1743 English cricket season

The 1743 cricket season was the 146th in England since the earliest known definite reference to cricket in January 1597 (i.e., Old Style – 1598 New Style). Details have survived of 18 important eleven-a-side and three single wicket matches.

A significant development was the rise of Woburn Cricket Club, who beat London 2–1 in a tri-series played in May and June. The heavy modern-type ball with wound core and thick leather cover may have come into use about this time for it is recorded that Mr Clout was by then active in Sevenoaks as "the first cricket ball maker of any pretention".

The well known painting The Cricket Match by Francis Hayman (1708–1786) dates from this year. It now hangs at Lord's. It apparently depicts a game at the Artillery Ground and shows a "tall" two stump wicket. The batsman has a bat that is distinctly hockey shaped; the ball has been trundled but appears to be "off the ground" so perhaps it was a quicker skimmed delivery; and in the foreground is a scorer notching the tally. From the same year comes An Exact Representation of the Game of Cricket by Louis Philippe Boitard (c.1733 – c.1767). This now hangs in the Tate Gallery.

The following matches are classified as important:

Scores at eight o’clock pm: London, Middlesex & Surrey 97 & 112-3; Kent 69. It was initially agreed to continue next day but Kent later "gave up the match". The London, Middlesex & Surrey team was also described as Lord Montfort’s XI. Montfort was associated with the London club and seems to have been a noted patron of the game, although this match is the only one with which he can be directly associated. The Kent side was organised by Lord John Philip Sackville.

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