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Mathews

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This is a list of the earliest known English cricketers whose careers began prior to the first matches which are considered to be first-class status in 1772. The list is by season, this being the season in which the player's name first appears in surviving sources.

Cricket underwent radical changes during the 18th century. Patronage and popular support enabled it to outgrow its roots as a village pastime and develop into a major sport. In the early 1760s, pitched delivery bowling was introduced and this necessitated the invention of the straight bat: an evolution in bowling and batting techniques that radically changed cricket.

The earliest known scorecards date from 1744 but it was not until 1772 that they began to be completed and are preserved on a regular basis.

Cricketers

To 1725

Many of the surviving records regarding cricket in the 17th century are from court cases. These include some of the names of people known to have played cricket. For example in a court case held at Guildford in 1698, John Derrick recalled playing cricket on a particular parcel of land when he was a pupil at the Royal Grammar School, Guildfordfifty years earlier., whilst in 1611 Bartholomew Wyatt and Richard Latter of Sidlesham in Sussex were both prosecuted for "breaking the Sabbath" by playing cricket on a Sunday. The earliest known reference to cricket in London in 1617 concerns Oliver Cromwell, the future Lord Protector, who played the game there whilst training at the Inns of Court.

A 1624 case records that Jasper Vinall of West Hoathly inSussex died as the result of an injury during a game, caused by a blow on the head from Edward Tye's bat. He is the sport's earliest known fatality. Further court cases throughout the 17th century record the names of those prosecuted for breaking the sabbath, involved in tithe disputes or in disputes over unpaid wagers.

Sir Robert Paston mentioned in a letter that he had been a "cricketting" on Richmond Green in 1666 whilst at around the same time John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough had played cricket whilst a pupil at St Paul's School, London. A reference in 1676 records Henry Tonge playing cricket at the British Mission in Aleppo, Turkey, the earliest known record of cricket being played outside England.

By the beginning of the 18th century, records of names people who might be considered cricketers begin to emerge.

Year	Name	Location	Notes
1709	William Bedle	Dartford and Kent	Bedle's 1768 obituary states that he was the "most expert cricket player in England".
1724	Edwin Stead	Kent	A leading patron of Kent cricket who died young in 1735.
1724	William Goodwin	Sunbury and Middlesex	Described as "able to play at Cricket with most People". Sunbury had a noted team.
1725	Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet	Sussex	Along with the 2nd Duke of Richmond, one of the leading patrons of early cricket. His estate at Firle in Sussex was an important early venue.
	Edmund Chapman		Believed to have played for Chertsey and possibly Croydon and Surrey teams, his 1763 obituary described him as "one of the most dextrous cricket players in England" and as "an eminent master bricklayer".

1726 to 1740

Year	Name	Sides	Notes
1726	Perry	London	Along with Piper, took part in the earliest known single wicket match. The players were well-known as the contemporary report calls them "the noted Perry of London and the famous Piper of Hampton".
1726	Piper	Hampton
1727	Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton	Surrey	A Surrey patron who was partly responsible for drawing up the first known rules of the game.
1727	Thomas Waymark	Sussex and Berkshire	Accounted the first great all-rounder, Waymark played for over 20 years and was noted for his "extraordinary agility and dexterity".
1729	John Chitty	Surrey	The owner of what is now the world's oldest surviving cricket bat (pictured), which is kept in the museum at The Oval.
1730	Mr Andrews	Sunbury and Surrey	A Surrey patron who challenged the Duke of Richmond's team in 1730.
Tim Coleman	London	Described in a contemporary report as "the famous Tim Coleman".
Thomas Chambers	Middlesex	A Middlesex patron who challenged the Duke of Richmond's team in 1731.
1732	Christopher Jones	London?	Keeper of the Artillery Ground.
1734	Charles Sackville, Lord Middlesex	Kent	An occasional patron of Kent cricket.
1734	Lord John Philip Sackville	Kent	A leading patron of Kent cricket who was also a noted player.
1735	Cook	Brentford	Described by a contemporary reporter as "one of the best bowlers in England". Recorded in two matches in 1735 at Moulsey Hurst. He played as a given man for London Cricket Club versus Surrey on 7 June and for a combined London & Middlesex XI versus Kent on 12 July.
	Dunn	London	Evidently a top order batsman who is mentioned in three match reports.
	Ellis	London	Described by a contemporary reporter as London's "best bowler".
	Wakeland	London	Made two known appearances in single wicket contests.
	Wheatley	London	Evidently a top order batsman, known to have been a distiller by trade.
	Marshall	London	Recorded in one match in 1735.
	Pool	London	Recorded in one match in 1735.
	Mr Jervoise	Croydon and Surrey	A Surrey patron who was active in 1735.
	Wood	Woodcot, Surrey	Mentioned briefly in a 1735 report. There were apparently two Woods of Woodcot.
1736	George Oldner	London	Appeared in a top-class single wicket contest, alongside Wakeland, against two unnamed Richmond players who were reputedly the best in England.
1737	John Boots	Sussex	Village cricket player who died during a match after colliding with another player.
1737	1739	John Bowra	Bromley	Known as the "Kentish Shepherd" and believed to be the father of William Bowra.
1740	Darville	Berkshire	Apparently Thomas Waymark's employer at Bray Mills in Berkshire. A patron who is recorded playing in three single wicket matches in 1748.
	John Newland	Slindon	Brother of Richard Newland. First mentioned in correspondence to Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle by the 2nd Duke of Richmond as someone "that you must remember".
	George Smith	London	A publican who was also the groundkeeper of the Artillery Ground. Although he was an occasional player in significant matches, he was better known for his financial problems and his battles against bankruptcy.

1741 to 1745

Year	Name	Sides	Notes
1741	John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford	Bedfordshire	Patron and captain of his county team.
	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax	Northamptonshire	Patron and captain of his county team.
	John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich	Huntingdonshire	Patron and captain of his county team.
	Richard Grenville	Buckinghamshire	Patron and captain of his county team.
1743	Richard Newland	Slindon	One of the most outstanding players of the sport's pioneering era before the introduction of the pitched delivery. Made the highest known individual score of the period.
	John Bryant	Kent	Known to have played in single-wicket matches from 1743 onwards. Played for Slindon in 1744 and for Kent against England at the Artillery Ground later the same year. May have been the brother of James Bryant.
	John Cutbush	Kent	Played in a single-wicket match in 1743 billed as contested by "the six best players in England" and for Kent against England at the Artillery Ground in 1744.
	Ridgeway	Sussex
	Robert Colchin	Bromley and Kent	Known as Long Robin, Colchin was a controversial figure who was held to be both the best batsman and all-rounder of his time. An outstanding single wicket player and an influential match organiser.
	Tom Peake	Chelsfield and Kent	Kent player who was frequently called upon as a given man.
	Val Romney	Sevenoaks and Kent	Noted for his leadership and described by James Love as "a mighty player".
	William Hodsoll	Dartford and Kent	An outstanding bowler who was rated among "the six best players in England".
	William Sawyer	Richmond and Surrey	Rated among "the six best players in England".
	Lord Montfort	London	Patron and team captain who led the London, Middlesex & Surrey XI in May 1743.
	Stephen Rose	Chertsey	An army deserter reported to be "a famous cricket player".
1744	Adam Newland	Slindon	Brother of Richard Newland. Noted member of the Slindon team.
	Little Bennett	London	Probably the brother of Tall Bennett. The two were noted in contemporary reports to have been two of the best batsmen of their time.
	Tall Bennett
	Collins	Surrey	Mentioned in 1744 and 1748; played for London against Slindon in the earliest match that has a surviving scorecard.
	Edward Aburrow senior	Slindon and Sussex	A known smuggler who played under his alias to disguise himself. Father of the Hambledon player of the same name, he is recorded in matches to 1751. A noted single wicket player who was known as Cuddy.
	George Jackson	Addington and Surrey	Known to have been a good batsman who frequently played in single wicket contests, he is recorded in matches to 1752.
	Green	Amberley and Sussex	Recorded in three matches to 1747.
	Howlett	London	Made two known appearances in 1744 and 1745.
	James Bryant	Bromley and Kent	Played for the Kent county team. Possibly brother of John Bryant
	James Love	Richmond	A playing member at Richmond but better known as a poet.
	Joe Harris	Addington and Surrey	Brother of John Harris and recorded until 1756. Made 26 known appearances in single wicket and 15 in significant matches.
	John Harris	Addington and Surrey	Brother of Joe Harris and recorded until 1754. Made 11 known appearances in single wicket and 12 in significant matches.
	John Mills	Horsmonden and Kent	Is only recorded in one match for Kent against an England XI at the Artillery Ground in June 1744.
	Kipps	Eltham and Kent	A noted wicketkeeper who is recorded four times to 1747.
	Maynard	Surrey	Recorded in 12 matches to 1750.
	Norris	London	Made two known appearances in 1744 and 1745.
	Stephen Dingate	Reigate, Surrey	Believed to have been a barber by trade, one of the leading single wicket players of the 1740s.
	Stevens	Surrey	Two players called Stevens were due to play in the London v Slindon match on 2 June 1744 but did not take part and are not mentioned in other sources.
	Tom Faulkner	Addington and Surrey	A prominent single wicket player who is recorded to 1761. Was also a prizefighter who fought under the sobriquet of "Long Tom".
	Andrews	Slindon and Sussex	Recorded in one match in 1744.
	Bartram	Kent	Recorded in one match in 1744.
	Butler	London	Recorded in one match in 1744.
	Danes	Kent	Recorded in one match in 1744.
	Hodder	London	Recorded in one match in 1744.
	Mills	Kent	Recorded in one match in 1744.
1745	Broad	Addington and Surrey	Mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1750.
	Howard	Kent	Mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1752.
	Robert Lascoe	Bromley and Kent	Mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1748.
	William Anderson	London	Mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1752. It is believed a benefit match was held for him in 1753.
	Hodge	Long Robin's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.
	Jacob Mann	Richard Newland's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.
	Martin	Richard Newland's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.
	Norton	Richard Newland's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.

1746 to 1760

Year	Name	Sides	Notes
1747	John Bell	Dartford and Kent	Noted wicketkeeper who was referred to after his death as "the most noted cricketer in England". Ran the Eleven Cricketers public house on East Hill in Dartford.
	Thomas Bell	Dartford and Kent	Brother of the above. Condemned to death in 1762 but later reprieved.
	John Mansfield	Sevenoaks and Kent	Batsman noted for single wicket appearances.
	John Larkin	Hadlow and Kent	Noted single wicket performer.
	Jones	Hadlow and Kent	Mentioned in match reports from 1747 to 1749.
	Joseph Rudd	Sussex	Noted single wicket performer.
	Pye	Sussex	Noted single wicket performer.
	Robert Eures	Bexley and Kent	Known to have been a good batsman who played for All-England teams.
	Thomas Jure	London	Mentioned in match reports from 1747 to 1749.
	Allen	Kent	Recorded in one match in 1747.
1748	Durling	Addington and Surrey	Mentioned in match reports from 1748 to 1761.
	John Capon	London and Surrey	Mentioned in match reports from 1748 to 1755.
	George Carter	London	Recorded four times from 1748 to 1749.
	Walker	London	Recorded in one single wicket match in 1748.
1749	John Frame	Dartford and Kent	Arguably the first great fast bowler in cricket history and had a long career from 1749 to at least 1774.
	Perry	Surrey	Mentioned in match reports from 1749 to 1755. Has been confused with the 1726 player, who could have been a relation.
	Humphreys	Surrey	Recorded in two matches in 1749.
	John Colchin	Bromley	Probably Robert Colchin's brother; recorded in two matches in 1749.
	Joseph Hitches	Colchin's XI	Recorded three times in 1749.
	Thomas Southam	Colchin's XI	Recorded three times in 1749.
	Robinson	Faulkner's XI	Recorded three times in 1749.
1750	Garrett	Kent	Recorded in five matches from 1750 to 1751.
	Rawlings	Kent	Mentioned in three match reports to 1751.
	Robert Bartholomew	Surrey	Possibly part of a cricketing family, he was also an innkeeper.
	Thomas Brandon	Dartford and Kent	A noted batsman who was mentioned in match reports from 1750 to 1759.
	Frame	Surrey	John Frame's brother; recorded in three matches in 1750.
1751	Stephen Harding	Thursley and Chertsey	Hard-hitting batsman mentioned in match reports from 1751 to 1765.
	Stephens	Dartford	Mentioned in match reports from 1751 to 1759.
	Mathews	All-England	Recorded in two matches in 1751.
	Stone	Kent	Recorded in two matches in 1751.
	Wilden	Kent	Recorded in two matches in 1751.
1753	William King	London	Noted as a leading London player in 1753 and 1754.
1754	Parr	Chatham	Recorded in one single wicket match in 1754.
1755	Clowder	London	Recorded in one single wicket match in 1755.
1759	Gill	Buckinghamshire and All-England	Wicket-keeper who played in the first acknowledged first-class match in 1772 and is known to have played for Buckinghamshire in two matches in 1759. No biographical details other than his name are known.
	John Edmeads	Chertsey and Surrey	Mentioned in match reports until 1779.
	John Haynes	Surrey	Mentioned in match reports from 1759 to 1761.
	Thomas Woods	Chertsey and Surrey	Only definite reference is in 1761 but probably played in 1759 for All-England. There is confusion in sources with other players named "Woods", "John Wood" and "Thomas Wood".
	Allen	Middlesex	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.
	Burchwood	Kent	Noted bowler. Played in three matches in 1759.
	Cheeseman	Sussex	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.
	Gascoigne	London	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.
	Nyland	Sussex	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions. Possibly Richard Newland or Richard Nyren.
	Saunders	Berkshire	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.
	Goldstone	Dartford and Kent	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.
	Killick	Dartford and Kent	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.
	Potter	Dartford and Kent	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.
	Wakelin	Dartford and Kent	Played in three matches in 1759. No other mentions.

1761 to 1771

Year	Name	Sides	Notes
1761	Shock White	Brentford	Definitely active between 1761 and 1773 but often confused with Thomas "Daddy" White.
	Charles Sears	Chertsey	Played two matches in 1761.
	William Piper	Chertsey	Appeared in one match in 1761 as a given man for Chertsey.
1764	John Small	Hambledon and Hampshire	Described by John Nyren as "a star of the first magnitude", master batsman John Small is buried in St Peter's churchyard (pictured) in his home village of Petersfield.
	John Bayton	Hambledon and Hampshire	Noted batsman of the late 1760s whose career apparently ended in the early 1770s.
	Peter Stewart	Hambledon and Hampshire	Nicknamed "Buck", a humorist who was a Hambledon mainstay through the club's formative period.
	Richard Nyren	Hambledon and Hampshire	Cricket's earliest known left-hander. An outstanding all-rounder who captained the Hambledon team in its heyday.
	Squire Thomas Land	Hambledon and Hampshire	Perhaps the original patron of Hambledon cricket who seems to have left the scene before the club was founded.
	Thomas Baldwin	Chertsey	Active in the 1760s.
	Thomas Ridge	Hambledon and Hampshire	Prominent Hambledon Club member who played in a number of matches to 1775.
	William Barber	Hambledon and Hampshire	Noted bowler, probably fast-medium, who played until 1777.
	William Hogsflesh	Hambledon and Hampshire	Noted bowler, probably fast-medium, who played until 1775.
	Edward Woolgar	Hambledon and Hampshire	Tentative reference re one match in 1764.
	John Woolgar	Hambledon and Hampshire	Tentative reference re one match in 1764.
	Osmond	Hambledon and Hampshire	Tentative reference re one match in 1764.
1765	Richard Edmeads	Chertsey	Brother of John Edmeads; recorded in one match in 1765.
1767	Edward "Curry" Aburrow	Hambledon and Hampshire	Son of "Cuddy" Aburrow. A Hampshire regular to 1782.
	Henry Rowett	Caterham and Surrey	Patron of Surrey cricket who was chiefly associated with the Caterham club in the 1760s.
	Sir Horatio Mann, 2nd Baronet	Kent	A leading patron of Kent cricket.
	Tom Sueter	Hambledon and Hampshire	Outstanding wicketkeeper-batsman, especially noted for his front foot play.
Bellchambers	Surrey	Recorded in two matches to 1769.
James Fuggles	Kent	Kent batsman who was last recorded in 1773.
John Boorman	Kent and Essex	Prominent bowler to 1793.
Joseph Miller	Kent	Outstanding batsman who was active till 1783. Some confusion exists re his first name but the majority of sources call him Joseph.
Richard May	Kent	Noted bowler of the 1760s and 1770s. Brother of Thomas May.
Thomas May	Kent	Batsman who played until 1773. Brother of Richard May.
Richard Simmons	Kent	One of the earliest well-known wicketkeepers. Active till 1779.
William Palmer	Kent and Surrey	Noted batsman to 1776.
Birchet	Surrey	Recorded in two matches in 1768.
Brobham	Dartford and Kent	Recorded in one single wicket match in 1768 and a match for Dartford in 1775.
Foule	Caterham	Recorded as top scorer in one match in 1768.
Mandy	Kent	Recorded in one single wicket match in 1768.
Muddle	Kent	Recorded in two matches in 1768.
Smailes	Caterham	Recorded in two matches from 1768 to 1769.
Blake	Caterham	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
Carpenter	Caterham	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
Edward Francis	Caterham	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
T. Francis	Caterham	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
Golding	Bourne	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
Love	Bourne	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
Miller	Caterham	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
Twinker	Caterham	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
Ward	Bourne	Tentative reference re one match in 1768.
1769	Lumpy Stevens	Chertsey and Surrey	One of the greatest bowlers of the underarm era. Had a long career from c. 1756 to 1789.
	Jasper Fish	Kent	Recorded in three matches between 1769 and 1777.
	John Wood	Kent	Noted bowler who was active until 1783. Sources have often failed to disambiguate him re John Wood of Surrey.
	George Leer	Hambledon and Hampshire	Middle order batsman who was mainly noted for his fielding.
	John Minshull	Kent and Surrey	Scorer of the earliest known century in all forms of cricket and a noted batsman in the 1760s and 1770s.
	Thomas Brett	Hambledon and Hampshire	Outstanding fast bowler who was acclaimed for his combination of speed and accuracy.
	Page	Chertsey and Surrey	Active till 1773.
	Thomas Pattenden	Kent	Played in over thirty matches from 1772 to 1783. In some scorecards, he cannot be disambiguated from his brother William.
	Thomas Quiddington	Chertsey and Surrey	Noted bowler mentioned in reports from 1769 to 1784. His name has also been spelt Quiddenden.
	John Wood (Surrey)	Chertsey and Surrey	Noted all-rounder who was active until 1780. Sources have often failed to disambiguate him re John Wood of Kent and S&B always calls him Thomas Wood.
	William Bowra	Kent and Sussex	Probably the son of John Bowra. Sound middle-order batsman who is believed to have been a good close fielder.
	Glazier	Hambledon and Hampshire	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	Purdy	Hambledon and Hampshire	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	Shepherd	Caterham and Surrey	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	Wessing	Caterham and Surrey	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	S. Bartram	Duke of Dorset's XI	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	Bishop	Duke of Dorset's XI	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	Oliver	Duke of Dorset's XI	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	Shearcy	Duke of Dorset's XI	Recorded in one match in 1769.
	Whiting	Duke of Dorset's XI	Recorded in one match in 1769.
1771	Coleman	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Collishaw	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Reverend Reynell Cotton	Hambledon	President of the Hambledon Club in 1773 and 1774. Best known for composing the Hambledon Club Song c. 1771. It is not certain if he was ever a player.
	John Thomas de Burgh	Hambledon and Hampshire	Occasional player in the early 1770s. Became the 13th Earl of Clanricarde.
	Huythwaite	Nottingham	One match against Sheffield.
	Loughman	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Mew	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Osguthorpe	Sheffield	One match against Nottingham.
	Rawson	Nottingham	One match against Sheffield.
	Roe	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Spurr	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Stocks	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Troop	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Turner	Nottingham	Two known matches, 1771–72.
	Thomas White	Chertsey and Surrey	Noted all-rounder who instigated the Monster Bat Controversy. Retired in 1779.

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