Although Australia declared war on Germany immediately after the British declaration on 3 September 1939, there was a view prevalent in the country that favoured “business as usual” and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) was urged by the Prime Minister, Robert Menzies, to comply with this and stage the 1939–40 Sheffield Shield competition "for the morale of the people".
[1] In 1940–41, however, the Sheffield Shield was not contested but ten first-class “friendly” matches were played between the States for patriotic funds;[2] however financially these were unsuccessful.
With the lifting of weekday sport bans after the Pacific War ended in 1945, first-class cricket in Australia resumed on 23 November at the Gabba between Queensland and New South Wales, though the Sheffield Shield was not awarded until 1946–47.
[8] Numerous famous first-class players took part in these matches, including veteran bowling champion Grimmett and future batting star Neil Harvey.
The initial impact of the Second World War on English cricket was the premature conclusion of the West Indian tour in the immediate aftermath of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact which was signed on Wednesday, 23 August.
The final matches played before the war were six County Championship games that began on Wednesday, 30 August and were completed on or before Friday, 1 September, the day the Wehrmacht invaded Poland.
[14] H. S. Altham wrote in 1940 about a visit to Lord's in December 1939 as "a sobering experience; there were sandbags everywhere and the Long Room was stripped bare with its treasures safely stored below ground".
[15] In the 1940 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, author R. C. Robertson-Glasgow reviewed the 1939 season and remarked that it was "like peeping through the wrong end of a telescope at a very small but happy world".
[16] Although German intentions were clear throughout the summer of 1939, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) selectors went ahead with choosing a team of available players for the scheduled tour of India in the autumn and winter of 1939–40.
The tour was cancelled as soon as war broke out and many of the chosen players lost their only chance of representing England in Test cricket.
[36] His first priority was to work with the Royal Air Force (RAF) who occupied most of the Lord's estate including the practice ground and all buildings.
The playing area was unaffected and the pavilion and the stands were always available for cricket; Warner paid tribute to the RAF authorities for their considerable help in enabling him to organise matches.
Until 1945, the majority of matches were one-day only, owing to time constraints imposed by the needs of the services, with a single innings each, but they were not limited overs and so the result could be a draw.
This policy had varying success with Yorkshire declaring an increased surplus and Worcestershire, for example, only a slight improvement while Leicestershire needed funds granted by Sir Julien Cahn to keep going.
[43] The West Indian team that toured England in 1939 left the country in late August when it became clear that the outbreak of war was imminent.
During World War II, a small number of first-class matches were organised each season on an ad hoc basis.
Denis Compton, Joe Hardstaff junior and Reg Simpson were stationed in India during the war and took part in domestic cricket there.