1776 English cricket season

In the 1776 English cricket season, according to Rowland Bowen, the earliest known scorecard templates were introduced. These were printed by T. Pratt of Sevenoaks and soon came into general use.

The following matches are classified as important:

Hampshire 225 (T Brett 43, Mr T Davis 40, John Small 38, T Sueter 36; R May 3w) & 186 (John Small 44, T Taylor 41, J Aylward 30; R May 2w); Kent 55 (W Barber 3w) & 204 (W Brazier 49, J Miller 39, T Pattenden 38; T Brett 4w)

Mr Ashley-Cooper reported that it was "played for 500 guineas". The venue is interesting as it was effectively neutral.

According to John Arlott in his Arlott on Cricket (quoting an unnamed source): "On Wednesday 19 June 1776, on Tichborne Down, Alresford with three of Waltham and two of Warnford v Petersfield and Catherington with the famous Messrs Small, Brett and Barber and H. Bonham Esq." Arlott comments: "Although no result is recorded, these matches, invariably played for wagers, were based on teams of more or less even strength; and to set three such eminent Hambledon players on the other side means that Alresford must have been immensely powerful."

Hampshire 241 (R Nyren 70, R Francis 47, John Small 45, T Taylor 42; Duke of Dorset 2w) & 84 (R Nyren 19; T White 2w); Kent 173 (F Booker 41, W Brazier 34, W Bullen 29; T Brett 2w, R Nyren 2w) & 77 (W Bowra 20)

Mr Haygarth commented that, in other accounts, the Kent team is referred to as All-England but it is in fact a Kent team with Stevens and White of Surrey as given men.

Hampshire 87 (G Leer 21; E Stevens 4w) & 221 (John Small 57, R Nyren 36; T White 4w, E Stevens 3w, John Wood of Seal 2w); Kent 163 (W Brazier 36, Duke of Dorset 34, W Bowra 31; T Brett 3w, T Taylor 2w) & 146-6 (J Boorman 38*, T White 38; R Francis 4w)

Hampshire used a substitute batsman in the second innings with Mr T Davis replacing the injured Tom Brett, but he made only 0* so had little impact on the outcome.

Thursday 4 July 1776 was the date of the Declaration of Independence in North America by the thirteen English colonies that formed the original United States of America: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia. The Declaration of Independence was drawn up by representatives of the colonies in Philadelphia and adopted by the Continental Congress.

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