Cricket clubs were formed in the copper triangle towns of Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo as early as September 1865. By this time the combined towns already had a population of 8,000 and the miners were cricket mad. In 1873 the English Eleven were in Australia under legendary captain WG Grace, and the Peninsula people collected 800 pounds to bring the team to play against a combined local team at Kadina under Captain Julius Ey. The local publican even extended his Exchange Hotel especially for the visit. This was the largest fee that Grace received during his Australian tour. The Peninsula people also arranged for Tom Wills, the 'father of Australian football' to coach the local eleven at Matta Flat prior to the match. (Wallaroo times and mining journal, 25 February 1874, supp. p. 1) Wills played with the local team on the fateful day.

Unfortunately the visit did not go entirely to plan. The English cricketers were so seasick on the boat trip from Melbourne to Adelaide that Grace threw up the chartered vessel that was to take them from Port Adelaide to Wallaroo, and instead made a lengthy coach trip. Then the team played only two of the contracted three days, leaving a day early aboard the Port Wakefield coach, after handing the organisers a bill for an extra 110 pounds. (Wallaroo times and mining journal, 28 March 1874, p. 2-3)

The game itself, played on a very rough ground three miles outside of Kadina, to a crowd of 2,000, complete with Cornish bands, was no game at all. On the first day the local team were all out for 42, and Grace's team for 64. Grace then played three exhibition innings in an effort to please the crowd before his early departure.

The people of Yorke Peninsula nevertheless remained keen cricket-lovers. By 1898 there were four senior cricket teams in Kadina, with matches played against visiting Adelaide teams.

Ey, Julius

Grace, W.G. (William Gilbert), 1848-1915