1743 English cricket season

Cricket season review November 2025 November 2025 1742 1742 English cricket season 1744 1744 English cricket season Several outstanding players were first named by sources in the 1743 English cricket season. The increasing popularity of single wicket is evident in a three-a-side match which was publicised as a contest between the "best six players in England", and reportedly drew a crowd of over 10,000 into the Artillery Ground. Other events included a revolutionary new ball design. Details of 24 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. Three of Kent v Three of England This was a three-a-side single wicket game, played 11 July at the Artillery Ground. The six players involved were publicised as "the best in England". They were William Hodsoll (Dartford), John Cutbush (Maidstone), and Val Romney (Sevenoaks) playing as Three of Kent; and Richard Newland (Slindon), William Sawyer (Richmond) and John Bryant (Bromley) playing as Three of England. Hodsoll and Newland were the captains.https://archive.acscricket.com/cricket/1900/26/ Ashley-Cooper F. S. F. S. Ashley-Cooper At the Sign of the Wicket Cricket: A Weekly Record of the Game Merritt & Hatcher Ltd London XIX 531 20–22 22 February 1900 ACS The Daily Advertiser of Thursday, 7 July says Thomas Ridgeway of Sussex was to play alongside Hodsoll and Romney.Buckley 1935 17 Then, on Friday, 8 July, Cutbush, known to have been a clockmaker from Maidstone,Wilson 2005 45 was named instead of Ridgeway. Kent won by 2 runs. The London Evening Post says the crowd was "computed" to be over 10,000. A return match was arranged at Sevenoaks Vine on Wednesday, 27 July, but it did not come off.Waghorn 1899 30Buckley 1935 17McCann 2004 25 Two more single wicket events were arranged in August between Five of London and Five of Richmond. The venues were Richmond Green and the Artillery Ground. Neither result is known. Kent v London, Middlesex & Surrey On 16 May, Kent played against a combined London, Middlesex & Surrey team (LMS) on Bromley Common.ACS 1981 21 LMS batted first and scored 97. Kent in reply made 69. In their second innings, LMS had made 112/3 when time was up at eight o'clock (20:00). The match situation was that LMS led by 140 runs with seven wickets in hand. It was initially agreed to continue next day, but Kent later "gave up the match".Wilson 2005 45 The LMS team was also described as Lord Montfort's XI. Montfort was associated with the London club, and seems to have been a noted patron of the game, although this match is the only one with which he can be directly associated. Kent were organised by Lord John Philip Sackville.Waghorn 2005 12–13Wilson 2005 50 London v Addington On Monday, 25 July, London met Addington on the Artillery Ground.ACS 1981 21 Addington is about 3 miles south-east of Croydon and this was the club's first game in London. They had a very strong eleven for some years at this time and the club immediately accepted the Slindon challenge, in 1744, to play against "any parish in England". Robert Colchin of Bromley and Tom Peake of Chelsfield played for Addington as given men. William Sawyer of Richmond played for London as a given man. Tom Peake, who died in 1767, lived at Chelsfield and Orpington. London batting first made 32 and 74. Addington in their only innings scored 110 and so won by an innings and 4 runs.Waghorn 1899 30 London v Woburn London played five matches against Woburn whose team, based at Woburn Park, was organised by the 4th Duke of Bedford. The first two fixtures were on 27 and 28 May at Woburn Park. The teams won one apiece, but by unknown margins.ACS 1981 21 The next game on 13 June, played at the Artillery Ground, may have been intended as a decider. Woburn won by 54 runs.ACS 1981 21Waghorn 2005 13 The other two matches were on 1 August at Woburn Park, and on 8 August at the Artillery Ground. Innings totals of both games have been recorded. In the first, London scored 46 and 60; Woburn 72 and 31. London won by 3 runs.ACS 1981 21Waghorn 1899 31 In the second, Woburn scored 104 and 36; London 93 and 48/9. London won by 1 wicket.ACS 1981 21Waghorn 1899 31 London v Horsmonden A report in the Kentish Weekly Post on 9 July said that Horsmonden Cricket Club, playing at home, had defeated a team from the combined villages of Romney, Cranbrook, and Staplehurst with a return due to take place on 11 July.Buckley 1935 17 In September, Horsmonden played three matches against London. In these, they were called Horsmonden & Weald. The first match was on 5&6 September at the Artillery Ground.ACS 1981 21 London won by 1 wicket, and three runs were still required when the last man went in.Waghorn 1899 32Waghorn 2005 14 They played again on 12 September, also at the Artillery Ground, and London won by an unknown margin.ACS 1981 21Waghorn 1899 32Waghorn 2005 14 There was to be a third match later in the month, but neither the venue nor the result are known.Waghorn 1899 32 London v Sevenoaks There were three matches between London and the Sevenoaks Cricket Club. The first was played 23 and 24 August on Sevenoaks Vine.ACS 1981 21 London scored 41 and 54; Sevenoaks 49 and 40. Sevenoaks were 24/6 in their second innings at close of play on the 23rd, still needing 23 to win. London won 6 runs.Waghorn 1899 31 There was a return match, played 29 August, on the Artillery Ground.ACS 1981 21 The pre-match announcement said: "the match played on Sevenoaks Vine, being won with great difficulty by London, has caused several considerable bets to be laid, between the noblemen and gentlemen then present; 'tis desired all persons will keep the utmost extent of the line". London won again, but by an unknown margin.Waghorn 1899 32Waghorn 2005 13 A third match was to be played 14 September on the Artillery Ground.ACS 1981 21 It was pre-announced as "the third great match of cricket" between the two. However, the result is unknown.Waghorn 2005 14 Dartford v Rochester On 13 June, Dartford played the Rochester Cricket Club at Dartford Brent. Dartford won by 30 runs. This is the first mention of the Rochester club, which is unlikely to have had a connection with the old Rochester Punch Club.Maun 2009 119 A return match was played 23 June on Marsh's New Ground in Rochester. The result is unknown.Maun 2009 120 Combined teams Six matches took place in which London faced a combined eleven. The teams were Deptford & Greenwich (D&G), Bromley & Chislehurst (B&C), Kingston & Richmond (K&R), and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Middlesex (BBM). London played the D&G team at Blackheath on 9 June. D&G won by an unknown margin.ACS 1981 21Waghorn 2005 13 There were two matches between London and the B&C team. The first was played 24 June on Bromley Common, where B&C won "with difficulty".ACS 1981 21 The return match was played three days later on the Artillery Ground. The result is unknown.ACS 1981 21 London also played the K&R team twice. These matches were played 4 July on Richmond Green, and 18 July on the Artillery Ground.ACS 1981 21 In the first match, the famous Robert Colchin ("Long Robin") of Bromley Cricket Club played for London as a given man. This is the earliest known mention of Colchin. London won by an unknown margin.Maun 2009 121 In the return match, Colchin again played for London as a given man. Scores are known: London 57 and 117; K&R 55 and 52, so London won by 67 runs.Waghorn 2005 13 London and the BBM team played 19 September on the Artillery Ground.ACS 1981 21 It was announced beforehand that: "the days being short, it is ordered that the wickets be pitched at 10 o’clock. This will be the last great match of the season". London won by 53 runs.Waghorn 2005 14 Suffolk On Monday, 5 September, there was a match at Finningham between teams from Finningham and Stradbroke which is the earliest known reference to cricket in the county of Suffolk.Bowen 1970 263 Stradbroke, who had some given men from Stowmarket, won the match.Maun 2009 128 Ball design The heavy modern-type ball with wound core and a thick leather cover may have come into use about this time. Ashley-Cooper recorded that a Mr Clout was active in Sevenoaks as "the first cricket ball maker of any pretension". The better-known equipment manufacturing firm of Dukes was founded 1760 in Penshurst.Williams Marcus Phillips Gordon The Wisden Book of Cricket Memorabilia Lennard 1990 238 978-1-85291-054-9 Cricket and art The well known painting The Cricket Match by Francis Hayman dates from this year. It now hangs at Lord's. It depicts a game 'as played at the Artillery Ground', and shows a tall two stump wicket. The batsman has a bat that is distinctly hockey-shaped; the ball has been trundled but appears to be 'off the ground', so it was perhaps a quicker skimmed delivery; and in the foreground is a scorer notching the tally.Maun 2009 133–134 From the same year comes An Exact Representation of the Game of Cricket by Louis Philippe Boitard. This now hangs in the Tate Gallery.Maun 2009 134 Other events On Tuesday, 26 April, the Daily Advertiser reported that a British Army deserter called Stephen Rose, from Chertsey and aged 21, was "a famous Cricket-Player".Maun 2009 117 On 6 June, a game between teams from Shacklewell and Westminster was played at The Cock in Shacklewell, near Stoke Newington. This is evidence of the involvement of the brewing industry in the sport; a number of grounds, ranging from Broadhalfpenny Down to Trent Bridge, were established on fields adjacent to inns and taverns. There was a game played 16 June on Walworth Common in which a team from Bermondsey defeated one from Deptford & the King's Yard by an innings and 27 runs. It was clearly a minor fixture, but F. S. Ashley-Cooper helpfully explained that Walworth Common was situated where Westmoreland Road, Faraday Street, and Mann Street stood in 1900. He said the ground was "about three-quarters of a mile from where the Bee Hive Ground afterwards existed". The Bee Hive was Montpelier Cricket Club's home ground. There was a match between teams called "Lewes Rape" and "Pevensey Rape" on 3 August. The venue was given as Lewes Down, near the "Horse-Course". Although it was a village match between two Sussex parishes, the stake was "a considerable sum of money".McCann 2004 25 The Lewes Down venue was probably where Sir William Gage's XI met Edwin Stead's XI in September 1729.McCann 2004 9Maun 2009 39 First mentions Counties SuffolkBowen 1970 263Maun 2009 128 Clubs and teams AddingtonWaghorn 1899 30 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & MiddlesexWaghorn 2005 14 Bromley & Chislehurst Deptford & GreenwichWaghorn 2005 13 Kingston & RichmondMaun 2009 121 London, Middlesex & SurreyWaghorn 2005 12–13Wilson 2005 50 MaidstoneBuckley 1935 17McCann 2004 96–97 RochesterMaun 2009 119 Woburn Venues Marsh's New Ground, in RochesterMaun 2009 120 Players name club/county notes Robert Colchin Bromley and Kent Also known as "Long Robin", a controversial figure who was held to be both the best batter and all-rounder of his time. An outstanding single wicket player, and a very influential match organiser.Maun 2009 17, 203 Richard Newland Slindon and Sussex One of the most outstanding players of the sport's pioneering era before the introduction of the pitched delivery. Made the highest known individual score of the period.https://archive.acscricket.com/cricket/1900/41/ Ashley-Cooper F. S. F. S. Ashley-Cooper At the Sign of the Wicket Cricket: A Weekly Record of the Game Merritt & Hatcher Ltd London XIX 532 35–37 29 March 1900 ACS John Bryant Bromley and Kent Brother of James Bryant. One of the best players for the Kent county team and a key member of Bromley Cricket Club.Buckley 1935 17 John Cutbush Maidstone and Kent Rated among "the six best players in England".Buckley 1935 17 Thomas Ridgeway Sussex Rated among "the six best players in England".Buckley 1935 17 Tom Peake Chelsfield and Kent Kent player who was frequently called upon as a given man. Val Romney Sevenoaks and Kent Noted for his leadership and described by James Love as "a mighty player".Buckley 1935 17 William Hodsoll Dartford and Kent An outstanding bowler who was rated among "the six best players in England".Buckley 1935 17 William Sawyer Richmond and Surrey Rated among "the six best players in England".Buckley 1935 17 Lord Montfort London Patron and team captain who led the combined London, Middlesex & Surrey team in May 1743.Waghorn 2005 13 Stephen Rose Chertsey An Army deserter who was reported to be "a famous cricket player".Maun 2009 117 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 Bowen Rowland Rowland Bowen Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development 1970 Eyre & Spottiswoode London 978-04-13278-60-9 Buckley G. B. G. B. Buckley Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket 1935 Cotterell & Co. Birmingham 23450280 Maun Ian Ian Maun From Commons to Lord's, Volume One: 1700 to 1750 2009 Roger Heavens Cambridge 978-19-00592-52-9 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 Cricket Scores, Notes, &c. From 1730–1773 Blackwood Edinburgh 1899 1086375331 Waghorn H. T. H. T. Waghorn The Dawn of Cricket J. W. McKenzie London 2005 1906 978-09-47821-17-3 Wilson Martin An Index to Waghorn Bodyline Books (limited edition, by subscription only) London 2005 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 Major John John Major More Than A Game 2007 HarperCollins London 978-00-07183-64-7 https://archive.org/details/morethangamestor0000majo_b8t0 Internet Archive Marshall John John Marshall (cricket writer) The Duke Who Was Cricket Frederick Muller Ltd London 1961 11214571 Category:1740s in cricket Category:English cricket seasons in the 18th century Category:1743 in England