Argentina national cricket team

Cricket has been played in Argentina since 1806, with the international side making its first appearance in 1868 against Uruguay.[8] Argentina faced Uruguay 29 times up until World War II, winning 21 of the matches. The team had previously played against Brazil in 1888 and then against Chile in 1893. For its first match against Chile, the national team had to travel to Santiago by crossing the Andes by mule, which took three and a half days.

Argentina first played first-class cricket in 1912 against the Marylebone Cricket Club.[9] The national team played a three match series against the visitors, winning the first game,[10] but losing the second[11] and third.[12] The teams were made up almost exclusively of British expatriates who were mostly employed on the railways, in export or in farming.[13]

Between the wars, infrequent fixtures were played against Brazil and Argentina, and were at that time included in Wisden's cricket records.[14] First-class matches were played against an elderly[15] MCC side in 1926/27, Sir Julien Cahn's XI in 1930 and Sir Theodore Brinckman's XI in 1937/38.[9] The four-match series against the MCC was lost 2–1, with one game drawn.[16] The three-match series against Sir Julien Cahn's XI finished with two draws, Cahn's XI winning the first game[17] and the series against Brinkman's XI was drawn 1–1.[18] That series was Argentina's last involvement in first-class cricket to date.[9]

J.H. Paul, captain of the national team in 1925.

In 1932 a South American team consisting mainly of Argentine-based players toured England. It played seven first class matches and twelve other fixtures.[19]

A two match series against Chile in December 1938 was won by Argentina,[20] the second match of which saw the interesting occurrence of Argentina's Alfred Jackson playing against his brother John Jackson.[21]

Leading players during this period were the Ayling brothers, K. Bush (who also played for Brazil), D. Cavanagh, Herbert Dorning (the so-called "Grand Old Man of Argentine Cricket") and Donald Forrester.[13]

A strong club scene existed until the 1950s with Belgrano, BACA, Lomas and Hurlingham. This resulted in a relatively strong national side. Railway and Bank teams disbanded after the war along with the formerly strong San Isidro side. The national side sank to a low level, being heavily beaten by MCC in 1958–59.[22]

By 2010, cricket had made some positive strides in Argentina even if the national side was struggling somewhat.

San Jorges, Lomas, Belgrano, Hurlingham and San Albano were as strong as they had been for some time along with Buenos Aires Cricket and Rugby Club, which was once again fielding sides after a long absence. Bedes Grammar School and Club Atletico Rosario were both working their way through the lower divisions of the domestic league and supplying many players to the national age group squads, while an Academy side had been introduced into the First Division in response to the growing number of young players from the Italian/Spanish majority that were taking up the sport.

Previously the club competition had been kept alive largely by Anglo-Argentines – many of whom were descendants of well known cricketing identities in the country going right back to the early 20th century. In all, more than 30 teams at senior level comprised from the eight clubs were competing in four divisions and there was also a quickly growing ladies league.

Argentina participated in the first ICC Trophy in 1979[23] but missed the second in 1982 which was played in England and started only two days after the conclusion of Falklands War.[24] They returned for the 1986 ICC Trophy[25] and played in every one following that until the 2001 event. They did not qualify for the 2005 tournament.[26]

The Argentina team of 1921.

Argentina hosted and won the first South American Championship in 1995[27] and still play in the tournament today, though they now send an "A" team.[28] They also participated in the first ICC Americas Championship in 2000, finishing 5th.[29] MCC visited again in March 2001, winning both matches.[30]

Argentina hosted the Americas Championship in 2002, finishing sixth.[31] MCC toured again in 2004, drawing the series 1–1.[32] Later that year, Argentina finished 5th in the Americas Championship.[33]

In 2006, the Americas Championship was split into two divisions and Argentina were placed in Division Two. They won the Division Two tournament and were promoted to Division One in Canada that August,[34] where they finished 5th.[35]

In 2008 they finished 5th with only one victory coming against newcomers Suriname. The inclusion of coach Hamish Barton in the team proved successfully specially when he scored 99 not out against Canada. Argentina ended being beaten in a nail-biting finish by 1 wicket.

This originally qualified them for Division Five of the World Cricket League, but they were placed in Division Three following the suspension of the USA from international cricket.[36] They finished as runners-up to Uganda in the tournament and qualified for Division Two in Windhoek, Namibia.

Following their promotion, in November 2007, Argentina traveled to Namibia to take part in Division Two of the ICC World Cricket League. They played Denmark, the hosts, Oman and the UAE in addition to the other qualifier from Division Three; Uganda. Division Two proved to be a step too far for Argentina, as they lost all their group matches and then lost to Uganda in a positional playoff and finished sixth. On the basis of their sixth-place finish in this tournament, Argentina were relegated back to Division Three for the 2009 tournament which Argentina hosted from 24 to 31 January 2009. However, Argentina again struggled, losing all five of their games to finish bottom of the table and were relegated to the Division Four. In Division 4 their downfall continued and lost all the games thus relegated to Division Five. Then again in Division 5 they lost all the matches and have now been relegated to Division Six. Argentina have lost considerable form over time and with present ways they may go down the WCL structure.

In 2013, Argentina took part in Division Six of the World Cricket League and came fourth. In normal circumstances it meant they will play Div 6 in 2015 but ICC is going for a change of structure of World Cricket League and Argentina might go out of the WCL Structure unless they fight back which looks tough.

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Argentina and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will be a full T20I.[37]

Argentina played their first T20I match against Mexico on 3 October 2019 during the 2019 South American Cricket Championship in Peru

3 October 2019 08:30 Scorecard

Mexico  46/8 (12 overs)	v	Argentina 47/1 (6.3 overs)
Tarun Sharma 22 (21) Hernán Fennell 2/3 (1 over)		Hernán Fennell 25* (17) Luis Hermida 1/17 (2 overs)

Argentina won by 9 wickets El Cortijo Polo Club Pitch 1, Lima Umpires: Oscar Andrade (Ber) and Sandeep Harnal (Can)

• Argentina won the toss and elected to field.
• The match was reduced to 12 overs per side.
• First ever T20I match for Argentina.

In October 2019, Argentina won 2019 South American Cricket Championship after defeating Mexico by four wickets in the final[38]

• 2007: Division Three runners-up[39]
• 2007: Division Two Sixth place
• 2009: Division Three Sixth place
• 2010: Division Four Sixth place
• 2012: Division Five Sixth place
• 2013: Division Six Fourth place

• 1979: First round[23]
• 1982: Did not participate[24]
• 1986: First round[25]
• 1990: Plate competition[40]
• 1994: Plate competition[41]
• 1997: 20th place[42]
• 2001: First round[43]
• 2005: Did not qualify[26]
• 2009: Did not qualify
• 2014: Did not qualify

• 2000: 5th place[29]
• 2002: 6th place[31]
• 2004: 5th place[33]
• 2006: Division Two winners,[34] 5th place (Division One)[35]
• 2008: 5th place (Division One)
• 2010: 4th place (Division 1 – 50 overs)

• 1995: 1st place
• 1997: 1st place
• 1999: 1st place
• 2000-2018[44]
• 2019: 1st place[38]

• 2018-19: 3rd/3 (Southern sub region)
• 2021: 4th/7

• Highest team total: 171/4 v. Belize on 10 November 2021 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.[46]
• Highest individual score: 86*, Alejandro Ferguson v. Belize on 10 November 2021 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.[47]
• Best individual bowling figures: 6/18, Hernán Fennell v. Panama on 10 November 2021 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua.[48]

T20I record versus other nations[45]

Records complete to T20I #2323. Last updated 20 October 2023.

Opponent	M	W	L	T	NR	First match	First win
vs Associate Members
Bahamas	2	1	1	0	0	8 November 2021	2 March 2023
Belize	1	1	0	0	0	10 November 2021	10 November 2021
Bermuda	4	0	4	0	0	14 November 2021
Brazil	1	1	0	0	0	4 October 2019	4 October 2019
Canada	1	0	1	0	0	13 November 2021
Cayman Islands	1	0	1	0	0	4 March 2023
Chile	2	2	0	0	0	5 October 2019	5 October 2019
Mexico	3	3	0	0	0	3 October 2019	3 October 2019
Panama	2	1	1	0	0	10 November 2021	10 November 2021
Peru	1	1	0	0	0	4 October 2019	4 October 2019
United States	1	0	1	0	0	11 November 2021

• Matias Paterlini – 114* vs Namibia at United Cricket Club, Windhoek on 25 November 2007
• Martin Siri – 78 vs Jersey at Grainville, St Saviour on 25 July 2013
• Donald Forrester – 71 vs Uganda at Trans Namib Ground, Windhoek on 1 December 2007
• Lucas Paterlini – 70 vs Cayman Islands at Belgrano ACG, Buenos Aires on 28 January 2009
• Alejandro Ferguson – 66* vs Oman at Trans Namib Ground, Windhoek on 24 November 2007

Best bowling figures

• Esteban Nino – 4/16 vs Fiji at Kahlin Oval, Darwin on 30 May 2007
• Esteban MacDermott – 4/20 vs Cayman Islands at Gardens Oval, Darwin on 31 May 2007
• Esteban MacDermott – 4/22 vs PNG at Gardens Oval, Darwin on 28 May 2007
• Diego Lord – 4/34 vs PNG at St Albans Club, Buenos Aires on 25 January 2009
• Lucas Paterlini – 4/45 vs Kuwait at Farmers Cricket Club Ground, St Martin on 24 July 2013