AarohamResort at 12:56, 14 February 2026

2026-02-14T12:56:36Z

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{{Short description|Annual first-class cricket match}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
The '''Madras Presidency Match''' was an annual [[first-class cricket]] fixture played in [[Madras]] (now [[Chennai]]) from the 1915–16 season to 1951–52 between teams called the [[Indians cricket team|Indians]] and the [[Europeans cricket team|Europeans]] (i.e., Europeans who were living in India). The matches were played in the Chepauk Grounds (the present [[M. A. Chidambaram Stadium]]) usually in mid-January around the time of [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] festival, and the fixture was sometimes called the '''Pongal match'''. Of the 37 matches played, 33 were first-class and the Indians won 15 of those, the Europeans eight and ten were drawn.

==Background==
The Presidency Match was the idea of [[Buchi Babu Naidu]] of the Madras United Club (MUC) and [[Percival Partridge]] of the Madras Cricket Club (MCC). The MCC, at the time, was an exclusively white organisation and the MUC was founded by Buchi Babu as a similar cricket club for the Indians.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} Shortly before the first match Buchi Babu, who was to captain the Indian side, died of a heart attack. The match still went ahead, mainly because of the efforts of B. Subramaniam, an assistant of Buchi Babu.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} The Indian side was captained by B. S. Ramulu Naidu and the Europeans by Partridge. This "Presidency Hindus" and "Presidency Europeans" match was to have been played between 29 December 1908 and 1 January 1909, but it was abandoned because of rain without the first innings being completed.<ref>[http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/122/122430.html Madras Presidency Match, 1908–09]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>

Subramanian organised an annual ''Buchi Babu Memorial Tournament'' from 1909 and the Europeans v Indians series was not revived until the 1915–16 season. This match, which began on the last day of 1915, is considered the first Madras Presidency Match.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905083612/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/IND.html Tournaments in India], archived from CricketArchive</ref>

==The matches==
The Indians generally dominated the series and it was 1920–21 before the Europeans scored their first victory. The length of the match was increased from two to three days in the third year and gates were introduced in 1921. The 1935 match was cancelled because of a dispute about sharing the profits from the previous year between the MCC and the Indian Cricket Federation.<ref>Muthiah, p. 221</ref>

The teams occasionally brought in players from outside the [[Madras Presidency]]. [[C. K. Nayudu]], the [[Maharajkumar of Vizianagram]], and [[Phiroze Palia]] all played for the Indians. In 1921, C. K. Nayudu hit 128 before lunch on the first day, an innings that included a famous hit which cleared "the boundary wall at the southern end of the MCC compound – to land near a coconut tree 50 yards from the MCC grounds. The hit was easily above 150 yards from the batting crease".<ref>Muthiah, p. 250, quoting C. Ramaswami.</ref> In 1927, [[Humphrey Ward]] of the Europeans hit 173, setting a record for the highest score in the series. It was bettered the next day by M. C. Sivasankaran, who made 174 for the Indians.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

==Decline==
The [[Second World War]] caused the cancellation of the 1942 match and, from then, the series went into decline. By the late 1940s, with the exodus of the British after [[Partition of India|Partition]], the Europeans struggled to raise a team. As a consequence, the number of spectators saw a steady decrease. No match was played in 1949 and 1950 and those for 1951 and 1952 were two-day affairs and not first-class. The match in the latter year was watched by a crowd of six people, four of whom were journalists.<ref>Muthiah, p. 208.</ref> This was the last Madras Presidency match.

An attempt was made in 1956 to revive the competition and a match was played between Indian and European members of the Madras Cricket Club. The Indians won by an innings and the experiment was never repeated.

==Results==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:75px"|Season
! Captains
! Notes
! Ref
|-
| align="center" | 1908–09
| B. S. Ramulu Naidu (Ind) [[Percival Partridge|P. W. Partridge]] (Eur)
| Abandoned due to rain with only one day's play possible. Not a first-class match.
| <ref>[http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/122/122430.html Madras Presidency Match, 1908–09]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1914–15
| Unknown (MUC) Unknown (MCC)
| The teams were called Madras Cricket Club (MCC; Europeans only) and Madras United Club (MUC; non-Europeans). MUC won by an innings and 112 runs. Not a first-class match.
| <ref>[http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/122/122431.html Madras Cricket Club v Madras United Club, 1914–15]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1915–16
| B. Subramanian (Ind) [[Daniel Richmond|R. D. Richmond]] (Eur)
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9487.html Madras Presidency Match, 1915–16]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1916–17
| B. Subramanian P. W. Partridge
| Indians won by 5 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9491.html Madras Presidency Match, 1916–17]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1917–18
| Unknown Unknown
| Indians won by 91 runs. Britten-Jones took the only hat-trick in the tournament.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9501.html Madras Presidency Match, 1917–18]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1918–19
| C. K. Krishnaswamy R. D. Richmond
| Indians won by 4 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9519.html Madras Presidency Match, 1918–19]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1919–20
| Unknown Unknown
| Europeans won by 68 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/9/9729.html Madras Presidency Match, 1919–20]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1920–21
| C. R. Ganapathy [[Kenneth Goldie|K. O. Goldie]]
| Indians won by an innings and 14 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10001.html Madras Presidency Match, 1920–21]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1921–22
| [[M. Baliah Naidu|M. Baliah]] [[Ernest Bradfield|E. W. C. Bradfield]]
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10349.html Madras Presidency Match, 1921–22]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1922–23
| B. Subramaniam E. W. C. Bradfield
| Indians won by 10 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/10/10678.html Madras Presidency Match, 1922–23]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1923–24
| Unknown Unknown
| Indians won by an innings and 27 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/11/11041.html Madras Presidency Match, 1923–24]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1924–25
| C. R. Ganapathy [[Humphrey Ward|H. P. Ward]]
| Europeans won by 125 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/11/11399.html Madras Presidency Match, 1924–25]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1925–26
| N. N. Swarna H. P. Ward
| Europeans won by 66 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/11/11762.html Madras Presidency Match, 1925–26]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1926–27
| [[C. K. Nayudu]] [[C. P. Johnstone]]
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/12/12172.html Madras Presidency Match, 1926–27]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1927–28
| Unknown C. P. Johnstone
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/12/12568.html Madras Presidency Match, 1927–28]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1928–29
| C. K. Nayudu C. P. Johnstone
| Europeans won by 8 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/12/12954.html Madras Presidency Match, 1928–29]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1929–30
| M. Venkataramanjulu H. P. Ward
| Indians won by 10 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/13/13349.html Madras Presidency Match, 1929–30]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1930–31
| [[Maharajkumar of Vizianagram]] H. P. Ward
| Europeans won by an innings and 6 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/13/13756.html Madras Presidency Match, 1930–31]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1931–32
| Maharajkumar of Vizianagram H. P. Ward
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/14/14147.html Madras Presidency Match, 1931–32]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1932–33
| Maharajkumar of Vizianagram H. P. Ward
| Indians won by an innings and 109 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/14/14533.html Madras Presidency Match, 1932–33]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1933–34
| M. Baliah H. P. Ward
| Europeans won by 31 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/14/14900.html Madras Presidency Match, 1933–34]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1935–36
| M. Baliah C. P. Johnstone
| Indians won by an innings and 87 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/15/15682.html Madras Presidency Match, 1935–36]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1936–37
| [[M. J. Gopalan]] H. P. Ward
| Indians won by 247 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/16/16073.html Madras Presidency Match, 1936–37]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1937–38
| [[Cotah Ramaswami|C. Ramaswami]] [[C. P. Johnstone]]
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/16/16488.html Madras Presidency Match, 1937–38]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1938–39
| M. J. Gopalan C. P. Johnstone
| Indians won by 4 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/16/16875.html Madras Presidency Match, 1938–39]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1939–40
| M. J. Gopalan C. P. Johnstone
| Indians won by 4 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17253.html Madras Presidency Match, 1939–40]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1940–41
| M. J. Gopalan C. P. Johnstone
| Indians won by 97 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17302.html Madras Presidency Match, 1940–41]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1942–43
| M. J. Gopalan C. P. Johnstone
| Europeans won by 8 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17367.html Madras Presidency Match, 1942–43]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1943–44
| [[A. G. Ram Singh]] C. P. Johnstone
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17400.html Madras Presidency Match, 1943–44]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1944–45
| M. O. Srinivasan C. P. Johnstone
| Europeans won by 8 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17456.html Madras Presidency Match, 1944–45]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1945–46
| M. J. Gopalan C. P. Johnstone
| Indians won by 5 wickets.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17538.html Madras Presidency Match, 1945–46]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1946–47
| [[Gopalaswami Parthasarathy (diplomat)|G. Parthasarathi]] C. P. Johnstone
| Indians won by an innings and 63 runs.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17939.html Madras Presidency Match, 1946–47]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1947–48
| G. Parthasarathi C. P. Johnstone
| Match drawn.
| <ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/18/18349.html Madras Presidency Match, 1947–4]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1950–51
| Unknown Unknown
| rowspan="2" | The 1950–51 and 1951–52 matches were not first-class. Both were drawn.
| <ref>[http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/122/122433.html Madras Presidency Match, 1950–51]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1951–52
| Unknown Unknown
| <ref>[http://cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/122/122432.html Madras Presidency Match, 1951–52]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 November 2023. {{subscription required}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Highest individual score (Indians) || 174, M. C. Sivasankaran || 1927
|-
| Highest individual score (Europeans) || 173, H. P. Ward|| 1927
|-
| Best bowling, innings (Indians) || 8 for 14, A. G. Ram Singh || 1936
|-
| Best bowling, innings (Europeans) || 8 for 43, [[Alexander Penfold|A. G. Penfold]] || 1926
|-
| Best bowling, team (Indians) || 13 for 49, A. G. Ram Singh || 1936
|-
| Best bowling, team (Europeans) || 13 for 115, [[Jack Parsons (cricketer)|J. H. Parsons]] || 1920
|-
| Highest total (Indians) || 458 || 1927
|-
| Highest total (Europeans) || 570 for 7 declared || 1931
|-
|}

==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* S. Muthiah, ''The Spirit of Chepauk'', East West Books (1998). {{ISBN|81-86852-13-1}}
* [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/IND.html Tournaments in India]. CricketArchive. {{subscription required}}
* [[Indian Cricket (annual)|Indian Cricket 2004]], Kasturi & Sons Ltd (December 2003).
* [[V. Ramnarayan]], ''Mosquitos and other Jolly Rovers'', Kalamkriya Press (2002).

[[Category:Indian domestic cricket competitions]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1916]]
[[Category:Recurring events disestablished in 1952]]

Madras Presidency Match - Revision history

AarohamResort at 12:56, 14 February 2026