Cricket: Cricket on Ice

Looking at this article on Cricinfo, it seems that cricketers around the UK have missed an opportunity to get some unseasonal play in during the recent cold snap. During the winter of 1878-9, keen players around the country seized the chance to hold an impromptu winter season.

Matches took place on skates, and some surprisingly good scores were posted, alongside some more predictably bad ones, and there was enough action taking place for Wisden to report on the scene in the following year's edition.


There has seen plenty of sledging, but not in a Steve Waugh way

In reality, there probably was not enough ice in the south for this sort of game this winter, but in the north of England, or in Scotland, it might have been briefly possible. There was thick enough ice for some curling to take place, although plans for a big match were abandoned. Still, the idea is worth remembering for future winters. It would certainly be a memorable day's cricket.