It has been a tradition since the 1930s for a visiting international cricket team to play the first match of the season at the New Road Ground, Worcester. Many of the touring sides from all over the world decided to visit the Royal Worcester porcelain factory as part of their visit. The visits were commemorated by the production of a special plate to mark the event, decorated with copies of all the signatures of the members of the touring side and an acid etched gold border.
The team were asked to sign a book and a skilled engraver would copy the signatures onto a copper plate. The signatures would then be printed in gold onto bone china plates.
Each member of the Touring Side was given a plate with the option to buy a second one if they wished. A few extra plates were made, one for Lords Museum and a few for sale to specialist collectors and some officials. Altogether about 50 or 60 plates were made on each occasion. The extra ‘Ashes’ plate, produced in 1953, was different to the others in the series as it included the signatures of both teams.
The following plates were produced:
1938 | Australia (3 May) |
1949 | New Zealand (June) |
1950 | West Indies (9 May) |
1952 | India |
1953 | Australia |
1953 | Ashes plate |
1954 | Pakistan |
1955 | South Africa |
1956 | Australia |
1957 | West Indies (1 May) |
1958 | New Zealand |
1960 | South Africa (4 May) |
1962 | Pakistan (2 May) |
1963 | West Indies (1 May) |
1964 | Australia |
1965 | New Zealand |
1966 | West Indies (4 May) |
1967 | India |
1967 | Pakistan (22 Aug) |
1968 | Australia |
1969 | West Indies |
1972 | Australia (1 May) |
1973 | New Zealand (30 April) |
Other Cricketing commemoratives included:
1964 | Worcester County Cricket Club, County Champions cigarette box and dish |
1964 | Worcester County Cricket Club, County Champions Bowl |
1973 | Plate made to celebrate 1,000 runs by Glen Turner (May 1973) |
1977 | Ice pail, Centenary of Test Matches Australia Vs England 1877–1977 |
1991 | Plate made for Somerset County Cricket Club, 100 years of Championship Cricket 1891–1991 |
1999 | Double figurine, Worcester County Cricket 1899–1999 |