Charles Cumberland
Encyclopedia
Captain Charles Cumberland (21 May 1764 – 12 May 1835) was an English cricket
er of the late 18th century. He was an outstanding bowler, his style being right arm fast underarm; and he was arguably the best amateur bowler of the underarm
era. In a contemporary report of a match in 1787 (recorded in WDC), it says that "the excellence of Mr Cumberland's bowling is well known".
His career in major cricket spanned the 1787 to 1804 seasons. His first appearance in a major match was probably the first match at Lord's Cricket Ground
when it opened in May 1787. Cumberland played for the White Conduit Club
and was almost certainly in the team against Middlesex
that is the earliest known match at Lord's.
Cumberland had mixed fortunes a month later when he definitely did play for White Conduit Club in another game against Middlesex. FL18 records that "Cumberland's bowling was much commended but he was badly injured when attempting to leap over a rail (to take a catch?) and is now very lame at his house in Tunbridge Wells".
Cumberland's rank of captain is believed to have been army and it is presumed he fought in the Napoleonic Wars
, probably after 1804 when his major cricket career ended as the war escalated.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er of the late 18th century. He was an outstanding bowler, his style being right arm fast underarm; and he was arguably the best amateur bowler of the underarm
Underarm bowling
In cricket, underarm bowling is as old as the sport itself. Until the introduction of the roundarm style in the first half of the 19th century, bowling was performed in the same way as in bowls, the ball being delivered with the hand below the waist...
era. In a contemporary report of a match in 1787 (recorded in WDC), it says that "the excellence of Mr Cumberland's bowling is well known".
His career in major cricket spanned the 1787 to 1804 seasons. His first appearance in a major match was probably the first match at Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
when it opened in May 1787. Cumberland played for the White Conduit Club
White Conduit Club
The White Conduit Club, although short-lived, was perhaps the most significant club in cricket history for it bridged the gulf between the rural and rustic Hambledon era and the new, modern and metropolitan era of MCC and Lord's, the two entities that it spawned.We do not know for certain when the...
and was almost certainly in the team against Middlesex
Middlesex county cricket teams
Middlesex county cricket teams have been traced back to the 18th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Given that the first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford, it is almost certain that the game had reached...
that is the earliest known match at Lord's.
Cumberland had mixed fortunes a month later when he definitely did play for White Conduit Club in another game against Middlesex. FL18 records that "Cumberland's bowling was much commended but he was badly injured when attempting to leap over a rail (to take a catch?) and is now very lame at his house in Tunbridge Wells".
Cumberland's rank of captain is believed to have been army and it is presumed he fought in the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, probably after 1804 when his major cricket career ended as the war escalated.