1796 English cricket season
Encyclopedia
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.
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
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
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
Montpelier Cricket Club
The Montpelier Cricket Club was prominent in English cricket from about 1796, when it began to compete against Marylebone Cricket Club and other leading "town clubs", until 1845 when its members were the prime movers in the formation of Surrey County Cricket Club.Montpelier was based at George...
became prominent and played a number of matches over the next few seasons against MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
. The club’s venue was George Aram’s New Ground in Montpelier Gardens, Walworth
Walworth, London
Walworth is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Southwark. Walworth probably derives its name from the Old English "Wealhworth" which meant Welsh farm. It is located south east of Charing Cross and near to Camberwell and Elephant and Castle.The major streets in Walworth are the Old...
, 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.
Matches
| Date | Match Title | Venue | Source | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9–11 May (M-Tu) | MCC v Middlesex | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB196 | Middlesex won by 3 wkts |
| 16–17 May (M-Tu) | Middlesex v Kent | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB197 | Kent won by 51 runs |
| 27–28 May (F-S) | Earl of Winchilsea v Bligh (10 a side) # | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB197 | Winchilsea's XI won by 65 runs |
| 30–31 May (M-Tu) | MCC v Middlesex | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB198 | MCC won by 141 runs |
| 6–7 June (M-Tu) | MCC v Middlesex | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB199 | Middlesex won by 8 runs |
| 13–15 June (M-W) | MCC v Kent | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB199 | Kent won by 4 runs |
| 20–22 June (M-W) | Middlesex v Kent | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB200 | Middlesex won by 3 wkts |
| 24–25 June (F-S) | Thursday/Montpelier v MCC | Montpelier Gardens | SB201 | MCC won by 63 runs |
Montpelier Gardens was in Walworth, London. The actual venue is George Aram’s New Ground in Montpelier Gardens. NB: Walworth is in Surrey, not Middlesex. |
||||
| 28–30 June (Tu-Th) | All-England v Surrey | Stoke Down | SB201 | All-England won by 3 wkts |
| 4–5 July (M-Tu) | Bullingdon v MCC # | Bullingdon | SB202 | MCC won by 199 runs |
| 6 July (W) | Thursday Club v Montpelier ^ | Lord’s (Dorset Square) | WDC | Thursday Club won by 8 wkts |
It seems this match was not completed until Friday 12 August and so its conclusion must have preceded the game in SB206. |
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| 11–12 July (M-Tu) | MCC v Bullingdon # | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB203 | MCC won by innings & 137 runs |
| 13–15 July (W-F) | MCC v Thursday/Montpelier | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB204 | MCC won by 6 wkts |
| 19–22 July (Tu-F) | Earl of Winchilsea v A Smith | Perriam Down | SB204 | Winchilsea's XI won by 10 runs |
| 25 July (M) | Montpelier v Thursday Club # | Montpelier Gardens | WDC | Thursday Club won by innings & 19 runs |
| 10 August (W) | Middlesex v Kennington # | Lord's (Dorset Square) | WDC | Middlesex won by 2 wkts |
| 12-13 Aug (F-S) | Middlesex v Mont & Kenn Clubs ^ | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB206 | Middlesex won by 3 wkts |
Mont & Kenn = the combined Montpelier and Kennington Clubs. It seems this match started after the one postponed from Wed 6 July was completed. |
||||
| 15 Aug (M) | Montpelier v Highgate # | Montpelier Gardens | brit | Montpelier won by 6 runs |
WDC also records this match but has it dated 1 August. Britcher’s date is accepted as the closer source. # These games in the main sources and in the ACS list are not major matches, including Earl of Winchilsea v Bligh on 27 May (SB197) which was ten-a side with weak teams. |
||||
| 15-16 Aug (M-Tu) | Middlesex v Surrey | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB208 | Surrey won by 8 wkts |
WDC has this game dated 1–2 August and the ACS Guide includes both entries. The above is believed correct. |
||||
| 22-23 Aug (M-Tu) | All-England v Surrey | Dandelion Paddock | SB208 | Surrey won by innings & 6 runs |
| 24-26 Aug (W-F) | All-England v Surrey | Dandelion Paddock | SB209 | All-England won by 5 wkts |
| 26-27 Aug (F-S) | Mont & Kenn v Middlesex ^ | Montpelier Gardens | SB210 | drawn |
^ It was at this time that matches involving local clubs like Montpelier, Kennington, Highgate, Rochester, Woolwich, Homerton, Richmond, Storrington and Thames Ditton begin to achieve prominence in the old books. Although some good players were undoubtedly involved, the teams did not often have the overall strength or capability necessary for major status unless they had given men playing. Montpelier tended to be the exception as it had quite a strong side around 1797-1798. Each game involving these clubs needs to be evaluated individually. The match given in WDC as J Small v T Walker at the Dandelion Paddock on 7 - 10 Sept is in fact a wrongly dated duplicate of the Mann v Leigh game in S&B on the same days in 1795 (see above). |
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First mentions
- Thomas Assheton Smith IIThomas Assheton Smith IIThomas Assheton Smith was an English landowner and all-round sportsman who was notable for being one of the outstanding amateur cricketers of the early 19th century. He was a Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1821 to 1837...
- John TannerJohn Tanner (cricketer)John Tanner was an English amateur cricketer who made 53 known appearances in major cricket matches between 1796 and 1826. He died in Sutton, Surrey. Along with Charles Warren, he was the last 18th century player to leave the game.-Career:...
(Middlesex; amateur) – played 53 matches to 1826 - Thomas BurgoyneThomas BurgoyneThomas John Burgoyne was an English amateur cricketer who made 24 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1796 to 1816.-Career:...
(Middlesex; amateur) – played 24 matches to 1816 - Sir Henry MartinHenry Marten (MCC cricketer)Sir Henry William Martin, 2nd baronet...
(MCC; amateur) – played 15 matches to 1813 - George BoothGeorge Booth (cricketer)George Booth was an English professional cricketer who made 13 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1796 to 1804.-External sources:*...
(Middlesex) – played 13 matches to 1804 - Col. / Gen. Denzil Onslow (MCC; amateur) – played 9 matches to 1807
- Captain CodringtonCodrington (MCC cricketer)Christopher Bethell-Codrington was an English amateur cricketer who made five known appearances in first-class cricket matches in 1797.-External sources:*...
(MCC; amateur) – played 7 matches to 1797 - Robert Ayling (cricketer)Robert Ayling (cricketer)Robert Ayling was an English professional cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches in 1796.-External sources:*...
(Kent) – played 2 matches to 1796 - George RingGeorge RingGeorge Ring was an English professional cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches in 1796. He was the younger brother of Joey Ring.-Career:...
(Kent) – played 2 matches to 1796 - Hon. & Rev. William CapelWilliam Capel (cricketer)The Honourable & Reverend William Robert Capel , sportsman, Vicar of Watford, Hertfordshire, Rector of Raine, Essex, and a chaplain-in-ordinary to HM Queen Victoria.-Family:...
(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
Edward Bligh
Edward Bligh , styled The Honourable from birth, was an Irish politician, a noted amateur cricketer and a prominent early member of the Marylebone Cricket Club....
, came second with 270
Then came the professionals led by Robert Robinson
Robert Robinson (cricketer)
Robert Robinson was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire at the time of the Hambledon Club and also for Surrey....
with 250 and Thomas Ray
Thomas Ray (cricketer)
Thomas Ray was an English cricketer who played mainly for Berkshire and Middlesex. He was for many years employed by MCC as a professional who probably coached the members....
with 248. Other leading batsmen were John Hammond
John Hammond (cricketer)
John Hammond was an English cricketer of the late 18th and early 19th century. He was one of the greatest early Sussex players....
228; Lord Frederick Beauclerk
Lord Frederick Beauclerk
Lord Frederick Beauclerk was an outstanding but controversial English first-class cricketer for 35 years from 1791 to 1825. On his retirement, he served as president of Marylebone Cricket Club in 1826.Beauclerk was the fourth son of the 5th Duke of St Albans and became a clergyman. He was Vicar...
208; Andrew Freemantle
Andrew Freemantle
Andrew Freemantle was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire during the Hambledon Era and afterwards...
206; Earl of Winchilsea
George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea
George Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea KG PC FRS was an important figure in the history of cricket. His main contributions to the game were patronage and organisation but Winchilsea, an amateur, was also a very keen player....
197; George Louch
George Louch
George Louch was an English cricketer and match organiser during the 18th century. He was especially noted for his fielding and was an early stalwart of Marylebone Cricket Club.He was a native of Chatham and was evidently educated at Westminster...
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
Lord Frederick Beauclerk
Lord Frederick Beauclerk was an outstanding but controversial English first-class cricketer for 35 years from 1791 to 1825. On his retirement, he served as president of Marylebone Cricket Club in 1826.Beauclerk was the fourth son of the 5th Duke of St Albans and became a clergyman. He was Vicar...
led the bowlers in 1796 with 42 wickets. Thomas Boxall
Thomas Boxall
Thomas Boxall was a famous English cricketer of the late 18th century. He was a very successful right arm bowler, believed to have been fast underarm....
was the second-highest wicket-taker with 38
Other leading bowlers were Thomas Lord
Thomas Lord
Thomas Lord was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1787 to 1802. He made a brief comeback, playing in one further match in 1815. Overall, Lord made 90 known appearances in first-class cricket...
30 wickets; John Wells
John Wells (cricketer)
John Wells was a famous English cricketer who played for Surrey.-Career:...
21; Tom Walker
Thomas Walker (cricketer)
Thomas "Tom" Walker was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire in the days of the Hambledon Club and later for Surrey. He was famous for his brilliant defensive batting. He is also credited with introducing, roundarm bowling, the predecessor of modern overarm bowling.-Career:Walker was born...
18; William Bullen
William Bullen
William Bullen was an outstanding English cricketer throughout the last quarter of the 18th century. Hailing from Kent, Bullen was a great all-rounder, noted in the key sources as a fast bowler and a "powerful hitter"....
15; Sylvester
Sylvester (Middlesex cricketer)
Sylvester was an English professional cricketer who made 28 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1792 to 1799.-External sources:*...
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
Henry Tufton, 11th Earl of Thanet
Henry James Tufton, 11th Earl of Thanet was a peer in the peerage of England and a noted English cricketer of the 1790s.-Biography:...
with 13 ct and 13 st was the outstanding performer in the field, beating John Hammond
John Hammond (cricketer)
John Hammond was an English cricketer of the late 18th and early 19th century. He was one of the greatest early Sussex players....
who had 8 ct, 9 st. Another good keeper was Charles Warren
Charles Warren (cricketer)
Charles Warren was an English amateur cricketer who made 33 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1795 to 1826. Along with John Tanner, he was the last 18th century player to retire from first-class cricket, in his case at the age of 62.-Career:Warren was mainly associated with Middlesex...
with 2 ct, 10 st.
Thomas Ray
Thomas Ray (cricketer)
Thomas Ray was an English cricketer who played mainly for Berkshire and Middlesex. He was for many years employed by MCC as a professional who probably coached the members....
and Lord Frederick Beauclerk
Lord Frederick Beauclerk
Lord Frederick Beauclerk was an outstanding but controversial English first-class cricketer for 35 years from 1791 to 1825. On his retirement, he served as president of Marylebone Cricket Club in 1826.Beauclerk was the fourth son of the 5th Duke of St Albans and became a clergyman. He was Vicar...
took the most catches with 16 apiece. Tom Walker
Thomas Walker (cricketer)
Thomas "Tom" Walker was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire in the days of the Hambledon Club and later for Surrey. He was famous for his brilliant defensive batting. He is also credited with introducing, roundarm bowling, the predecessor of modern overarm bowling.-Career:Walker was born...
took 10 ct, 1 st; Thomas Boxall
Thomas Boxall
Thomas Boxall was a famous English cricketer of the late 18th century. He was a very successful right arm bowler, believed to have been fast underarm....
9 ct; William Beldham 8 ct, 1 st; John Pilcher
John Pilcher
John Pilcher was an English cricketer who played for Kent.He is believed to have been a right-handed player and was primarily a bowler of the underarm type but his pace has not been recorded...
8 ct