Greatest Cricket Moments

Charles Lawrence — Surrey Professional Who Would Coach Australia's First Generation, 1858

1858-06-01Surrey, Middlesex and All-England elevensCharles Lawrence's career with Surrey and Middlesex, and preparation for Australian tour2 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

Charles Lawrence, a fast roundarm bowler from Middlesex who also played for Surrey, was in the late 1850s an established professional of the second rank — a reliable bowler and capable batsman, selected for the 1861–62 Australian tour under Stephenson. Like Caffyn after the 1863–64 tour, Lawrence chose to remain in Australia, coaching at the Albert Cricket Club in Sydney and producing the first generation of New South Wales cricketers who would compete with England on level terms.

Background

The 1868 Aboriginal touring party was the first Australian cricket team to tour England, twelve years before the first 'official' Australian tour of 1878. Lawrence organised, coached and captained the side, which played 47 matches in England.

What Happened

Charles Lawrence was born in Hoxton, Middlesex, in 1828. He played for both Surrey and Middlesex through the 1850s — county registration rules were lax — and was a right-arm fast roundarm bowler of consistent county quality. He was selected for Stephenson's 1861–62 Australian tour, performing creditably in the exhibition matches across New South Wales and Victoria. When the tour ended he accepted an offer from the Albert Cricket Club in Sydney and remained in Australia as a professional coach. His students included several of the New South Wales players who formed the first Australian touring party to England in 1868 — the Aboriginal eleven that toured under his captaincy. Lawrence's role in developing that tour, recruiting and coaching the Aboriginal cricketers, was the most remarkable chapter of his coaching career.

Key Moments

1

1828: Lawrence born in Hoxton, Middlesex

2

1850s: Professional career with Surrey and Middlesex

3

1858: Selected for Stephenson's 1861–62 Australian tour

4

1862: Remains in Australia; joins Albert CC, Sydney

5

1868: Organises, coaches and captains the Aboriginal Australian cricket tour to England

6

1868: Aboriginal tour plays 47 matches in England — first Australian touring party

⚖️ The Verdict

The man who coached and led the first Australian cricket tour to England — the 1868 Aboriginal touring party — having remained in Australia after the 1861–62 Stephenson tour.

Legacy & Impact

Lawrence's 1868 Aboriginal tour preceded the 'official' Australian tours by a decade. It is now recognised as a landmark in both cricket and Australian indigenous history.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the 1868 Aboriginal touring party?▾
The team played 47 matches in England, winning 14, losing 14 and drawing 19. It was a remarkable sporting achievement, now commemorated as a landmark in Australian cricket and indigenous history.

Tags

#roundarm-era#early-victorian#1850s#charles-lawrence#surrey#australia#coaching#iconic-moment#professional

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