Satyakama

3rd August 1805 - The first recorded cricket match between Eton College and Harrow School at Lord’s.

The oldest cricket fixture in the world which is still played annually. It is also the only regular school cricket fixture to still be played at Lord’s.

Although the two schools had played cricket against each other before, this was the first match to be officially recorded. Obviously Eton easily beat Harrow by an innings and two runs.

Between 1805 and 2019 there have been 181 matches played in the official series… (the ten games played at the schools’ own playing fields during the two world wars are not included.) Eton have won 59 matches, Harrow have won 54 and 68 matches were drawn.

It is one of the few occasions that masters from both schools unofficially turn a blind eye to drinking by the supporting students watching the game. Several times this has led to what has been described as “yobbish behaviour!”

Following criticism that English cricket is elitist, racist and sexist, the MCC made a token “woke” announcement that, in order to make cricket more inclusive Lord’s would no longer guarantee to host either the Eton v Harrow, or the Oxford v Cambridge fixtures. This caused uproar from a large proportion of MCC members. How would banning this popular one day historic cricket match help to make cricket less discriminatory?

I took part in a good-humoured protest. Old Etonians and Old Harrovians got together and attended the 2022 match dressed in 1930′s style top hat and tails. (In the 1930′s the Eton v Harrow cricket match at Lord’s was one of the social sporting events of the year… alongside Royal Ascot and the Henley Royal Regatta.) It was a great day out, even though Harrow won by 46 runs.

Shortly after the 2022 game, the MCC decided to review it’s controversial decision. The Eton v Harrow cricket match will now be hosted at Lord’s until at least 2027, when members will be invited to vote on the issue.

I doubt our light-hearted protest had any effect… but, the amount of money we spent in their hospitality outlets may have done!

Double folios from a Kitab-i hasha'ish (Book of herbs)

Probably Bijapur Court, Deccan, dated September 1595

This double folio is from a Persian translation of the Materia Medica known as the Kitab-i hasha'ish (Book of herbs). It has been attributed to the reign of Muhammad Adil Shah II (1580-1627), the ruler of the Bijapur in Deccan in India and one of the most learned patrons of the arts. The five illustrations represent plants believed to aid digestion and include several varieties of cucumber and watercress. Randomly arranged on the page and spilling into the margins, the illustrations are notable for their expressive and spontaneous treatment, found in few other herbals. 

León & Mathilda