George Bennett (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
George Bennett was an English
professional cricket
er, who played first-class cricket
from 1853 to 1873. He was mainly associated with Kent County Cricket Club
, and made 170 known appearances in first-class matches.
Bennett was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm slow roundarm bowler. He played for several of the representative travelling teams including the United All-England Eleven
(1860-1862); All-England Eleven
(1864) and the United South of England Eleven
(1872). He represented the Players
in 1865 and 1866. He took part in the first English tour of Australia as a member of HH Stephenson's XI in Australia in 1861–62.
He also was the first player to be ever given out handled the ball
. In a match for Kent against Sussex
at County Cricket Ground, Hove
in August 1872, he removed a ball from his clothing before he had scored a run. Unfortunately for him, the introduction of Law 33 (b)
in 1899, which declared such a ball to be dead
, did not come soon enough.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional 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, who played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
from 1853 to 1873. He was mainly associated with Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
, and made 170 known appearances in first-class matches.
Bennett was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm slow roundarm bowler. He played for several of the representative travelling teams including the United All-England Eleven
United All-England Eleven
The United All-England Eleven was an English cricket team formed in 1852 by players breaking away from William Clarke's All-England Eleven . Key UEE players included John Wisden and Jemmy Dean, who became joint secretaries of the team....
(1860-1862); All-England Eleven
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...
(1864) and the United South of England Eleven
United South of England Eleven
The United South of England Eleven was an itinerant cricket team founded in November 1864 by Edgar Willsher, as secretary, and John Lillywhite, as treasurer....
(1872). He represented the Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
in 1865 and 1866. He took part in the first English tour of Australia as a member of HH Stephenson's XI in Australia in 1861–62.
He also was the first player to be ever given out handled the ball
Handled the ball
Handled the ball is a method of dismissal in the sport of cricket.-Definition:Law 33 of the Laws of cricket provides that:"Either batsman is out Handled the ball if he wilfully touches the ball while in play with a hand or hands not holding the bat unless he does so with the consent of the opposing...
. In a match for Kent against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
at County Cricket Ground, Hove
County Cricket Ground, Hove
The County Cricket Ground, also known as the Probiz County Ground for sponsorship reasons, is a cricket venue in Hove, England. It is home to Sussex County Cricket Club. It is one of the few county grounds to have deckchairs for spectators - which are in the colours of Sussex CCC - blue and white....
in August 1872, he removed a ball from his clothing before he had scored a run. Unfortunately for him, the introduction of Law 33 (b)
Laws of cricket
The laws of cricket are a set of rules established by the Marylebone Cricket Club which describe the laws of cricket worldwide, to ensure uniformity and fairness. There are currently 42 laws, which outline all aspects of how the game is played from how a team wins a game, how a batsman is...
in 1899, which declared such a ball to be dead
Dead ball
Dead ball is a phenomenon in many sports in which the ball is deemed temporarily not playable, and no movement may be made with it or the players from their respective positions of significance...
, did not come soon enough.