1773 English cricket season

The 1773 English cricket season saw a downturn in the fortunes of Hampshire and the Hambledon Club. They lost every known match played in 1773 and some of their defeats were heavy. Their poor results owed much to star bowler Thomas Brett being injured.

A grandstand was erected on two occasions at Bishopsbourne Paddock. The Surrey v Hampshire game in September was to have a stand built at Laleham Burway with the best accommodation provided there and at the White Hart at Chertsey by Thomas Swayne. Thomas Swayne was a Chertsey player who featured in a few games during the 1770s. On the other hand, another advertisement for cricket at Bourne warned spectators to leave their dogs at home, otherwise they will be shot!

The following matches are classified as important:

Surrey 175 (T White 44, Mr – Stone 35, R Francis 30) & 70 (T White 23); Kent 133 (Mr R Newman 28, T Pattenden 25) & 77 (J Miller 18). No bowling or fielding details are known.

Hampshire 77 (T Brett 26; E Stevens 2w) & 49 (G Leer 15; E Stevens 3w); All-England 177 (J Miller 73, R Simmons 20; W Hogsflesh 3w, T Brett 2w)

This is the first match since cricket’s statistical record began where some bowling and fielding details are known, though no credit was given to the bowler when a batsman was out other than by being clean bowled, a convention in scoring that was not rectified until well inside the 19th century. Lumpy seems to have been the best bowler in the game, taking five wickets bowled and likely had more from catches. The All-England team was a strong Kent & Surrey combination with Joseph Miller scoring 73 in their innings of 177.

The card includes the first known instance of “hit wicket” (by John Minshull) and it is not mentioned again until 1786. It is believed that it was usually recorded as “bowled” so it is possible that, on this occasion, Minshull hit the wicket when not taking strike (e.g., hit the wicket whilst running, perhaps). This was another “first” for Minshull who scored the first known century in 1769.

Hampshire 132 (John Small 58, T Sueter 29) & 154 (T Sueter 32, John Small 25, W Barber 25); All-England 187 (W Palmer 52*, Childs 38, T White 24) & 100-4 (J Boorman 55, W Palmer 30*).

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