Robert Colchin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert "Long Robin" Colchin (born in 1713 at Chailey in Sussex; died at Bromley in April 1750) was a famous and highly influential English cricketer of the mid-Georgian period at a time when the single wicket version of the game was popular. Colchin was an accomplished single wicket performer.
Colchin lived in Bromley for several years and was associated with the local Bromley Cricket Club, which was prominent through the 1740s and declined after his untimely death. Despite his single wicket prowess, he did play for Kent in major matches and took part in the famous match against All-England at the Artillery Ground in 1744.
Colchin had strong associations with the Artillery Ground and is known to have promoted many matches there.
It has been said that Colchin had underworld connections and in one place he is described as a forerunner of Al Capone (!) which is surely fanciful to say the least.
[edit] References
- At the Sign of the Wicket: Cricket 1742 – 1751 by F S Ashley-Cooper in Cricket Magazine (1900) (ASW)
- Cricket Scores 1730 - 1773 by H T Waghorn (WCS)
- Early Kent Cricketers by John Goulstone (EKC)
- Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket by G B Buckley (FL18)
- Fresh Light on Pre-Victorian Cricket by G B Buckley (FLPV)
- From the Weald to the World by Peter Wynne-Thomas (PWT)
- The Dawn of Cricket by H T Waghorn (WDC)
