Tall Bennett

"Tall" Bennett (first name and dates unknown) was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for London Cricket Club in the 1740s and 1750s. He was almost certainly the brother of the player known as Little Bennett. Their first names are not recorded anywhere and they are consistently referred to as "Little" and "Tall", their heights seemingly the only differentiating factor.

Tall Bennett also played for All-England teams and was prominent in the single wicket variety of the sport, which was hugely popular in the 1740s. Like his brother, he was acclaimed publicly as a great batsman. There is an article in The Connoisseur (no. 132, dated 1746) about Robert Colchin that includes: "....but his (Colchin's) greatest excellence is cricket-playing, in which he is reckoned as good a bat as either of the Bennetts....".

The Bennetts are first noted in 1744 when one of them (which is unknown) played for London against Slindon. In 1745, they were both in Richard Newland's XI against Long Robin's XI at the Artillery Ground in June. Later that season, "Little" Bennett played twice for Surrey against Addington as a given man. There is no mention of them in 1746 and then "Little" Bennett returns in July 1747 playing for Long Robin's XI against William Hodsoll's XI. Later that season, he plays for All-England against Kent.

In 1747 and 1748, both brothers appeared regularly in single wicket teams. A player called only Bennett took part in two matches for Surrey against All-England in June 1749. "Little" Bennett played for Stephen Dingate's XI against Long Robin's XI the same month. In 1752, they both played for Westminster against Addington. In 1753, "Tall" Bennett played against London as a given man for a Marylebone XI. "Little" Bennett played a single wicket game in 1754.

The last mention is in 1755 when the brothers both took part in a "fives" match playing for London against Windsor & Eton on Kennington Common.

In all, "Tall" Bennett made 10 known appearances, 7 in single wicket and 3 in significant matches. "Little" Bennett made 19 known appearances, 12 in single wicket and 7 in significant matches. In addition, there are 3 significant matches in which one of them appeared but the exact identity is unknown.