1733 English cricket season

The 1733 cricket season was the 136th in England since the earliest known definite reference to cricket in January 1597 (i.e., Old Style – 1598 New Style). Details have survived of twelve important matches. Two local matches played in Hampshire are the earliest known to have been played in the county.

The following matches are classified as important:

London scored 112 in the first innings after going in first. No other totals were mentioned.

This was a rematch first announced in the report of the previous game.

Played for a prize of thirty guineas. Little is known about either of these teams, which have few mentions in the surviving records and may not have been part of the sport's mainstream. No details are known of the players involved and so the strengths of the two teams cannot now be determined but the stake was high and the match was reported in a newspaper, Berington's Evening Post.

Advertised as for one guinea each man with wickets to be pitched at one o’clock and the spectators to keep outside the line round the ground. "If any persons get on the Walls (sic), they will be prosecuted as the Law directs; and the Company are desired to come through the Py'd Horse Yard, Chiswell Street".

The report says the teams "were very hard matched". The Prince of Wales gave each player a guinea after the game.

The Kent v Middlesex & Surrey match was arranged immediately after the match on or about Wed 11 July by Frederick, Prince of Wales and Edwin Stead. The Prince of Wales awarded a silver cup to the winners of the Wednesday, 1 August match and this is the first known instance of a cup being played for. This is also mentioned in Kent Cricket Matches.

The terms of the match were "for £50, play or pay". This is the only mention of Acton & Ealing and of Ealing Common in the surviving records. The strength of the Acton & Ealing team cannot now be determined but the stake was high and the match was reported in a newspaper, Berington's Evening Post.

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