket...
, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
. His death in 1917 went unrecorded at the time and therefore no obituary appeared within the pages of Wisden for him. He was a one-time editor of the Johannesburg Star newspaper.