1778 English cricket season

The 1778 English cricket season marked the end of Thomas Brett's career as the game's first great fast bowler.

According to John Arlott in his Arlott on Cricket: "...in 1778 Hambledon announced home and out matches - on level terms and with no 'given' players - with Alresford for fifty guineas a match." He gives no further details.

The following matches are classified as important:

Pre-announced in the Hampshire Chronicle on Mon 18 May as Hambledon Club v Hambledon Parish with Noah Mann. The title in the ACS list (Hambledon Parish v Hampshire) is incorrect.

Often called Stoke Down, the venue here is more correctly known as Itchin Stoke Down. It is near Alresford and not, as many believe, near Hambledon, Hampshire.

All-England 88 (W Yalden 19; T Brett 2w, R Francis 2w, N Mann 2w) & 122 (J Miller 32, W Yalden 22; T Brett 2w, R Nyren 2w, N Mann 2w); Hampshire 71 (R Francis 24; E Stevens 3w) & 140 (R A Veck 53*, R Nyren 38; W Lamborn 2w)

Hampshire had William Bedster as a given man.

All-England 143 (T White 33, J Minshull 31, J Wood 26, W Yalden 24*; T Taylor 3w, N Mann 2w) & 130 (W Bedster 34, W Bowra 29; R Nyren 4w); Hampshire 152 (John Small 49*, T Sueter 22; E Stevens 4w) & 76 (R Francis 23; E Stevens 3w, W Lamborn 3w)

This was pre-advertised as Hampshire v All-England but that fixture was postponed and London v Dartford was played instead. The postponement was recorded in the Daily Advertiser on Fri 21 August.

The Morning Chronicle on Tues 25 August reports that London scored over 120 and Dartford 84. Dartford at one point were apparently 0-5! The remainder of the match was to be played out the same day (Tuesday) but no subsequent report was found.

All-England 65 (Boltwood 27; E Stevens 2w, W Lamborn 2w) & 89 (J Miller 29; W Lamborn 6w, E Stevens 2w); Chertsey 178 (W Yalden 49, E Stevens 24*, H Attfield 24; Polden 4w, W Bullen 2w)

This is one of those games where the status is questionable because of the use of a club name in the title. In real terms, Chertsey should be viewed as Earl of Tankerville’s XI. The All-England XI was undoubtedly weaker than normal with four unknown players Boltwood, Mansfield, Polden and Irons, though two of these at least performed with credit in the game.

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