Great Cricket Matches 1772-1800: The Players and The Records

place before a match and, as mentioned in the new Law, could also be carried out during it if consent was obtained from the opposition. In any case, such a Law would not have become necessary unless ground preparation was already in use and needed to be regulated. But note that these contemporary sources refer to the ground, not the pitch; there is nothing in them to imply that the actual pitch was prepared with a special dedication in the way it is today. Indeed, this could not have been the case because the laws provided that the wickets might be pitched anywhere within thirty yards of a point chosen either by the winners of the toss (until 1774) or by the visiting team (from 1774). Martin Wilson has found a 1727 poem that mentions the preparation of ground, although in the context of a bowling green. Still, this establishes the fact that the techniques were around at the time: “Like Time, the Swain / Whets his unrighteous Scythe; and shaves the Plain. / ... The heavy Roller next he tugs along, ... / And every rising Prominence subdues.” Note the mention of that well-known cricketing implement, the heavy roller. Papge 33-270. The Matches 1772-1800 Since Great Cricket Matches 1772-1800 was compiled, a new source has been identified that provides apparently genuine contemporary or near-contemporary printed material covering the period 1786-1790. It includes versions of a number of ‘great’ matches that differ from other sources such as Epps and Bentley, as well as new versions of other matches including three that appear to be previously unknown (although the sides are not strong enough for these matches to qualify as ‘great’). This new material has informed many of the corrections below; these instances are marked with an asterisk. The material is in a private collection and the owner has stipulated that no details may be given that might indicate where it is located or by whom it is owned. In the circumstances, it is not possible to provide any further information. Page 34 This is the first full score of a great match to appear in a newspaper. It was published in the Reading Mercury of 29 June 1772, whence where it was transcribed by Waghorn. However, the Reading Mercury score does not gives byes or innings totals, only the individual batsmen’s scores. The innings totals were added by Waghorn after totalling up the individual details from the Reading Mercury. Other newspapers report on the match but without giving a scoresheet. 67 HC 6/7 has better batting orders. England: Wood, White, Booker, Minchin, Miller, Bullen, Bowra, Yalden, Clifford, Stevens, Lamborn. Hampshire: Veck, Bedster, Small sen., Leer, Taylor, Sueter, Mann, Francis, Nyren, Aburrow, Brett. 72 For B.Rimmington read B.Remington and in all subsequent games. 78 For T.Rimmington read T.Remington and in all subsequent games. 81 For M.Rimmington read M.Remington and in all subsequent games. 87 In the footnotes, read ‘implies a score of 109-6 at that point’, instead of ‘190-6’. 94 John Wells was baptised on 5 January 1760, thus not born in 1768 as suggested in the footnote. This raises the possibility that ‘J.Wells’ appearing in this match may have been John rather than James, but there is no definite evidence either way. 99 Another version has A to C (2) all out 82 with adjustments to individual scores but all other sources agree on 92.* 101 Our only source for this match was the one in SB but now a contemporary printed score has been found. This appears to be the one used by Haygarth for inclusion in SB as it matches the score there in every detail, extending to the omission of the venue.* 102 Our only source for this match was the one in SB but now a contemporary printed score has been found. This appears to be the one used by Haygarth for inclusion in SB as it matches the score there in every detail.* 64