1727 English cricket season

Infobox cricket season
season = 1727 English cricket season


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The 1727 English cricket season saw a number of matches promoted by wealthy landowners like the Duke of Richmond, Sir William Gage, Mr Alan Brodrick and Mr Edward Stead. Among the best of the professional players were the all-rounder Thomas Waymark, who was apparently a groom employed by Richmond; and Stephen Dingate, who may have been a barber .

Matches

There was a minor game at Warehorne Green, near Ashford, on Monday 5 June that was arranged by Thomas Hodges, Esq. and by George Baker, Esq. who is described as the General Receiver. The teams were Warehorne v Hawkshurst and they played 12 a side G B Buckley, "Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket", Cotterell, 1935] .

Of greater significance were these matches involving the 2nd Duke of Richmond.

Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet was another of the cricket's early benefactors and his correspondence reveals a close rapport with his friend and rival the Duke of Richmond.

Peper Harow is about four miles from Godalming and was the home of the Brodrick family. There is a view that it was the venue of the match in July John Marshall, "The Duke Who Was Cricket", Frederick Miller Ltd, 1961] .

Articles of Agreement

References to the games between the Duke of Richmond and Mr Brodrick mention that they drew up Articles of Agreement between them to determine the rules that must apply in their contests. This may be the first time that rules were formally agreed, although rules as such definitely existed. In early times, the rules would be agreed orally and subject to local variations. This syndrome was also evident in football until the FA was founded, especially re the question of handling the ball .

First mentions

* Thomas Waymark

References

External sources

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/1727_ENG.html CricketArchive match lists]
* [http://www.jl.sl.btinternet.co.uk/stampsite/cricket/main.html From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787]

Further reading

* H S Altham, "A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914)", George Allen & Unwin, 1962
* Derek Birley, "A Social History of English Cricket", Aurum, 1999
* Rowland Bowen, "Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development", Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970
* David Underdown, "Start of Play", Allen Lane, 2000