London Counties cricket team
Encyclopedia
| London Counties | |
| President: Jack Hobbs Jack Hobbs Sir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930.... |
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| Founder: Charles Jones |
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| Founded: | 1940 |
| Home Ground: | 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... |
London Counties was a representative cricket side that was formed during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by Charles Jones.
Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, the government issued an order "closing all places of entertainment and outdoor sports meetings". However, this was soon rescinded and there was instead an emphasis placed on "business as usual" through the war. Sports began to resume once more with a limited schedule. The County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
was cancelled, but county sides put out teams to play against each other and against representative sides. Charles Jones formed London Counties, a side that played their games 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...
, and other locations around London. London Counties played its first recorded game, a two day match against Northamptonshire XI
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
on 18 May 1940, winning by 128 runs. They relied primarily on established southern professionals, and gained a reputation for being a team of "hitters and known fast scorers".
During the war years, London Counties formed a friendly rivalry with a British Empire XI, a similarly set up representative side. Both of these sides did a lot of work for war charities.
See also: 1940 to 1944 English cricket seasons