Cricket and Conquest

Cricket and Conquest: The History of South African Cricket Retold 1795-1914, Volume 1, provides a comprehensive examination of the sport's early development. This sports history work revises traditional narratives by integrating the experiences of black players and women, moving beyond mainstream accounts. It explores how the game evolved from its arrival in Cape Town to the establishment of provincial and international competitions.

The text analyzes the intersection of sports and state, detailing how racism became embedded in the culture and traditions of the game. By covering the period from 1795 to 1914, the authors examine the influence of imperialism and the institutionalization of the color bar. This biography of a national sport tracks the rise of the Currie Cup and the first international tours, offering a detailed political aspect of South African cricket.