James Aylward
Encyclopedia
James Aylward was a noted English cricket
er who played for the Hambledon Club
. He was a left-handed batsman.
He is first recorded in 1773, even though he was by then 32 years of age. As Arthur Haygarth
says, "he must have played several years previously, the records being unfortunately lost". Aylward is known to have played in 111 first-class matches from 1773 until 1797. He continued playing after that in minor matches.
Aylward is remembered for his remarkable feat on 18, 19 and 20 June 1777, when he scored 167 runs in one innings against the best bowlers and fielders of the day. This score was the "world record" for the highest individual innings in first-class cricket, beating the 136 scored by John Small
in 1775 and standing for 43 years until it was beaten by William Ward
in 1820.
Aylward played for Hambledon until 1779 when he was offered employment as a water bailiff by Sir Horatio Mann
, whereupon he moved to Bishopsbourne
in Kent
and played for Sir Horace’s teams.
Latterly he resided in London and died in Edward Street, Marylebone. He is buried in St John's Wood Churchyard, close to Lord's Cricket Ground
.
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 for the Hambledon Club
Hambledon Club
The Hambledon Club was a social club that is famous for its organisation of 18th century cricket matches. By the late 1770s it was the foremost cricket club in England.-Foundation:...
. He was a left-handed batsman.
He is first recorded in 1773, even though he was by then 32 years of age. As Arthur Haygarth
Arthur Haygarth
Arthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
says, "he must have played several years previously, the records being unfortunately lost". Aylward is known to have played in 111 first-class matches from 1773 until 1797. He continued playing after that in minor matches.
Aylward is remembered for his remarkable feat on 18, 19 and 20 June 1777, when he scored 167 runs in one innings against the best bowlers and fielders of the day. This score was the "world record" for the highest individual innings in first-class cricket, beating the 136 scored by John Small
John Small (cricket)
John Small was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from c. 1756 to 1798, one of the longest careers on record....
in 1775 and standing for 43 years until it was beaten by William Ward
William Ward (cricketer)
William Ward was a noted English cricketer. He came from an affluent family which owned property on the Isle of Wight. He was educated at Winchester College, and then received financial training in Antwerp.-Life and career:William Ward was a prominent right-handed batsman and an occasional slow...
in 1820.
Aylward played for Hambledon until 1779 when he was offered employment as a water bailiff by Sir Horatio Mann
Sir Horatio Mann
Sir Horatio Mann, 2nd Baronet was an English MP. He is remembered as a member of the Hambledon Club in Hampshire and a patron of Kent cricket. He was an occasional player but rarely in first-class matches....
, whereupon he moved to Bishopsbourne
Bishopsbourne Paddock
Bishopsbourne Paddock was a cricket ground at Bourne House, seat of Sir Horatio Mann, near Canterbury in Kent. It was a popular venue for first-class matches from 1766 to 1790.-Matches:...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and played for Sir Horace’s teams.
Latterly he resided in London and died in Edward Street, Marylebone. He is buried in St John's Wood Churchyard, close to 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...
.