Making of New Zealand Cricket, 1832-1914

It is generally forgotten that cricket rather than rugby union was the 'national game' in New Zealand until the early years of the twentieth century. This book examines the emergence and growth of cricket in relation to diverse patterns of European settlement in New Zealand - such as the systematic colonization schemes of Edward Gibbon Wakefield and the gold discoveries of the 1860s. It then considers issues such as cricket and social class in the emerging cities; cricket and the elite school system; the function of the game in shaping relations between the New Zealand provinces; cricket encounters with the Australian colonies in the context of an 'Australasian' world; and, perhaps most importantly, cricketing relations with England at a time when New Zealand society was becoming acutely conscious of both its own identity and its place within the British Empire. The result is an account of structures, ideals and objectives quite different from those in other parts of the cricketing world.Ryan, Greg is the author of 'Making of New Zealand Cricket, 1832-1914', published 2004 under ISBN 9780714684826 and ISBN 0714684821.