1790 English cricket season

Samuel Britcher’s scorecards (to 1805) started in the 1790 English cricket season. The works of Mr Britcher have not been readily available and it is only recently that they have been studied in any depth, especially by Keith Warsop. Mr Britcher was the MCC scorer and we have learned a great deal from him, as some of the following entries reveal.

Matches

First mentions

* John Hammond
* Hon. E Capel (MCC; amateur) – played 3 matches from 1790 to 1790
* Robert Brudenell, 6th Earl of Cardigan "aka" Hon. Robert Brudenell (MCC; amateur) – played 8 matches from 1790 to 1793
* W Oxley (Essex cricketer) (Essex) – played 10 matches from 1790 to 1793
* Thomas Nicoll (Middlesex; amateur) – played 14 matches from 1790 to 1794
* W Beeston (Middlesex cricketer) (Middlesex) – played 11 matches from 1790 to 1799
* Richard Fielder (Kent) – played 20 matches from 1790 to 1801
* George Leycester (MCC; amateur) – played 50 matches from 1790 to 1808
* Simmonds (Essex cricketer) – played three matches to 1791

Leading batsmen

Note that many scorecards in the 18th century are unknown or have missing details and so it is impossible to provide a complete analysis of batting performances: e.g., the missing not outs prevent computation of batting averages. The "runs scored" are in fact the "runs known".

William Beldham with 317 scored the most runs in 1790

Other leading runscorers were: James Aylward 257; Jack Small 245; George Louch 239; George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea 209; Joey Ring 206; Robert Clifford 193; Tom Walker 174; Colonel Charles Lennox 173; William Brazier 160

Leading bowlers

Note that the wickets credited to an 18th century bowler were only those where he bowled the batsman out. The bowler was not credited with the wickets of batsmen who were caught out, even if it was "caught and bowled". In addition, the runs conceded by each bowler were not recorded so no analyses or averages can be computed.

Robert Clifford with 33 took the most wickets in the season

Other leading bowlers were William Beldham with 28 wickets; David Harris 24; Richard Purchase 21; William Bullen 17; Henry Fitzroy 14; William Fennex 11

Leading fielders

Note that many scorecards in the 18th century are unknown or have missing details and so the totals are of the "known" catches and stumpings only. Stumpings were not always recorded as such and sometimes the name of the wicket-keeper was not given. Generally, a catch was given the same status as "bowled" with credit being awarded to the fielder only and not the bowler. There is never a record of "caught and bowled": the bowler would be credited with the catch, not with the wicket.

Tom Taylor with 15 took the most catches in 1790

Other leading fielders were William Beldham with 12 catches; Stephen Amherst 9; John Wells 9; George Louch 8; Richard Purchase 7

References

External sources

* [http://www.jl.sl.btinternet.co.uk/stampsite/cricket/main.html From Lads to Lord's; The History of Cricket: 1300 – 1787]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/1790_ENG.html CricketArchive match lists]

Further reading

* Samuel Britcher, "A list of all the principal Matches of Cricket that have been played (1790 to 1805)"
* G B Buckley, "Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket", Cotterell, 1935
* Arthur Haygarth, "Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744-1826)", Lillywhite, 1862
* H T Waghorn, "The Dawn of Cricket", Electric Press, 1906