1769 English cricket season

The 1769 cricket season was the 172nd in England since the earliest known definite reference to cricket in January 1597 (i.e., Old Style – 1598 New Style). Details have survived of eleven important matches. 1769 was the last season in which the original London Cricket Club and the Artillery Ground feature prominently in the records.

The increasing stature of the Hambledon Club was encouraging a shift in focus from the Artillery Ground towards Broadhalfpenny Down, which became a significant venue through the 1770s. The process may have been accelerated by Hambledon’s innings victory over Surrey in September. The highlight of this match was one of the earliest known century opening partnerships, between Tom Sueter and George Leer of Hambledon, described by a contemporary reporter as "remarkable".

The following matches are classified as important:

The fixture was announced in the Daily Advertiser on Fri 12 May but not reported. The exact venue was a field belonging to the Red Lion at Smitham Bottom and it was a Whitsuntide event. Coulsdon and Caterham challenged any 11 men in England, rather in the style of Slindon Cricket Club 25 years earlier: "The winners to have 10/6 each man, and the losers 5/3 each man, to be paid by Edward Smith at the Red Lion. Wickets pitched at 12 noon, and dinner to be ready at 11: a very good Ordinary, and good eating at any time".

Reported by the St James Chronicle on Tues 13 June.

Apart from the references to Thomas Waymark and others who took part in single wicket contests in the 1740s, this is the first time Berkshire is recorded as a county team. Although Berkshire has been classified as a minor county for the last two centuries, it was a strong centre of the game in the late 18th century and produced numerous players good enough to take part in major matches. As with other counties such as Essex, the strength of Berkshire was vested in one prominent club, in this case the Oldfield Club of Maidenhead which had a noted venue at Oldfield Bray.

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