1785 English cricket season

Cricket season review November 2025 November 2025 1784 1784 English cricket season 1786 1786 English cricket season Arthur Haygarth bemoaned a lack of fixtures in the 1785 English cricket season although there were actually no less than in the previous few seasons. There is a historical significance in that state of affairs because it reflected the decline of the Hambledon Club's influence, while the emergence of the White Conduit Club foreshadowed a shift in focus by the cricket authorities from rural to metropolitan. Details of several historically important matches are known.note status Any match listed in the ACS' Important Match Guide (1981) is historically important, and therefore of the highest standard, whether or not a scorecard might exist. The same applies to numerous matches discovered by researchers since 1981.ACS 1981 1–40 For further information, see First-class cricket. White Conduit The first match definitely known to involve a team representing White Conduit Club took place 30 June and 1 July against the Gentlemen of Kent on White Conduit Fields. Although they were "gentlemen only" teams, most of the players were quite well-known. White Conduit won by 304 runs.Haygarth 1996 62 County matches There were three inter-county matches of a good standard. All involved Essex, who played Middlesex (twice) and Berkshire. The first Middlesex v Essex match was in May on Kennington Common, for £500 a side. Middlesex had George Boult Sr and William Fennex as given men. Essex won by 6 wickets.Waghorn 2005 64–74 Essex met Berkshire in June on Datchet Common. Berkshire won by 148 runs.Waghorn 2005 64–74 The return match against Middlesex was also in June, at Langton Park, in Hornchurch. The stake was 100 guineas, but the result is unknown.Buckley 1935 103–107 Other events There were several games involving minor counties and town clubs. Farnham played Petworth three times, winning them all.McCann 2004 111–115 Perhaps more ambitiously, Farnham also played Alresford, and lost by 5 wickets.Buckley 1935 103–107 Towards the end of the season, Farnham had two matches against Hambledon. The first was on Holt Pound, where Hambledon won by an innings and 119 runs. The result of the second match, on Windmill Down, is unknown.Waghorn 2005 64–74 Buckinghamshire defeated Hertfordshire by 16 runs at Nottis Green, in Beaconsfield. Later, Buckinghamshire met Berkshire and lost by 215 runs.Buckley 1935 103–107Waghorn 2005 64–74 First mentions Players Henry Hervey Aston (WCC/Hampshire)Waghorn 2005 65 Barker (Essex; amateur)Waghorn 2005 64 Billy Beldham—first definite appearanceHaygarth 1996 72 George Boult Sr (Berkshire)Waghorn 2005 64 John Dampier (WCC; amateur)Waghorn 2005 65 Gilbert East (Berkshire)Haygarth 1996 62 William Fennex (Middlesex)Haygarth 1996 67 J. Russell (Essex; amateur)Waghorn 2005 64 Tyson (WCC/MCC; amateur)Waghorn 2005 65 Notes note References Bibliography ACS Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians A Guide to Important Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles 1709–1863 1981 ACS Nottingham https://archive.acscricket.com/online_library/match_guides/bi_imp_match_guide/index.html 85045528 Buckley G. B. G. B. Buckley Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket 1935 Cotterell & Co. Birmingham 23450280 Haygarth Arthur Arthur Haygarth Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744–1826) Frederick Lillywhite Kennington 1996 1862 978-19-00592-23-9 McCann Tim Timothy J. McCann Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century 2004 West Sussex Record Office Lewes 978-08-54450-55-8 https://www.sussexrecordsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/Digital_editions/SRS-Vol-88.pdf 88 Waghorn H. T. H. T. Waghorn The Dawn of Cricket J. W. McKenzie London 2005 1906 978-09-47821-17-3 Further reading Altham H. S. Harry Altham E. W. Swanton E. W. Swanton A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914) 5th 1962 George Allen & Unwin London 894274808 Birley Derek Derek Birley A Social History of English Cricket 1999 Aurum Press London 978-18-54107-10-7 https://archive.org/details/socialhistoryofe0000birl_d1n5 Internet Archive Bowen Rowland Rowland Bowen Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development 1970 Eyre & Spottiswoode London 978-04-13278-60-9 Major John John Major More Than A Game 2007 HarperCollins London 978-00-07183-64-7 https://archive.org/details/morethangamestor0000majo_b8t0 Internet Archive Wilson Martin An Index to Waghorn Bodyline Books (limited edition, by subscription only) London 2005 Category:1780s in cricket Category:English cricket seasons in the 18th century Category:1785 in England