# Inter-Colonial Tournament

The Inter-Colonial Tournament was the main first class cricket competition in the West Indies held between 1892–93 and 1938-39.

## Competing teams

* Barbados
* British Guiana
* Trinidad
In the early tournaments British Guiana were sometimes referred to as Demerara. For simplicity British Guiana is used in the article.
The tournament was restricted to Amateurs. This excluded many of the leading black cricketers who were often Professionals.

## Origins

A tournament between Barbados, British Guiana and Trinidad took place in 1891. Each team played the other, and then there was a final between the leading two teams. During this tournament a suggestion was made by Hon. Aucher Warner that there should be a regular series of matches between the three colonies to be played alternately at each colony.
By the time of the next tournament in 1893, a cup had been subscribed for but British Guiana were unable to take part, Barbados being winners again. This 1893 match is regarded as the first proper tournament.
Barbados as winners of the 1893 tournament were automatic finalists for the 1895 tournament, the other two teams playing to decide who would play them. The same procedure was used in the subsequent tournaments.
Due to travel costs and logistics of travelling to the other colonies, Jamaica never took part in the Inter-Colonial Tournament.

## Results

| Series | Dates | Season | Finalists | Finalists | Hosts | Venue |
| Series | Dates | Season | Winner | Loser | Hosts | Venue |
| | 1–10 Sep 1891 | 1891–92 | Barbados | Trinidad | Barbados | Bay Pasture, Bridgetown |
| 1st | 15–18 Sep 1893 | 1893–94 | Barbados | Trinidad | Trinidad | Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain |
| 2nd | 29 Aug-4 Sep 1895 | 1895–96 | British Guiana | Barbados | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 3rd | 7–14 Sep 1897 | 1897–98 | Barbados | British Guiana | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 4th | 10–18 Jan 1900 | 1899-1900 | Barbados | British Guiana | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 5th | 18–24 Sep 1901 | 1901–02 | Trinidad | Barbados | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 6th | 20–28 Jan 1904 | 1903–04 | Trinidad | Barbados | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 7th | 8–14 Jan 1906 | 1905–06 | Barbados | Trinidad | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 8th | 12–18 Sep 1907 | 1907–08 | Trinidad | Barbados | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 9th | 13–21 Jan 1909 | 1908–09 | Barbados | Trinidad | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 10th | 19–27 Jan 1910 | 1909–10 | Trinidad | Barbados | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 11th | 19–27 Sep 1910 | 1910–11 | Barbados | Trinidad | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 12th | 12–20 Jan 1912 | 1911–12 | Barbados | Trinidad | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 13th | 14–24 Sep 1921 | 1921–22 | Unfinished | Unfinished | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 14th | 23 Sep-2 Oct 1922 | 1922–23 | Barbados | Trinidad | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 15th | 14–22 Feb 1924 | 1923–24 | Barbados | Trinidad | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 16th | 6–16 Feb 1925 | 1924–25 | Trinidad | Barbados | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 17th | 1–12 Oct 1926 | 1925–26 | Trinidad | British Guiana | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 18th | 17 Jan-1 Feb 1927 | 1926–27 | Barbados | Trinidad | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 19th | 31 Jan-7 Feb 1929 | 1928–29 | Trinidad | Barbados | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 20th | 24 Sep-8 Oct 1929 | 1929–30 | British Guiana | Trinidad | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 21st | 16–29 Jan 1932 | 1931–32 | Trinidad | British Guiana | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 22nd | 26 Jan-9 Feb 1934 | 1933–34 | Trinidad | Barbados | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 23rd | 21 Sep-3 Oct 1934 | 1934–35 | British Guiana | Trinidad | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 24th | 29 Jan-7 Feb 1936 | 1935–36 | British Guiana | Trinidad | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
| 25th | 16–29 Jan 1937 | 1936–37 | Trinidad | British Guiana | Trinidad | Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain |
| 26th | 27 Sep-9 Oct 1937 | 1937–38 | British Guiana | Trinidad | British Guiana | Bourda, Georgetown |
| 27th | 7–14 Jan 1939 | 1938–39 | Trinidad | British Guiana | Barbados | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown |
British Guiana did not take part in 1893–94. The 13th series was unfinished, the final between Trinidad and Barbados being left drawn with the Barbados team needing to catch the boat home.
Initially the tournament was held every two years but after the 8th series it became an annual event although a number of years were missed for various reasons.

## Summary

Of the 27 official series Trinidad won 11, Barbados won 10 and British Guiana won 5 with one unfinished.
Trinidad competed in 24 of the 27 finals, Barbados 19 and British Guiana 11.
In matches between Trinidad and Barbados, Trinidad won 11 and Barbados won 9 with 1 drawn. In matches between Trinidad and British Guiana, Trinidad won 13 and British Guiana won 6. In matches between Barbados and British Guiana, Barbados won 8 and British Guiana won 5.