1697 to 1725 English cricket seasons

This is a review of each season in English cricket from the earliest known "great match" in 1697 to 1725. Very little is known about cricket during this period as few records were kept. Newspaper reports about the sport became more common after 1725 and gradually provided greater detail.

By the end of the 17th century, English cricket had developed to the point where inter-county matches were being held in addition to the "grassroots" form of village cricket. The end of press censorship in 1696 meant that cricket could now be reported in the newspapers and the first known report of a match appeared in 1697.

But the newspaper industry was still in its infancy and it would be a long time before anything like comprehensive coverage would be achieved [http://www.jl.sl.btinternet.co.uk/stampsite/cricket/main.html From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787] ] .

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1697

The "great match" in 1697 was the first to be recorded by a contemporary newspaper but by no means the first such match to be held. It must have been organised by at least one patron and, given its Sussex venue, it is likely that the first Duke of Richmond was involved .

Away from cricket, the British East India Company bought control of the New (or English) Company that had been set up as a rival trading organisation in 1698. An Act of Parliament then amalgamated the two as "The United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies". The charter was renewed several times in the 18th century, each time with financial concessions to the Crown. The significance of this piece of information is that it was largely via the success of the East India Company that cricket was introduced to and established in India; and consequently in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The first report of cricket in India concerns mariners of the so-called "John Company" playing at Cambay in 1721 (see below).

Meanwhile, Queen Anne succeeded the late William III under the terms of the 1701 Act of Settlement. When she died with no surviving heirs in 1714, the throne passed to the Elector of Hanover, who became George I and whose descendants played a major role in popularising cricket in London.

1705

1710

The earliest reference has been found to cricket being played at Cambridge University .

1717

Thomas Marchant, a farmer from Hurstpierpoint in Sussex, first mentioned cricket in his diary. He made numerous references to the game, particularly concerning his local club, until 1727. His son Will played for "our parish", as he often called the Hurstpierpoint team .

1718

1721

English sailors were reported to be playing cricket at Cambay, near Baroda, and this is the earliest known reference to cricket being played in India .

Away from cricket, one impact of the South Sea Bubble was the unofficial creation of the post of Prime Minister, though it was not officially called that until 1905. The office at first combined the roles of Leader of the Commons, First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer in the person of Sir Robert Walpole who held office until 1742. Walpole is not known for any particular cricketing connection but his regime did no harm to the game’s development. His son, the writer Horace Walpole, supposedly hated the game!

1722

Although teams styled "London" were already in existence, the first actual reference to a London Club was dated in 1722 .

1725

"7 May". Minutes of the Honourable Artillery Company make the earliest known reference to the famous Artillery Ground in Finsbury being used for cricket. There is a note which concerns "the abuse done to the herbage of the ground by the cricket players".

References

External sources

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/1702_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