Mitcham Cricket Green
Encyclopedia
Mitcham Cricket Green is a cricket ground in Mitcham
, south London
(historically in Surrey
). It is the home of Mitcham Cricket Club
and is reportedly the oldest cricket ground still in use, having been used for cricket since 1685.
would stay at the Cricketers pub which overlooks the green and practise on the green whilst on tour. The pub also held the changing rooms for the club during the late 18th century, with the scorer having a position on the balcony of the inn. The present pavilion was built in 1904 and is unique in being the only cricket pavilion to be separated from the ground by a road, (the A239).
Surrey CCC first used the ground in 1949 for Surrey 2nd XI v Essex 2nd XI in the Minor Counties Championship. Surrey continued to use the ground for 2nd XI matches until 1973. Its first usage in the Second XI Championship
was for the Surrey 2nd XI v Gloucestershire 2nd XI match in 1959. Surrey has never used Mitcham for a first-class
match.
The most notable match of recent times was the Golden Jubilee
Challenge Match, a match held between Mitcham and Hambledon Club
, the two oldest clubs in the country, in honour of the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
. Ian Botham
made a guest appearance with the Queen's Jubilee Baton. The match was a two innings affair.
and council
ward.
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
, south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(historically in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
). It is the home of Mitcham Cricket Club
Mitcham Cricket Club
]Mitcham Cricket Club is reported by The Independent to be the oldest cricket club in existence, with the club having been playing cricket on Mitcham Cricket Green since 1685. Mitcham club were also reportedly watched by Lord Nelson during his time in the area...
and is reportedly the oldest cricket ground still in use, having been used for cricket since 1685.
History
In the 19th century, the Australian cricket teamAustralian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
would stay at the Cricketers pub which overlooks the green and practise on the green whilst on tour. The pub also held the changing rooms for the club during the late 18th century, with the scorer having a position on the balcony of the inn. The present pavilion was built in 1904 and is unique in being the only cricket pavilion to be separated from the ground by a road, (the A239).
Surrey CCC first used the ground in 1949 for Surrey 2nd XI v Essex 2nd XI in the Minor Counties Championship. Surrey continued to use the ground for 2nd XI matches until 1973. Its first usage in the Second XI Championship
Second XI Championship
The Second XI Championship is a season-long cricket competition in England that is competed for by the reserve teams of those county cricket clubs that have first-class status...
was for the Surrey 2nd XI v Gloucestershire 2nd XI match in 1959. Surrey has never used Mitcham for a first-class
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...
match.
The most notable match of recent times was the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee
A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
Challenge Match, a match held between Mitcham and Hambledon Club
Hambledon Club
The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England.-Foundation:...
, the two oldest clubs in the country, in honour of the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
. Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
made a guest appearance with the Queen's Jubilee Baton. The match was a two innings affair.
Local government
The Cricket Green also lends its name to the nearby area, and is a Conservation areaConservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
and council
Local government in the United Kingdom
The pattern of local government in England is complex, with the distribution of functions varying according to the local arrangements. Legislation concerning local government in England is decided by the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom, because England does not have a devolved...
ward.