James Bryant (Kent cricketer)
Encyclopedia
James Bryant was an English professional cricket
er who played first-class cricket
during the 1740s. He was mainly associated with Bromley Cricket Club
and Kent
. Although information about his career is limited by a lack of surviving data, he is known to have made 11 single wicket
and 11 first-class appearances between 1744 and 1751. His brother was John Bryant.
in which his brother also played. They were on opposite sides: James teamed with Robert Colchin
and Joe Harris
; John with Val Romney
and Thomas Waymark
.
During the next three seasons, the Bryants were regularly involved in major fixtures, both first-class and single wicket. In 1747, they played for Kent against All-England
in the biggest first-class match of the season. In early August 1747, there were two single wicket matches at the Artillery Ground which were organised by the 2nd Duke of Richmond
. In the first, three of his employees Stephen Dingate
, Joseph Rudd
and Pye
defeated Little Bennett, Tall Bennett
and William Anderson
. In the second, the same threes were to play again but in a "fives" match with the two Bryants added to the Duke's team and with Tom Faulkner
and one of Joe
or John Harris
to their opponents. The result of the second game is unknown.
1748 was the great year of single wicket, which has never been more popular before or since. There were five matches in which both Bryants took part and one which featured John only.
In 1749, the brothers were "given men" playing for Surrey
against All-England and then both played for Colchin's invitation XI against Stephen Dingate
's team. There was a tri-series of matches between Kent and Surrey in 1750 with the brothers both playing for Kent, who won the first and third matches of the series, the decider by 1 wicket. Later in the season, they played for Dartford
as given men against Addington
, Dartford winning the match by 6 runs, and then for Dingate's "fives" team in a tri-series against Tom Faulkner
's side.
James Bryant made his last known appearances in 1751 when he was in the Kent team that lost twice to All-England in May. John did not play in these matches. There were two Bromley v Dartford games later in the 1751 season but it is not known who took part. James Bryant died four years later.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
during the 1740s. He was mainly associated with Bromley Cricket Club
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:...
and 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...
. Although information about his career is limited by a lack of surviving data, he is known to have made 11 single wicket
Single Wicket
Single wicket cricket is a form of cricket played between two individuals, who take turns to bat and bowl against each other. The one bowling is assisted by a team of fielders, who remain as fielders at the change of innings. The winner is the one who scores more runs...
and 11 first-class appearances between 1744 and 1751. His brother was John Bryant.
Cricket career
The first definite mention of James Bryant occurs on Monday, 1 October 1744, in a lucrative "threes" match at the Artillery GroundArtillery 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...
in which his brother also played. They were on opposite sides: James teamed with Robert Colchin
Robert Colchin
Robert "Long Robin" Colchin was a highly influential professional English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period at a time when the single wicket version of the game was popular.-Cricket career:...
and Joe Harris
Joe Harris (cricketer)
Joseph Harris and his brother John Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s...
; John with 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...
and Thomas Waymark
Thomas Waymark
Thomas Waymark was an English professional cricketer in the first half of the 18th century...
.
During the next three seasons, the Bryants were regularly involved in major fixtures, both first-class and single wicket. In 1747, they played for Kent against 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...
in the biggest first-class match of the season. In early August 1747, there were two single wicket matches at the Artillery Ground which were organised by the 2nd 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 the first, three of his employees 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....
, Joseph Rudd
Joseph Rudd
Joseph Rudd was an English cricketer who played for Sussex during the 1740s.-Career:Rudd is mentioned in reports from 1747 to 1749. In the 1747 and 1748 seasons, he was reported to have played in a total of four single wicket matches, all at the Artillery Ground...
and Pye
Pye (Sussex cricketer)
Pye was an English cricketer who played for Sussex during the 1740s.-Career:In the 1747 and 1748 seasons, he was reported to have played in a total of three single wicket matches, all at the Artillery Ground...
defeated Little Bennett, Tall Bennett
Tall Bennett
"Tall" Bennett was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for London Cricket Club in the 1740s and 1750s. He was almost certainly the brother of the player known as Little Bennett...
and William Anderson
William Anderson (cricketer)
William Anderson was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century who was principally associated with the famous London Cricket Club....
. In the second, the same threes were to play again but in a "fives" match with the two Bryants added to the Duke's team and with 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....
and one of Joe
Joe Harris (cricketer)
Joseph Harris and his brother John Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s...
or John Harris
Joe Harris (cricketer)
Joseph Harris and his brother John Harris were English cricketers in the 1740s and 1750s...
to their opponents. The result of the second game is unknown.
1748 was the great year of single wicket, which has never been more popular before or since. There were five matches in which both Bryants took part and one which featured John only.
In 1749, the brothers were "given men" playing for 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:...
against All-England and then both played for Colchin's invitation XI against 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....
's team. There was a tri-series of matches between Kent and Surrey in 1750 with the brothers both playing for Kent, who won the first and third matches of the series, the decider by 1 wicket. Later in the season, they played for 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...
as given men against 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....
, Dartford winning the match by 6 runs, and then for Dingate's "fives" team in a tri-series against 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....
's side.
James Bryant made his last known appearances in 1751 when he was in the Kent team that lost twice to All-England in May. John did not play in these matches. There were two Bromley v Dartford games later in the 1751 season but it is not known who took part. James Bryant died four years later.