Prince's Cricket Ground

Prince's Cricket Ground in Chelsea, London was a cricket ground, created by two brothers by the name of Prince, on which 37 first-class matches were played between 1872 and 1878. The ground was built on in 1883. The boundaries of the site are marked by Cadogan Street West, Milner Street, Lennox Gardens Mews, Walton Street and Pont Street. [Not to be confused with the 18th century Brighton Prince of Wales Ground.]

Middlesex County Cricket Club used the ground between 1872 and 1876. The ground was also used by South of England and by Gentlemen of the South. Several Gentlemen v Players fixtures were also played there. In 1878, the touring Australians played two matches on the ground: Gentlemen of England v Australians and Players v Australians (the last first-class match held on the ground, scheduled for September 11 to September 13 but finished in two days). The increasing acquisition of portions of the site for building development discouraged its further use.

The former first-class cricketer Thomas Box was employed as an attendant at the ground. On July 12, 1876, during the Middlesex v Nottinghamshire match, he collapsed. He died three hours later. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/9916.html Cricinfo piece on Tom Box] ]

The site was also used for lawn tennis, badminton and other games. A permanent roller skating rink was also added. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=45224 Chelsea: Cremorne Gardens, "Old and New London: Volume 5", 1878, pp 84-100.] ]

Ground records in first-class matches

*Highest total: 612 [At the time, the highest total ever made in a first-class match.] Oxford University v Middlesex 1876
*Lowest total: 47 Middlesex v Oxford University 1874
*Highest individual score: 261 WG Grace South of England v North of England 1877
*Best bowling: 8-31 Fred Morley Players of the North v Gentlemen of the South 1875
*Highest partnership 281 (for the 2nd wicket) WG Grace & JM Cotterill South of England v North of England 1877

Notes

References

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Grounds/11/600.html CrickerArchive: Prince's Cricket Ground, Chelsea]
*Simon Rae, "W.G. Grace: A Life", 1998, ISBN 978-0571178551.