CRICKET AS IT WAS

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1934, Page 3

CRICKET AS IT WAS

IN WIGS AND BREECHES LONDON, July 23. Cricketers clad in the costume of 1734 took the field on the historic Vine grounds, Sevenoaks, Kent, on Saturday, and played a match under the rules of the game as they were 200 years ago. On Saturday the old-fashioned type of wicket—two stumps—arid bats and ball were used. The players wore, knee breeches.and frilled shirts, with the pig-tailed wig of the period. The rival teams represented the Gentlemen of Kent and the Gentlemen of Sussex. They were captained respectively by Lord Sackville, of The Knole, Sevenoaks, and Viscount Gage, of Firle Place, Lewes, whose ancestors played in the game staged on the same ground in 1734. Lord Sackville and Viscount Gage arrived in the old family coach of the Sackvilles, drawn by two grey horses and driven by a coachman in blue and scarlet livery. They were greeted by a crowd of nearly 7,000. Lord Gage’s team batted first. Play was slow at first, but wickets soon foil, amongst, them being Lord Gage’s, who hit his wicket without scoring. After batting for nearly an hour, Lord Gage’s team had no difficulty in beating this score, and declared at 197 for seven. The match of 200 years ago ended, according to the “London EveningPost" of that tinie, “to very great nicety in favour of the Kentish Gentlemen.”