1797 English cricket season
Encyclopedia
In the 1797 English cricket season, MCC
enjoyed great success on the field, winning 9 of its 11 matches.
Lord Frederick Beauclerk
scored 758 runs to top the 1797 runscoring list
Others who scored more than 200 runs were John Hammond
603; John Tufton 592; Tom Walker
491; William Beldham 430; Edward Bligh
382; William Fennex
346; Robert Robinson
310; James Aylward
296; Charles Lennox
270; Henry Tufton
246; Harry Walker
243; Jack Small
227; Thomas Ray
214
Lord Frederick Beauclerk
with a massive haul of 66 wickets was easily the top bowler
Other leading wicket-takers were John Wells
31; Thomas Boxall
24; Thomas Lord
20; Sylvester
20; John Hammond
18
Thomas Ray
took the most known catches with 19 but he may have been beaten by John Tufton who definitely took 18 (plus one definite stumping) but could have had more. The Tufton brothers again starred in the field and Henry was the best keeper with 11 ct, 15 st. There were another 3 catches and 3 stumpings credited to one or other of the Tuftons.
Other good performances were by Charles Lennox
16 ct, 1 st; Lord Frederick Beauclerk
12 ct; John Wells
11 ct 5 st; Edward Bligh
10 ct; William Beldham 9 ct; William Fennex
9 ct; Andrew Freemantle
9 ct; John Hammond
9 ct, 7 st; Sylvester
8 ct
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...
enjoyed great success on the field, winning 9 of its 11 matches.
Matches
| Date | Match Title | Venue | Source | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11–12 May (Th-F) | MCC v Middlesex | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB214 | MCC won by 6 wkts |
| 15–16 May (M-Tu) | C Lennox v Earl of Winchilsea | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB214 | Lennox's XI won by 132 runs |
| 19–20 May (F-S) | Lennox v Earl of Winchilsea | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB215 | Winchilsea's XI won by innings & 94 runs |
WDC has this game taking place on 10–11 May and ACS includes both entries. The above is believed correct. |
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| 24–27 May (W-S) | MCC v Middlesex | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB216 | MCC won by 288 runs |
| 6–9 June (T-F) | All-England v Surrey | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB216 | All-England won by 6 wkts |
| 12–13 June (M-T) | Montpelier v MCC ^ | Montpelier Gardens | SB217 | MCC won by 42 runs |
| 19–23 June (M-F) | All-England v Surrey | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB218 | All-England won by 23 runs |
This was postponed till Mon 3 July: it must have rained. |
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| 26–27 June (M-T) | MCC v Montpelier ^ | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB218 | MCC won by 5 wkts |
| 4–6 July (Tu-Th) | C Lennox v Earl of Winchilsea | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB219 | Winchilsea's XI won by 4 wkts |
| 10–12 July (M-W) | MCC v London | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB220 | MCC won by 109 runs |
| 12–13 July (W-Th) | All-England v Surrey & Middlesex | Montpelier Gardens | SB221 | S/M won by 4 wkts |
| 20–21 July (Th-F) | Earl of Winchilsea v C Lennox | Swaffham Racecourse | SB223 | Winchilsea's XI won by 27 runs |
S&B calls this Earl of Winchilsea v Beauclerk but that is unlikely; Britcher has Lennox as the patron and that seems more probable at this time. |
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| 7-8 Aug (M-Tu) | Hampshire v MCC | Stoke Down | SB224 | MCC won by 113 runs |
| 14-16 Aug (M-W) | MCC v Hampshire | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB225 | MCC won by 6 wkts |
| 17 Aug (Th) | Montpelier M&S v Montpelier Thur | Montpelier Gardens | FLPV | M&S won by 53 runs |
This a game between two sections of the Montpelier Club: i.e., its Monday & Saturday members versus its Thursday members. |
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| 21-23 Aug (M-W) | All-England v MCC | Moulsey Hurst | SB226 | MCC won by 6 wkts |
| 23-24 Aug (W-Th) | Woolwich v Croydon # | Barrack Field, Woolwich | brit | Woolwich won by 23 runs |
# This match was unknown until Britcher’s scores came to light recently. It is a minor match involving the same teams as in the game reported by WDC on 27 Sept. Both sources refer to the counties in their match titles (Kent v Surrey) but they are definitely the Woolwich and Croydon clubs playing in each game. |
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| 28-31 Aug (M-Th) | MCC v All-England | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB226 | All-England won by 8 wkts |
| 4-6 Sept (M-W) | Montpelier v MCC ^ | Montpelier Gardens | SB227 | Montpelier won by 6 wkts |
^ Montpelier’s teams in these three games against MCC were much stronger than the normal club sides of the time, especially with given men. The majority of players are recognised and these are major fixtures. |
||||
| 21-26 Sept (Th-Tu) | MCC v All-England | Lord's (Dorset Square) | SB228 | MCC won by 4 wkts |
There was no Sunday play in this game (i.e., on Sun 24 Sept). |
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| 27 Sept (W) | Woolwich v Croydon # | Barrack Field, Woolwich | WDC | Woolwich won by 179 runs |
# WDC calls this "Kent v Surrey" but the teams were weak and unrepresentative of the counties so it was surely a rematch of Woolwich v Croydon on 23–24 August.|- |
||||
First mentions
- John Bennett (Hampshire cricketer)John Bennett (Hampshire cricketer)John Bennett was an English professional cricketer who made 61 known appearances in major cricket matches between 1797 and 1818...
– played 61 matches from 1797 to 1818 - John Gibbons (MCC cricketer)John Gibbons (MCC cricketer)John Gibbons was an English amateur cricketer who made 18 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1801.-External sources:*...
(MCC; amateur) – played 18 matches from 1797 to 1801 - J. PontifexJ. PontifexJ Pontifex was an English amateur cricketer who made 15 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1810.-Career:He was a member of Marylebone Cricket Club . He played for the Gentlemen in the inaugural and second Gentlemen v Players matches in 1806.-External sources:*...
(MCC; amateur) – played 15 matches from 1797 to 1810 - Hon. Charles DouglasCharles Douglas (cricketer)The Honourable Charles Douglas was an English amateur cricketer who made 13 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1799....
(MCC; amateur) – played 13 matches from 1797 to 1799 - Benjamin CliftonBenjamin CliftonBenjamin Clifton was an English amateur cricketer who made 11 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1798.-Career:...
(Middlesex; amateur) – played eleven matches from 1797 to 1798 - G. Cooper (MCC cricketer)G. Cooper (MCC cricketer)G Cooper was an English amateur cricketer who made 6 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1807.-External sources:*...
(MCC; amateur) – played six matches from 1797 to 1807 - Earl of DalkeithCharles Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of BuccleuchCharles William Henry Montagu-Scott, 4th Duke of Buccleuch & 6th Duke of Queensberry, KT was the son of Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch and Lady Elizabeth Montagu...
(MCC; amateur) – played four matches in 1797 - May (Hampshire cricketer)May (Hampshire cricketer)May was an English professional cricketer who made 4 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1798.-External sources:*...
– played four matches from 1797 to 1798 - Lord YarmouthLord YarmouthFrancis Charles Seymour-Ingram, Lord Yarmouth was an English amateur cricketer who made 3 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1799...
(MCC and Surrey; amateur) – played three matches from 1797 to 1799 - George Boult juniorGeorge Boult juniorGeorge Boult junior was an English amateur cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches in 1797. His father was George T Boult.-External links:*...
(Middlesex; amateur) – played two matches in 1797 - Clair (Hampshire cricketer)Clair (Hampshire cricketer)Clair was an English professional cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1803.-External sources:*...
– played two matches from 1797 to 1803 - Gunnell (Surrey cricketer)Gunnell (Surrey cricketer)Gunnell was an English professional cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1810.-External sources:*...
– played two matches from 1797 to 1810 - Wilson (Surrey cricketer)Wilson (Surrey cricketer)Wilson was an English professional cricketer who made 2 known appearances in major cricket matches from 1797 to 1809.-Career:He was mainly associated with Surrey and was a member of the Montpelier Cricket Club .-External sources:*...
– played two matches from 1797 to 1809
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.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...
scored 758 runs to top the 1797 runscoring list
Others who scored more than 200 runs 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....
603; John Tufton 592; 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...
491; William Beldham 430; 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....
382; William Fennex
William Fennex
William Fennex was a famous English cricketer. He was a noted all-rounder and right arm fast bowler...
346; 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....
310; James Aylward
James Aylward
James Aylward was a noted English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club. He was a left-handed batsman....
296; Charles Lennox
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG, PC was a British soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America.-Background:...
270; 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:...
246; Harry Walker
Harry Walker (cricketer)
Harry Walker was a noted English cricketer who played mainly for Surrey...
243; Jack Small
Jack Small
John Small junior was an English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club.Jack Small made his debut in 1784, his career continuing until 1811...
227; 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....
214
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...
with a massive haul of 66 wickets was easily the top bowler
Other leading wicket-takers were John Wells
John Wells (cricketer)
John Wells was a famous English cricketer who played for Surrey.-Career:...
31; 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....
24; 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...
20; 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:*...
20; 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....
18
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.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....
took the most known catches with 19 but he may have been beaten by John Tufton who definitely took 18 (plus one definite stumping) but could have had more. The Tufton brothers again starred in the field and Henry was the best keeper with 11 ct, 15 st. There were another 3 catches and 3 stumpings credited to one or other of the Tuftons.
Other good performances were by Charles Lennox
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond
Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond, 4th Duke of Lennox KG, PC was a British soldier and politician and Governor General of British North America.-Background:...
16 ct, 1 st; 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...
12 ct; John Wells
John Wells (cricketer)
John Wells was a famous English cricketer who played for Surrey.-Career:...
11 ct 5 st; 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....
10 ct; William Beldham 9 ct; William Fennex
William Fennex
William Fennex was a famous English cricketer. He was a noted all-rounder and right arm fast bowler...
9 ct; Andrew Freemantle
Andrew Freemantle
Andrew Freemantle was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire during the Hambledon Era and afterwards...
9 ct; 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....
9 ct, 7 st; 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:*...
8 ct