John Small (cricketer)
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Small | |
| Born |
19 April 1737 Empshott, Hampshire, England |
|
| Died | 31 December 1826 (aged 89) Petersfield, Hampshire, England |
|
| Nickname | Old Small | |
| Batting style | Right-handed | |
| Bowling style | Unknown | |
| Role | Batsman | |
| Domestic team information | ||
| Years | Team | |
| c.1756 to 1798 | Hampshire | |
| Career statistics | ||
|
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| Source: Haygarth, S&B vol. 1, 31 July 2009 | ||
John Small (19 April 1737, Empshott, Hampshire – 31 December 1826, Petersfield, Hampshire) was an English professional cricketer who played in important matches from c.1756 to 1798, one of the longest careers on record. He is generally regarded as the greatest batsman of the 18th century and was the first to master the use of the modern straight bat which was introduced in the 1760s. He scored the earliest known century in important cricket and was acclaimed as the greatest player of the famous Hambledon Club. In 1997, he was named by The Times as one of its 100 Greatest Cricketers of All Time. He is the first person known to have been described in literature in terms that attest him to have been a superstar. He was a very influential player who was involved in the creation of two significant permanent additions to the Laws of Cricket: the maximum width of the bat and the introduction of the middle stump.
Small was a playing member of Hambledon during its years of greatness and it was largely because of him that Hambledon was such a famous club. He was definitely playing for Hambledon in 1764 and his name is found in the club's scorecards right up to 1798 when he was over 60. Knowledge of the early years of his career are sketchy due to the lack of detailed records before scorecards became common from 1772, but it is believed he began playing in top-class cricket during the 1750s and may well have taken part in the earliest known Hambledon matches, a tri-series against Dartford in 1756.
The earliest definite mention of Small dates from the 1764 season when Hambledon played three important matches against Chertsey (i.e., effectively a Hampshire v Surrey series). The Hambledon team in the first match is believed to have been: Richard Nyren (captain), John Small, Peter Stewart, William Hogsflesh, William Barber, John Bayton, Osmond, John Woolgar, Edward Woolgar, Thomas Ridge and Squire Thomas Land (aka Lamb). Hambledon at this time was sometimes referred to as "Squire Land's Club".
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