1753 English cricket season
Cricket season review
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The first mentions of Hambledon and Broadhalfpenny Down are found in the 1753 English cricket season. Only a handful of matches, including one significant single wicket event, are on record.[note 1]
The season may be said to mark the beginning of the so-called "Hambledon Era". The Hambledon team made its first recorded appearance in a match against Surrey. Hambledon was then probably run by a parish organisation, rather than by the famous club itself, which is believed to have been formed in the 1760s. There was a second nod to the future when London Cricket Club played against Marylebone, a team which had no connection with MCC (founded in 1787).
Hambledon v Surrey
There was a match on 7 & 8 August in Hambledon hosted Surrey. The Hambledon Club per se probably didn't exist at this time. Its foundation is generally believed to have been in the 1760s, so the team in 1753 must have been either a parish eleven or a Hampshire county team. The latter option arises because the team wasn't limited to local players. John Lucas, of Portsmouth, scored 82 in Hambledon's first innings. Following Richard Newland's 88 in 1745, Lucas' innings is the second-highest known score by any batsman before 1769. Hambledon scored 202 and 105; Surrey scored 131 and 63. Hambledon won by 113 runs. The match was played on Broadhalfpenny Down, its first mention in connection with cricket.[5]
Single wicket
Monday, 10 September. Two of London were to play Tom Faulkner and Joe Harris for £20 at the Artillery Ground.[6]
Other events
- On 6 & 7 August, Dover hosted Dartford and won by 7 runs. Dover scored 57 and 83; Dartford scored 95 and 38.[7][8]
- A benefit match was staged 15 August on the Artillery Ground[7] for a Mr Anderson of the Dial in Long Alley, Moorfields. The teams were unnamed and no result has been recorded. There was a well-known player called William Anderson, first mentioned in 1745, so possibly this was he. The two elevens were made up of various players from the general London area with "the best bowlers to be parted".[8]
- On 30 August, London played Marylebone (no connection with Marylebone Cricket Club).[7] This was on the Artillery Ground, but the result is unknown. Marylebone had Tall Bennett and William King as given men.[6]
- A poem, dedicated to the 1st Duke of Dorset, refers to a crimson cricket ball.[9] It may have been made by Mr Clout, first noted in 1743, whose firm was in Sevenoaks where the Dukes of Dorset reside at Knole House. Clout was "the first cricket ball maker of any pretension".[10] The better-known equipment manufacturing firm of Dukes was founded 1760 in Penshurst.[11]
First mentions
Clubs and teams
Players
- William King (London)[6]
- John Lucas (Hambledon)[5]
Venues
- Broadhalfpenny Down[5]
- Dover (unspecified)[8]
Notes
- Some eleven-a-side matches played from 1772 to 1863 have been rated "first-class" by certain sources.[1] However, the term only came into common use around 1864, when overarm bowling was legalised. It was formally defined as a standard by a meeting at Lord's, in May 1894, of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the county clubs which were then competing in the County Championship. The ruling was effective from the beginning of the 1895 season, but pre-1895 matches of the same standard have no official definition of status because the ruling is not retrospective.[2] Matches of a similar standard since the beginning of the 1864 season are generally considered to have an unofficial first-class status.[3] Pre-1864 matches which are included in the ACS' "Important Match Guide" may generally be regarded as important or, at least, historically significant.[4] For further information, see First-class cricket.