In the 1788 English cricket season, MCC became the game's lawgiver.

Fri 30 May. A revised set of Laws

Laws of cricket

The laws of cricket are a set of rules established by the Marylebone Cricket Club which describe the laws of cricket worldwide, to ensure uniformity and fairness. There are currently 42 laws, which outline all aspects of how the game is played from how a team wins a game, how a batsman is...

 was issued by the Cricket Club at Marylebone, formerly the White Conduit Club

White Conduit Club

The White Conduit Club, although short-lived, was perhaps the most significant club in cricket history for it bridged the gulf between the rural and rustic Hambledon era and the new, modern and metropolitan era of MCC and Lord's, the two entities that it spawned.We do not know for certain when the...

. This action confirmed MCC as the body in sole charge of the Laws.

Matches

Date	Match Title	Venue	Source	Result
26–28 May (M-W)	Earl of Winchilsea v Sir H Mann	Lord's (Dorset Square)	SB81	Earl of Winchilsea's XI won by 106 runs
David Harris took ten wickets in the match for the losing side
4 June (W)	Surrey v Windsor Forest	Warfield	WDC	WF won by 206 runs
5–7 June (Th-S)	Paulet's XI v G East's XI	Lord's (Dorset Square)	SB81	Paulet's XI won by 25 runs
George Louch George Louch George Louch was an English cricketer and match organiser during the 18th century. He was especially noted for his fielding and was an early stalwart of Marylebone Cricket Club.He was a native of Chatham and was evidently educated at Westminster...  of East's XI took five catches. He was noted for his close fielding skills.
9–10 June (M-Tu)	Surrey v Hampshire	Moulsey Hurst	SB82	Surrey won by 9 wkts
Surrey bowlers Lumpy and Butcher Butcher (Surrey cricketer) Butcher refers to an English cricketer who was one of the most outstanding professional bowlers of the late 18th century. No personal details have been traced and knowledge of him is limited to what is in match reports and scorecards....  dismissed Hampshire for 59 and 63.
13 June (F)	Hornchurch v Moulsey Hurst	Langton Park, Hornchurch	FL18	result unknown
17–18 June (Tu-W)	Hampshire v All-England	Stoke Down	SB83	Hampshire won by innings & 76 runs
27 June (F)	MCC v White Conduit	Lord's (Dorset Square)	SB83	MCC won by 83 runs
This game is the earliest MCC match of which the score has survived and so it is of great historical interest. It is in S&B and also in the ACS list but the WCC team includes only one recognised player (Mr C Anguish) and there are understandable doubts about its quality. Historical importance is the reason for its major classification.
2–4 July (W-F)	Hampshire v Surrey	Perriam Down	SB84	Hampshire won by 4 wkts
9–11 July (W-F)	Earl of Winchilsea v Mr Assheton Smith	Perriam Downs, Luggershall	WDC	Smith’s XI won by 3 wkts
14 July (M)	Hampshire v Surrey	Odiham	FL18	result unknown
15–18 July (Tu-F)	Surrey v Kent	Moulsey Hurst	SB85	Surrey won by innings & 65 runs
Tom Walker Thomas Walker (cricketer) Thomas "Tom" Walker was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire in the days of the Hambledon Club and later for Surrey. He was famous for his brilliant defensive batting. He is also credited with introducing, roundarm bowling, the predecessor of modern overarm bowling.-Career:Walker was born...  top-scored for Surrey with 93* and it is believed he opened and so carried his bat.
24–25 July (Th-F)	All-England v Hampshire	Sevenoaks Vine	SB85	Hampshire won by 53 runs
John Crawte John Crawte John Crawte was an English cricketer who played mainly for Kent. Crawte was a right-handed batsman...  made his known debut in major cricket for All-England A partial score exists of a minor game between Eastbourne and Alfriston that was played on or about 26 July (FLPV).
29–31 July (Tu-Th)	Kent v All-England	Coxheath	SB86	All-England won by innings & 80 runs
George Louch George Louch George Louch was an English cricketer and match organiser during the 18th century. He was especially noted for his fielding and was an early stalwart of Marylebone Cricket Club.He was a native of Chatham and was evidently educated at Westminster...  took six catches in the match for All-England ACS Guide has this game on 22–24 July which means it clashed with the Sevenoaks game starting on 24 July that featured most of the same players. S&B has the game on 29–31 July and this date seems the more likely.
5-7 Aug (Tu-Th)	Kent v Surrey	Bishopsbourne	SB87	Surrey won by 37 runs
The Kent v Surrey game listed in WDC on 5 July was a wrongly dated duplicate of the 5-7 Aug game.
13-15 Aug (W-F)	Hampshire v Surrey	Windmill Down	SB87	Hampshire won by 4 wkts
Andrew Freemantle Andrew Freemantle Andrew Freemantle was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire during the Hambledon Era and afterwards...  made his known debut in major cricket for Hampshire.
26-29 Aug (Tu-F)	Sir H Mann v Earl of Winchilsea	Bishopsbourne	SB88	Mann's XI won by 75 runs
15-17 Sept (M-W)	London v Middlesex	venue unknown	FL18	London by 68 runs
22 Sept (M)	Leicester v Coventry	Lutterworth	FL18	Leicester won by 28 runs
Extensively described in FL18, p. 132-134. See also 6-7 Aug 1787.

First mentions

• Andrew Freemantle
  Andrew Freemantle
  Andrew Freemantle was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire during the Hambledon Era and afterwards...
  
  
• John Crawte
  John Crawte
  John Crawte was an English cricketer who played mainly for Kent. Crawte was a right-handed batsman...
  
  
• Henry Fitzroy
  Henry Fitzroy (cricketer)
  The Honourable Henry FitzRoy was a son of the 1st Baron of Southampton who, as a member of MCC, regularly took part in major cricket matches as an amateur player. He made 44 known appearances from the 1788 season to the 1793 season.FitzRoy is believed to have been right-handed as both batsman and...
  
  
• Annett (Hampshire cricketer)
  Annett (Hampshire cricketer)
  Annett was an English professional cricketer who made 6 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1788 to 1792.-Career:He was mainly associated with Hampshire but also represented All-England .-External sources:*...
  
   – played 6 matches from 1788 to 1792
• Hunt (Hampshire cricketer)
  Hunt (Hampshire cricketer)
  Hunt was an English professional cricketer who made 6 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1788 to 1796.-External sources:*...
  
   – played 6 matches from 1788 to 1796
• J Neale
  J Neale (Hampshire cricketer)
  J Neale was an English professional cricketer who made 3 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1788 to 1792.-External sources:*...
  
   (Hampshire; amateur) – played three matches to 1792
• Horsey
  Horsey (Hampshire cricketer)
  Horsey was an English professional cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1788 to 1789.-External sources:*...
  
   (Hampshire) – played two matches to 1789
• Eli Small
  Eli Small
  Eli Small was an English professional cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1788 to 1796. He was a son of John Small and brother of Jack Small....
  
   (Hampshire) – played two matches to 1796 (son of John Small, brother of Jack Small
  Jack Small
  John Small junior was an English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club.Jack Small made his debut in 1784, his career continuing until 1811...
  
  )
• Henry Stewart
  Henry Stewart (Hampshire cricketer)
  Henry Stewart was an English amateur cricketer who made 3 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1788 to 1806.-External sources:*...
  
   (Hampshire) – played three matches to 1806

Leading batsmen

Note that many scorecards in the 18th century are unknown or have missing details and so it is impossible to provide a complete analysis of batting performances: e.g., the missing not outs prevent computation of batting averages. The "runs scored" are in fact the runs known.

runs	player
381	William Beldham
294	Tom Walker Thomas Walker (cricketer) Thomas "Tom" Walker was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire in the days of the Hambledon Club and later for Surrey. He was famous for his brilliant defensive batting. He is also credited with introducing, roundarm bowling, the predecessor of modern overarm bowling.-Career:Walker was born...
270	Richard Purchase Richard Purchase Richard Purchase was a famous English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club.He was only 16 when he made his debut in 1773.Born in Liss, Hampshire, he played for his county in 1773 and 1774 but then did not appear again until 1781...
265	Harry Walker Harry Walker (cricketer) Harry Walker was a noted English cricketer who played mainly for Surrey...
215	James Aylward James Aylward James Aylward was a noted English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club. He was a left-handed batsman....
201	John Small
193	Noah Mann Noah Mann Noah Mann was a famous English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club....
179	John Wells John Wells (cricketer) John Wells was a famous English cricketer who played for Surrey.-Career:...

Leading bowlers

Note that the wickets credited to an 18th century bowler were only those where he bowled the batsman out. The bowler was not credited with the wickets of batsmen who were caught out, even if it was "caught and bowled". In addition, the runs conceded by each bowler were not recorded so no analyses or averages can be computed.

wkts	player
43	David Harris
36	Edward "Lumpy" Stevens
25	Robert Clifford
19	Butcher Butcher (Surrey cricketer) Butcher refers to an English cricketer who was one of the most outstanding professional bowlers of the late 18th century. No personal details have been traced and knowledge of him is limited to what is in match reports and scorecards....
18	Noah Mann Noah Mann Noah Mann was a famous English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club....
16	Richard Purchase Richard Purchase Richard Purchase was a famous English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club.He was only 16 when he made his debut in 1773.Born in Liss, Hampshire, he played for his county in 1773 and 1774 but then did not appear again until 1781...
9	Gilbert East Gilbert East Gilbert East was an English cricketer of the late 18th century who played mainly for Berkshire and the White Conduit Club...
9	Tom Taylor Thomas Taylor (cricketer) Thomas Taylor was a famous English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club. He is generally regarded as one of the most outstanding players of the 18th century....
8	William Brazier William Brazier William Brazier was a noted English cricketer of the late 18th century who played mostly for Kent....
7	William Bullen William Bullen William Bullen was an outstanding English cricketer throughout the last quarter of the 18th century. Hailing from Kent, Bullen was a great all-rounder, noted in the key sources as a fast bowler and a "powerful hitter"....
6	John Boorman John Boorman (cricketer) John Boorman was a famous English cricketer whose career spanned the 1772 season and the 1793 season....

Leading fielders

Note that many scorecards in the 18th century are unknown or have missing details and so the totals are of the known catches and stumpings only. Stumpings were not always recorded as such and sometimes the name of the wicket-keeper was not given. Generally, a catch was given the same status as "bowled" with credit being awarded to the fielder only and not the bowler. There is never a record of "caught and bowled": the bowler would be credited with the catch, not with the wicket.

ct/st	player
17	George Louch George Louch George Louch was an English cricketer and match organiser during the 18th century. He was especially noted for his fielding and was an early stalwart of Marylebone Cricket Club.He was a native of Chatham and was evidently educated at Westminster...
16	Harry Walker Harry Walker (cricketer) Harry Walker was a noted English cricketer who played mainly for Surrey...
15	William Beldham
13	Thomas Taylor Thomas Taylor (cricketer) Thomas Taylor was a famous English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club. He is generally regarded as one of the most outstanding players of the 18th century....
12	Richard Purchase Richard Purchase Richard Purchase was a famous English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club.He was only 16 when he made his debut in 1773.Born in Liss, Hampshire, he played for his county in 1773 and 1774 but then did not appear again until 1781...
11	Robert Clifford
8	William Bullen William Bullen William Bullen was an outstanding English cricketer throughout the last quarter of the 18th century. Hailing from Kent, Bullen was a great all-rounder, noted in the key sources as a fast bowler and a "powerful hitter"....
8	John Wells John Wells (cricketer) John Wells was a famous English cricketer who played for Surrey.-Career:...

External sources

• From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787
• CricketArchive match lists

Further reading

• G B Buckley, Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket, Cotterell, 1935
• Arthur Haygarth
  Arthur Haygarth
  Arthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
  
  , Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744-1826), Lillywhite, 1862
• H T Waghorn
  H T Waghorn
  Henry Thomas Waghorn , was a cricket statistician and historian. He is best known for his two classic researches into cricket's early history: The Dawn of Cricket and Cricket Scores: 1730 - 1773....
  
  , The Dawn of Cricket, Electric Press, 1906