1786 English cricket season

The 1786 English cricket season saw the famous Walker brothers make their first appearances in senior cricket and the rare dismissal of hit the ball twice was first recorded.

The following matches are classified as important:

White Conduit Club 103 (T Taylor 33; R Clifford 2w, W Bullen 2w) & 123 (John Small 49, Hon. G Monson 26; R Clifford 3w); Kent 121 (W Bullen 26, Mr R Hosmer 26; E Stevens 2w) & 100 (Mr R Hosmer 25; E Stevens 4w)

Arthur Haygarth commented: "Henry Bentley's 'correct' (sic) book of matches commences in 1786 and ends in 1825. Several matches in (S&B) are taken from that publication. The above match is not arranged in the order of going in. Many matches in the early part of (Bentley's) book have always the gentlemen placed first".

Hampshire 143 (T Walker 43, H Walker 39, R Purchase 25; R Clifford 3w, W Bullen 2w) & 89 (H Walker 24; W Bullen 3w, J Boorman 2w, R Clifford 2w); Kent 123 (W Bowra 28, W Bullen 27; E Stevens 3w, R Purchase 2w) & 110-6 (J Ring 61*, J Aylward 27; E Stevens 3w)

Kent 83 (W Bullen 23; D Harris 4w) & 189 (F Booker 55*, J Aylward 53, W Bullen 29; R Purchase 4w, N Mann 2w); Hampshire 163 (H Walker 66, T Walker 55; R Clifford 3w, W Bullen 2w) & 110-9 (T Walker 26, John Small 24; W Bullen 2w, R Clifford 2w)

Tom Sueter of Hampshire was given out for hitting the ball twice. This is the first recorded instance of this type of dismissal.

Re the Walker brothers, it cannot be confirmed but it is possible that this match included the first instance of a century partnership involving two brothers.

Arthur Haygarth says: "In this match, 'hit wicket' is scored down only for the second time, the first being in 1773. Evidently (as in the case of leg before wicket and stumped out) it was written down as bowled merely for some years". In fact, there were other instances of hit wicket in scores recorded elsewhere.

Haygarth also comments that: "In another account, the Hambledon Club is called England; but they are all belonging to the club, and therefore the above (i.e., Hambledon Club) is no doubt correct. But Hambledon and All England were much the same about this time".

Hampshire 116 (T Walker 56; R Clifford 3w) & 144 (Mr E Hussey 28, R Purchase 26; R Clifford 3w, W Brazier 2w); Kent 143 (Mr S Amherst 33, F Booker 26; E Stevens 2w) & 82 (F Booker 39; E Stevens 3w)

Hampshire won after being behind on first innings. Tom Taylor, who was not a wicketkeeper, took six catches in the match.

Some interesting comments by Arthur Haygarth about this game and about team naming conventions: "It may here be mentioned that the Earl of Winchilsea's or the Hambledon Eleven always played in silver laced hats. Knee breeches of course in use now by everyone. It is very curious that the above Kent Eleven consisted entirely of A, B, and Cs, in fact in another account the two sides are called A, B, and Cs v the Rest of the Alphabet. This match is in 'the Old Scores' called Earl of Winchilsea's v Sir Horace Mann's side, but it is decidedly a match between Hambledon Club (i.e., Hampshire) and Kent, and has been so altered by the Compiler of this work. Often in the old score books, the name of the principal patron or backer of each side is prefixed, instead of the proper name, which is very incorrect, and apt to mislead the reader".

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