John Bowra
Encyclopedia
John Bowra was an English professional cricket
er of the mid-Georgian period who made 5 known appearances in first-class cricket
.
in a match on Kennington Common in 1739.
Later, in the 1740s, he appeared in several great matches on the Artillery Ground
as "John Borah" and represented Kent
. He played for Robert Colchin
's XI, largely a Kent team, against Richard Newland
's XI in 1745.
Bowra is believed to have been a shepherd employed by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset to explain his title of "The Kentish Shepherd", under which he headed an eleven against "Long Tom" (i.e., Tom Faulkner
) of Surrey on Kennington Common in 1747. Earlier that season, he was a member of Robert Colchin
's XI against William Hodsoll
's XI.
Bowra's final recorded appearance was in 1749 when he again represented Colchin's XI against Stephen Dingate
's XI.
, who played in the latter part of the 18th century, is believed to have been his son.
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 of the mid-Georgian period who made 5 known appearances in 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...
.
Career
John Bowra has been identified as "Mr. Boarer", one of "three very good gamesters", who assisted LondonLondon 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:...
in a match on Kennington Common in 1739.
Later, in the 1740s, he appeared in several great matches on 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...
as "John Borah" and represented 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...
. He played for 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:...
's XI, largely a Kent team, against 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...
's XI in 1745.
Bowra is believed to have been a shepherd employed by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset to explain his title of "The Kentish Shepherd", under which he headed an eleven against "Long Tom" (i.e., 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....
) of Surrey on Kennington Common in 1747. Earlier that season, he was a member of 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:...
's XI against 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 ....
's XI.
Bowra's final recorded appearance was in 1749 when he again represented Colchin's 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 XI.
Family
William BowraWilliam Bowra
William Bowra was an English cricketer who played regularly for Kent teams from 1768 until 1788 and then for Sussex until 1792. He had 47 known first-class appearances between 1775 and 1792. His name was pronounced "Borra".In a Hampshire Chronicle report of a 1775 game, his name is spelt "Bower"...
, who played in the latter part of the 18th century, is believed to have been his son.