Normal first-class competitions were cancelled in the 1940 to 1944 English cricket seasons because of the Second World War and no first-class matches were played in England after Friday, 1 September 1939 until Saturday, 19 May 1945.
Ten matches were cancelled at the end of the 1939 English cricket season due to the German invasion of Poland on 1 September and the British government's declaration of war against Germany on Sunday 3 September.
Although 11 first-class matches were arranged during the 1945 season, following the final defeat of Germany in early May, it was not until the 1946 season that normal first-class fixtures could resume. In contrast with much of the First World War, it was realised in the 1940s that cricket had its part to play in terms of raising both public morale and funds for charity. Efforts were made to stage matches whenever opportunity arose, especially if a suitable number of top players could be assembled. The number of matches increased after the tide of war turned in favour of the Allies after El Alamein and Stalingrad.
The Lancashire League continued throughout the war.
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In the 1940 Wisden, the cricket author H S Altham, now an Army Major, described his "sobering experience" when he visited Lord's the previous December. He said:
Altham reflected the popular (and official) view that the game can and should be kept going whenever possible.
One venue where it would not be possible was The Oval, which was commandeered in 1939 and quickly turned into a prisoner of war camp, except that no prisoners were ever interned there. The playing area became a maze of concrete posts and wire fences.
Lord's was also due for requisition but it was spared and MCC was able to stage many public schools and representative games throughout the war. A highlight in 1940 was the one-day game in which Sir PF Warner's XI, including Len Hutton and Denis Compton (who top-scored with 73), beat a West Indies XI which included Learie Constantine and Leslie Compton (an honorary West Indian for the day).
A London Counties cricket team was formed, which played a number of matches during the war years, some of them at Lord's.
From 1941 to 1945 the University Match was played annually at Lord's as a one-day, and hence not first-class, game. These matches are not included in the official records of the fixture.
A drawn one-day match at Lord's between an England XI and a West Indies XI featured the young Alec Bedser and Trevor Bailey. Bedser made his mark by taking 6/27 in the West Indies first innings. In the drawn Sir PF Warner's XI v Royal Australian Air Force match at Lord's, Keith Miller top-scored in the RAAF's first innings, with 45 out of 100, as well as taking 2/20. The RAAF won a two-day match against The South at Hove by 10 wickets. A strong England XI beat The Dominions by 8 runs in a two-day match at Lord's. Les Ames made 133 in the England first innings, and Denis Compton then took 6/15 in eight overs. In their secomd innings, The Dominions came close to snatching an unlikely victory, with Stewie Dempster making 113.
At Lord's, two one-day matches were played by an England XI against "West Indies" and "Australia", England winning both matches. (These were not limited overs matches.)
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