1796 English cricket season

In the 1796 English cricket season, the Montpelier town club became prominent and played a number of matches over the next few seasons against MCC. The club’s venue was George Aram’s New Ground in Montpelier Gardens, Walworth, Surrey.

Generally speaking, it was at this time that matches involving town clubs like Montpelier, Kennington, Highgate, Rochester, Woolwich, Homerton, Richmond, Storrington and Thames Ditton began to achieve prominence in the old books. Although some good players were undoubtedly involved, the teams tended to lack overall strength and capability. Montpelier tended to be the exception as it had quite a strong side around 1796-1800. Each game involving these clubs needs to be evaluated individually.

Matches

First mentions

* Thomas Assheton Smith II
* John Tanner (Middlesex; amateur) – played 53 matches to 1826
* Thomas Burgoyne (Middlesex; amateur) – played 24 matches to 1816
* Sir Henry Marten (MCC cricketer) (MCC; amateur) – played 15 matches to 1813
* George Booth (Middlesex) – played 13 matches to 1804
* Col. / Gen. Denzil Onslow (MCC; amateur) – played 9 matches to 1807
* Captain Codrington (MCC; amateur) – played 7 matches to 1797
* Robert Ayling (cricketer) (Kent) – played 2 matches to 1796
* George Ring (Kent) – played 2 matches to 1796
* Hon. William Capel (cricketer) (MCC; amateur) – played 3 matches to 1808

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".

John Tufton was the leading runscorer with 306 and another amateur, Edward Bligh, came second with 270

Then came the professionals led by Robert Robinson with 250 and Thomas Ray with 248. Other leading batsmen were John Hammond 228; Lord Frederick Beauclerk 208; Andrew Freemantle 206; Earl of Winchilsea 197; George Louch 177

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.

Lord Frederick Beauclerk led the bowlers in 1796 with 42 wickets. Thomas Boxall was the second-highest wicket-taker with 38

Other leading bowlers were Thomas Lord 30 wickets; John Wells 21; Tom Walker 18; William Bullen 15; Sylvester 10

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.

Henry Tufton with 13 ct and 13 st was the outstanding performer in the field, beating John Hammond who had 8 ct, 9 st. Another good keeper was Charles Warren with 2 ct, 10 st.

Thomas Ray and Lord Frederick Beauclerk took the most catches with 16 apiece. Tom Walker took 10 ct, 1 st; Thomas Boxall 9 ct; William Beldham 8 ct, 1 st; John Pilcher 8 ct

References

* "Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket" by G B Buckley (FL18)
* "Fresh Light on Pre-Victorian Cricket" by G B Buckley (FLPV)
* "Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century" by Timothy J McCann (TJM)
* "The Dawn of Cricket" by H T Waghorn (WDC)
* "Scores & Biographies, Volume 1" by Arthur Haygarth (SBnnn)
* "Scores 1790-1805" (annual issues) by Samuel Britcher