1765 English cricket season

The 1765 cricket season was the 168th in England since the earliest known definite reference to cricket in January 1597 (i.e., Old Style – 1598 New Style). Details have survived of five important matches. There was a clear indication of increased cricket activity in the north of England as Leeds played Sheffield. Few significant matches were reported in 1765 but events at the Artillery Ground in August may have been almost the last straw where this infamous old venue was concerned.

The following matches are classified as important:

Played for 100 guineas a side with a crowd estimated at 12,000. The source records re the close of play situation on the Monday: the mob (many of whom had laid large bets), imagining foul play, several of whom were dangerously wounded and bruised.

There is a report in the St James Chronicle of Thurs 22 August about this match which states that: a young fellow, a butcher, being entrusted with about £40 by his mistress to buy cattle in Smithfield market, instead went into the Artillery Ground and sported away the whole sum in betting upon the Cricket players.

These reports give a clue to the disrepute that the Artillery Ground had acquired by this time and few matches of importance were played there after 1765. After 1778, it ceases to appear in the records.

This was reported by the London Chronicle on Thurs 5 September. Sheffield won "with great difficulty". As it was rated a "great match" and reported by a London newspaper, this shows that cricket was already well-established in Yorkshire only 14 years after it was first reported there.

All that is known is that this game took place a week before the next one.

The scores were: Chertsey 130 & 116; Richmond 48 & 92. The source says: "Chertsey headed 94" which is incorrect according to team totals.

Stephen Harding, Chertsey bowler, scored 24 in four balls with a five, two sixes and a seven. The Edmeads brothers, Richard and John, scored 108 between them in the whole match.

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