CRADLE OF CRICKET

Northern Advocate, 22 April 1929, Page 5

CRADLE OF CRICKET

tHE GREAT HAMBLEDON GAME A correspondent writes to the London “Times”:—“The report of a re-, cent ‘unique cricket match’ prompts me to send you the following record of a great game played. 134 years ago at Hambledon, well called ‘The Cradle of Cricket’: — “The ‘Hants Chronicle’ of July 2.9, 1795, made the following announcement:—On Monday, July 20, and fol lowing days will be played on Wind mill Down, Hamibledon, a grand Cricket Match made by the Earl of Winchelsoa and Mr Leigh for Five Hundred Guineas. Cold dinners will be provided on the Down for the Ladies by the Gents of the Hambledon Club, who hope to be honoured by their presence. Myrcn begs leave to inform the Lovers of Cricket that all sorts of liquors and cold provisions will be found at his booth on the Down, and as all the first players in England will be engaged' in this match, his old friends (who, he trusts, will not forsake him) may expect to see the game played in the highest style of performance. Players for Lord Winchelsea:—The Bari, Hon. J. Tufton, Col. Lennox, T. Walker, Wells, Robinson, Hammond, Taylor, Crate, Harding, and Kay. For Mr Leigh;—Hon. H. "Tufton, Mr Louch, Harris, Purchase, Boxall, Beldam, H. and J. Walker, .Small, jun.. Frecmantlo and King. “The scores were: Earl of Winehelsea’s XL, .145 and 1.4(1; Mr Leigh’s XL, 82 and 00. “The match had a curious feature in that it was begun in July, 1795, and finished on June 28 of the. following year.”