1751 English cricket season - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The earliest known references to cricket in each of Durham

Durham

Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...

, Somerset

Somerset

The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...

, Warwickshire

Warwickshire

Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...

and Yorkshire

Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...

are all found in the 1751 English cricket season.

The population of Great Britain

Great Britain

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

in 1751 reached 7,250,000 and, although the figure was rising, the country remained a small rural society with London the only real urban centre. Cricket reflected this scenario as it was still essentially a rural game at this time with London Cricket Club

London Cricket Club

The original London Cricket Club was formed by 1722 and was one of the foremost clubs in English cricket over the next four decades. It is closely associated with the Artillery Ground, where it played most of its home matches.-Early history of London cricket:...

at the Artillery Ground

Artillery Ground

The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is one of London's most centrally located cricket grounds, situated just off the City Road immediately north of the City of London...

its one "big club" and "big venue".

Matches

Date	Match Title	Venue	Result
13 May (M)	Surrey Surrey county cricket teams Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:... v London London Cricket Club The original London Cricket Club was formed by 1722 and was one of the foremost clubs in English cricket over the next four decades. It is closely associated with the Artillery Ground, where it played most of its home matches.-Early history of London cricket:...	Artillery Ground Artillery Ground The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is one of London's most centrally located cricket grounds, situated just off the City Road immediately north of the City of London...	result unknown
The actual title of the match as advertised beforehand was Addington, Warlingham, Croydon & Cheam versus Ripley, Thursley & London! Wickets to be pitched at one o’clock and the game was arranged by the noblemen and gentlemen of the London Club. No match details were reported afterwards.
20 & 21 May (M-Tu)	All-England All-England Eleven In cricket, the term All-England has been used for various non-international teams that have been formed for short-term purposes since the 1739 English cricket season and it indicates that the "Rest of England" is playing against, say, MCC or an individual county team... v Kent Kent county cricket teams Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport...	Artillery Ground	All-England won by 9 runs
Kent had Tom Faulkner Tom Faulkner Tom Faulkner , known as "Long Tom", was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period.A Surrey man, he was a prominent single wicket player who frequently played in challenge matches at the Artillery Ground.... (Addington Addington Cricket Club Addington is about three miles south-east of Croydon. It is only a small place but Addington Cricket Club fielded one of the strongest cricket teams in England from about the 1743 season to the 1752 season.... and Surrey) as a given man. All-England scored 26 and 122; Kent replied with 76 and 63. So 287 runs were scored in the match and this was a lot for the time, given the uncertain state of all wickets. All-England: Stephens, Richard Newland Richard Newland Richard Newland was an English cricketer in the mid-Georgian period who played for Slindon Cricket Club and Sussex under the patronage of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond. He also represented various All-England teams... , Edward Aburrow senior Edward Aburrow senior Edward Aburrow senior was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century. He was a Sussex man, believed to have been a native of the famous village of Slindon, where his son Edward "Curry" Aburrow was born.... , John Harris Harris brothers (cricketers) John Harris and his brother Joseph Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s... , Joseph Harris Harris brothers (cricketers) John Harris and his brother Joseph Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s... , John Frame John Frame (cricketer) John Frame was an English cricketer and arguably the first great fast bowler in the game's history... , Matthews, Perry, Stephen Harding Stephen Harding (cricketer) Stephen Harding was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century who played for Chertsey, All-England and Surrey. Harding was a hard-hitting batsman and a good bowler, although his style and pace is unknown... , Stephen Dingate Stephen Dingate Stephen Dingate was a leading English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period. He almost certainly began playing in the 1720s and was one of the best known players in England through the 1740s.... , A N Other. Kent: William Hodsoll William Hodsoll William Hodsoll , was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period. Hodsoll lived at Dartford for some years and was a tanner .... , Tom Faulkner Tom Faulkner Tom Faulkner , known as "Long Tom", was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period.A Surrey man, he was a prominent single wicket player who frequently played in challenge matches at the Artillery Ground.... , Stone, Wilden, Garrett, Rawlings, John Bell, Thomas Bell, Howard, James Bryant, Val Romney Val Romney Valentine "Val" Romney was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket during the 1740s. A specialist batsman, he was mainly associated with Kent but also represented All-England... . A N Other played for Thursley, as did Stephen Harding (later of Chertsey) who was a noted bowler. In England’s second innings, these two went in first and scored 51 for the first wicket, which is like a double century partnership nowadays. Harding apparently made 50 of these himself and had one hit out of the ground and against a house on Bunhill Row opposite. He was given four for this mighty effort. You could only score six if you were actually able to run that many and to do that you would need the help of overthrows. Play on the first day started at one o’clock and on the second day at ten o’clock. At the end of the first day, Kent in their second innings were 23-2, still needing 73 to win. Kent were reduced to 43-9 when the last pair came together so the final wicket added 20. For the first time ever, the fall of wickets in an innings is known. This is England’s second innings: 1 – 51, 2 – 72, 3 – 77, 4 – 77, 5 – 78, 6 – 84, 7 – 87, 8 – 119, 9 – 119, 10 – 122.
22 May (W)	All-England v Kent	Artillery Ground	All-England won by an innings & 9 runs
Kent scored 88 and 67; All-England scored 164. The teams were the same as on the two previous days and again the name of the Thursley player is unrecorded. It would seem that Kent was no longer good enough to challenge All-England. All-England: Stephens, Richard Newland Richard Newland Richard Newland was an English cricketer in the mid-Georgian period who played for Slindon Cricket Club and Sussex under the patronage of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond. He also represented various All-England teams... , Edward Aburrow senior Edward Aburrow senior Edward Aburrow senior was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century. He was a Sussex man, believed to have been a native of the famous village of Slindon, where his son Edward "Curry" Aburrow was born.... , John Harris Harris brothers (cricketers) John Harris and his brother Joseph Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s... , Joseph Harris Harris brothers (cricketers) John Harris and his brother Joseph Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s... , John Frame John Frame (cricketer) John Frame was an English cricketer and arguably the first great fast bowler in the game's history... , Matthews, Perry, Stephen Harding Stephen Harding (cricketer) Stephen Harding was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century who played for Chertsey, All-England and Surrey. Harding was a hard-hitting batsman and a good bowler, although his style and pace is unknown... , Stephen Dingate Stephen Dingate Stephen Dingate was a leading English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period. He almost certainly began playing in the 1720s and was one of the best known players in England through the 1740s.... , A N Other (of Thursley). Kent: William Hodsoll William Hodsoll William Hodsoll , was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period. Hodsoll lived at Dartford for some years and was a tanner .... , Tom Faulkner Tom Faulkner Tom Faulkner , known as "Long Tom", was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period.A Surrey man, he was a prominent single wicket player who frequently played in challenge matches at the Artillery Ground.... , Stone, Wilden, Garrett, Rawlings, John Bell, Thomas Bell, Howard, James Bryant, Val Romney Val Romney Valentine "Val" Romney was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket during the 1740s. A specialist batsman, he was mainly associated with Kent but also represented All-England... .
1 June (S)	Addington Addington Cricket Club Addington is about three miles south-east of Croydon. It is only a small place but Addington Cricket Club fielded one of the strongest cricket teams in England from about the 1743 season to the 1752 season.... v Hadlow Hadlow Cricket Club Hadlow Cricket Club was one of the early English cricket clubs, formed in the early to mid eighteenth century. Hadlow is a village in the Medway valley near Tonbridge in Kent.-The historical club:...	Hayes Common, Bromley	result unknown
Pre-announced in the Daily Advertiser on Thursday 30 May.
24 June (M)	Surrey Surrey county cricket teams Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:... v Middlesex Middlesex county cricket teams Middlesex county cricket teams have been traced back to the 18th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Given that the first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford, it is almost certain that the game had reached...	Kennington Common	result unknown
Announced in the Daily Advertiser same day with a one o’clock start.
23 July (Tu)	Dartford Dartford Cricket Club Dartford Cricket Club is one of the oldest in England and its origins go back to the early 18th century, perhaps earlier.See also: Dartford Brent... v Bromley Bromley Cricket Club Bromley Cricket Club was one of the strongest English cricket clubs in the mid-18th century when its team was led by Robert Colchin aka "Long Robin".-Earliest mentions:...	Dartford Brent Dartford Brent Dartford Brent was an extensive area of common land on the outskirts of Dartford in Kent. In history, it was the scene of a confrontation between King Henry VI and Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York in 1452; and in 1555 thousands of spectators were to witness the burning to death at the stake of...	result unknown
This was played for one hundred guineas. Apparently, there was a challenge from the Newmarket players to take on 22 of the players in this game for any sum, but nothing further is known about it.
1 August (Th)	Bromley v Dartford	Bromley Common Bromley Common Bromley Common is the area centered around the road of the same name, stretching between Masons Hill at the south end of Bromley and Hastings Road, Locksbottom. Part of the A21...	result unknown
This was a return to the match on 23 July.
19 August (M)	London v Country XI	Artillery Ground	London won by 5 runs
London scored 30 and 5; the Country XI replied with 24 and 6.
4 September (W)	Richmond v Kingston & Hampton	Moulsey Hurst Moulsey Hurst Moulsey Hurst is located in what is now West Molesey, Surrey on the south bank of the River Thames above Molesey Lock. It is one of England's oldest sporting venues and was used in the 18th and 19th centuries for cricket, prizefighting and other sports....	result unknown
Announced in the Daily Advertiser on Monday 2 September: for two guineas a man; 11 a side, and to play home & home (sic).

Other events

Having lost the Duke of Richmond

Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond

The 2nd Duke of Richmond has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played cricket as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom...

in 1750, cricket was hit by the death of another significant patron, the Prince of Wales, on 31 March. The loss of these patrons had an adverse impact on the game’s finances and the number of top-class matches reduced for some years to come, although economic difficulties arising from the wars of the period certainly inhibited many potential investors. It was said that the Prince of Wales died as a result of being struck on the head by a cricket ball. He may well have been hit on the head but that did not kill him; the cause of death was a burst abscess in a lung. The early death of Prince Frederick Louis meant that his son Prince George became heir to the throne and he succeeded in 1760 as George III.

The earliest reference to cricket in Durham

Durham

Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...

is a game at Raby Castle on or soon after Mon 5 August between the Earl of Northumberland’s XI and the Duke of Cleveland’s XI . The game was commemorated by a ballad which starts:

Durham City has been dull so long,

No bustle at all to show;

But now the rage of all the throng

Is at cricketing to go.

The earliest reference to cricket in Somerset

Somerset

is a match at Saltford

Saltford

Saltford is a large village and civil parish in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary authority, Somerset, England. It lies between the cities of Bristol and Bath....

Meadow, near Bath, on 13 July that was played in memory of the late Prince of Wales .

A match announcement in Aris' Gazette on 15 July is the earliest known reference to cricket in Warwickshire

Warwickshire

.

The earliest known references to cricket in Yorkshire

Yorkshire

were re local matches in Sheffield

Sheffield

Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...

and a game on or soon after Mon 5 August at Stanwick, near Richmond, between Duke of Cleveland’s XI and Earl of Northumberland’s XI (the same teams that played in Durham, as noted above) .

Mon 3 June. A "fives" match was played in the Artillery Ground

Artillery Ground

The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is one of London's most centrally located cricket grounds, situated just off the City Road immediately north of the City of London...

between Kent and Surrey. The Kent team was Tom Faulkner

Tom Faulkner

Tom Faulkner , known as "Long Tom", was a noted English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period.A Surrey man, he was a prominent single wicket player who frequently played in challenge matches at the Artillery Ground....

(given man), John Bell, Thomas Bell, Stone and Val Romney

Val Romney

Valentine "Val" Romney was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket during the 1740s. A specialist batsman, he was mainly associated with Kent but also represented All-England...

. The Surrey team was Stephen Dingate

Stephen Dingate

Stephen Dingate was a leading English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period. He almost certainly began playing in the 1720s and was one of the best known players in England through the 1740s....

, John Harris

Harris brothers (cricketers)

John Harris and his brother Joseph Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s...

, Joseph Harris

Harris brothers (cricketers)

John Harris and his brother Joseph Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s...

, Stephen Harding

Stephen Harding (cricketer)

Stephen Harding was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century who played for Chertsey, All-England and Surrey. Harding was a hard-hitting batsman and a good bowler, although his style and pace is unknown...

and Perry. Kent won although the betting was in favour of Surrey .

Wed 5 June. The same two teams met in a return match at the Artillery Ground with Kent winning by 14 runs. Kent scored 4 and 57; Surrey replied with 26 and 21. Kent made a huge improvement in their second innings!

Four matches were played at Newmarket and Woburn between Gentlemen of England and Eton College Past & Present. The four games were played during June and July. The second game has a surviving scorecard but the teams in all four matches are decidedly minor .

Matches

Other events

External sources

Further reading