1879day.year
England's cricket team, led by Lord Harris, is attacked in a riot during a match in Sydney.
A riot breaks out in Sydney as local spectators attack England’s cricket team led by Lord Harris.
During a match in Sydney on February 8, 1879, England’s touring cricket team, captained by Lord Harris, faced an unexpected violent outbreak. A crowd of local spectators, angered by perceived umpiring decisions, stormed the field and assaulted players. The melee forced play to be halted and required police intervention to restore order. The incident highlighted tensions between colonial hosts and the visiting English side in the early era of international cricket. Despite the disturbance, the match resumed under heightened security. This episode remains one of the earliest recorded instances of crowd violence in cricket history.
England's cricket team
Lord Harris
attacked in a riot during a match
Sydney