Robert Colchin
Encyclopedia
Robert "Long Robin" Colchin (born in 1713 at Chailey in Sussex
; died at Bromley
in April 1750) was a highly influential professional English cricket
er of the mid-Georgian period at a time when the single wicket
version of the game was popular.
, which was prominent through the 1740s and declined after his death. In addition to his prowess as a single wicket player, Colchin played for Kent
in major eleven-a-side matches including the famous match against All-England
at the Artillery Ground
in 1744.
Colchin had strong associations with the Artillery Ground and is known to have promoted many matches there.
According to a contemporary article about Colchin in The Connoisseur (no. 132, dated 1746): "his greatest excellence is cricket-playing, in which he is reckoned as good a bat as either of the Bennetts
; and is at length arrived at the supreme dignity of being distinguished among his breathren of the wicket by the title of Long Robin".
According to The Connoisseur (see above), Colchin's favourite amusement was attending the executions at Tyburn
. He had been "born and bred a gentleman, but has taken great pains to degrade himself, and is now as complete a blackguard as those whom he has chosen for his companions". The companions are said to include "the vulgar" among whom Colchin "has cultivated an intimacy with Buckhorse (i.e., John Smith, a noted prizefighter), and is very proud of being sometimes admitted to the honour of conversing with the great Broughton
himself (Jack Broughton was probably the most famous prizefighter of the 18th century)".
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
; died at Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
in April 1750) was a highly influential professional English cricket
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 mid-Georgian period at a time when the single wicket
Single Wicket
Single wicket cricket is a form of cricket played between two individuals, who take turns to bat and bowl against each other. The one bowling is assisted by a team of fielders, who remain as fielders at the change of innings. The winner is the one who scores more runs...
version of the game was popular.
Cricket career
Colchin lived in Bromley for several years and was associated with the local Bromley Cricket ClubBromley Cricket Club
Bromley Cricket Club was one of the strongest English cricket clubs in the mid-18th century when its team was led by Robert Colchin aka "Long Robin".-Earliest mentions:...
, which was prominent through the 1740s and declined after his death. In addition to his prowess as a single wicket player, Colchin played for Kent
Kent county cricket teams
Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport...
in major eleven-a-side matches including the famous match against All-England
All-England Eleven
In cricket, the term All-England has been used for various non-international teams that have been formed for short-term purposes since the 1739 English cricket season and it indicates that the "Rest of England" is playing against, say, MCC or an individual county team...
at the Artillery Ground
Artillery Ground
The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is one of London's most centrally located cricket grounds, situated just off the City Road immediately north of the City of London...
in 1744.
Colchin had strong associations with the Artillery Ground and is known to have promoted many matches there.
Style and technique
Colchin was an accomplished single wicket performer. He is held to have been probably the finest all-round player of his day and was called "Long Robin" because he was so tall: "And Robin, from his size, surnamed the Long".According to a contemporary article about Colchin in The Connoisseur (no. 132, dated 1746): "his greatest excellence is cricket-playing, in which he is reckoned as good a bat as either of the Bennetts
Bennett (London cricketer)
"Little" Bennett was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for London Cricket Club in the 1740s and 1750s. He was almost certainly the brother of the player known as Tall Bennett...
; and is at length arrived at the supreme dignity of being distinguished among his breathren of the wicket by the title of Long Robin".
Family and personal life
Away from cricket, Colchin chose to lead a shadowy existence among "low company" and is believed to have been something of an underworld figure. His dubious lifestyle may have contributed to his death.According to The Connoisseur (see above), Colchin's favourite amusement was attending the executions at Tyburn
Tyburn
Tyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
. He had been "born and bred a gentleman, but has taken great pains to degrade himself, and is now as complete a blackguard as those whom he has chosen for his companions". The companions are said to include "the vulgar" among whom Colchin "has cultivated an intimacy with Buckhorse (i.e., John Smith, a noted prizefighter), and is very proud of being sometimes admitted to the honour of conversing with the great Broughton
Jack Broughton
John "Jack" Broughton was an English bare-knuckle fighter. He was the first person to ever codify a set of rules to be used in such contests; prior to this the "rules" that existed were very loosely defined and tended to vary from contest to contest...
himself (Jack Broughton was probably the most famous prizefighter of the 18th century)".