1773 English Cricket Season - Matches

This is the first match since cricket’s statistical record began in 1772 where some bowling and fielding details are known, though no credit was given to the bowler when a batsman was out other than by being clean bowled, an omission in scoring that was not rectified until well inside the 19th century. Lumpy seems to have been the best bowler in the game, taking five wickets bowled and presumably had more from catches. The All-England team was a strong Kent & Surrey combination with Joseph Miller scoring 73 in their innings of 177.

The card includes the first known instance of “hit wicket” (by John Minshull) and it is not mentioned again until 1786. It is believed that it was usually recorded as “bowled” so it is possible that, on this occasion, Minshull hit the wicket when not taking strike (e.g., hit the wicket whilst running, perhaps). This was another “first” for Minshull who scored the first known century in 1769.

Coulsdon batsman William Palmer, who had an outstanding season in 1773, scored 52* and 30* in totals of 187 and 100-4.

This is not included in the ACS list which may have confused the game with the one on 2–3 July, also at the Artillery Ground, that All-England won by 6 wickets. Martin Wilson in his Index to Waghorn explains the situation and agrees with Ashley Mote in GDC that we have here an additional match that has previously been overlooked. The clincher would seem to be the fact that Tom Brett played on 2 July (see CricketArchive and SB7).

It seems on reading this report that the umpires were at fault for the 1744 Laws do state: They (the umpires) are sole Judges of all Hindrances; crossing the Players in running, and standing unfair to strike, and in Case of Hindrance may order a notch to be scored. What is interesting is that, despite his considerable influence on the sport, Dorset did not exert influence on the umpires here and merely dealt with the matter as a batsman.

Richard Francis made his first appearance for Hampshire in this game, evidently as a given man. He began playing regularly for Hampshire in the 1774 season.

This match provides incontrovertible proof that Thomas “Daddy” White and “Shock” White were two different people. “Daddy” was playing for Surrey against Kent at Sevenoaks Vine; indeed, he top-scored with 59 (see above). On the same three days, as reported in the Daily Advertiser (see FL18): in Tothill Fields, Westminster with Shock White from Brentford v. London for £20 a side. Hence the two Whites were Shock of Brentford and Daddy of Reigate.

S&B states that the scores were obtained from the Hampshire Chronicle as the match was not included in the old printed book of Hambledon scores from 1772 to 1784. S&B goes on to regret the absences of John Small senior and Thomas Brett, the best batsman and best bowler respectively of Hampshire. He says Hampshire fielded almost a “scratch side” as there were four debutants Cotton, Horne, Lawrence and M Lewis who do not appear again in recorded scores. Some or all of them may have been active before 1772.

Strictly speaking, the Hampshire team in this game was Hambledon Parish. Some regular players who lived elsewhere in the county, including the top players John Small and Thomas Brett, did not play.

William Yalden’s score of 88 was the highest recorded in the 1773 season and the highest since the statistical record began in 1772. The previous highest was 78 by John Small senior in the first match of the 1772 season.