| 1730 English cricket season | |
| Cricket formats | first-class and single wicket |
The most noticeable aspect of the 1730 English cricket season record is that it has the largest number of matches recorded to date, with much more coverage in the newspapers than in any previous season. But the most significant aspect of the time was the growing importance of the sport in metropolitan London. The famous Artillery Ground enters the record for the first time and it is clear that the old London Club is establishing predominance over its rivals.
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| Date | Match Title | Venue | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? June | Surrey v Middlesex[1] | Richmond Green | Surrey won | |
| 12 June (F) | Duke of Richmond’s XI v Sir William Gage’s XI[2] | Bury Hill, Arundel | result unknown | |
| 2 July (Th) | London v Kent[3] | Grays Inn | Kent won | |
| 9 July (Th) | Mr Andrews’ XI v Duke of Richmond’s XI[1] | Merrow Down, Guildford | Mr Andrews’ XI won | |
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The Andrews/Richmond match is also mentioned in Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket with the additional information that Mr Andrews was a resident of Sunbury, Middlesex. Mr Andrews may therefore have been involved on Thursday, 23 July, when Sunbury played Epsom on Epsom Downs.[4] |
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| 31 July (F) | Greenwich v London[4] | Blackheath | result unknown | |
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The match at Blackheath on 31 July was played for 20 guineas. |
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| 5 August (W) | Duke of Richmond’s XI v Sir William Gage’s XI[1] | Dripping Pan, Lewes | result unknown | |
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It is not clear if the Richmond v Gage match on 5 August was eventually played as the announcement states that it "was put off on account of Waymark, the Duke’s man, being ill". |
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| 5 August (W) | Kent v London[4] | Blackheath | drawn? | |
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Kent v London on 5 August was apparently drawn. The report says the "Kentish champions would have lost their honours by being beat at one innings if time had permitted". A repeat was scheduled for 12 August at Islington. |
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| ? August | Putney v Fulham[1] | Putney Heath | Putney won | |
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The stakes in the "great cricket-match" at Putney Heath were "50 guineas per side". |
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| 12 & 18 August (W/Tu) | London v Kent[1] | Islington/Kennington | result unknown | |
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The match started at Frog Lane in Islington on 12 August "but being obliged by their articles (sic) to leave off at seven o’clock, they could not finish it". London had a lead of 30 when play ended on 12 August but no details were reported of the resumption at Kennington Common on 18 August. |
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| 26 August (W) | London v Surrey[1] | Kennington Common | London won by 1 run | |
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London's single run victory over Surrey on or about 26 August was "thought to be one of the completest matches that ever was played". |
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| 31 August (M) | London v Surrey[1] | Artillery Ground | London won by 6 runs | |
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The stake in the return on 31 August was 20 guineas. This game is the earliest definite match at the Artillery Ground, which was in Finsbury between Chiswell Street and Bunhill Fields. It was referred to in contemporary reports as the old Artillery Ground, but this may be because it was used frequently for other forms of sport or entertainment. It was generally used for matches involving the original London Club and also became the featured venue of all London cricket until about 1765, after which the focus shifted to Hambledon and the London Club disbanded. |
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| 4 September (F) | London v Surrey[1] | Artillery Ground | result unknown | |
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The match on 4 September was the third in a tri-series but it was reported beforehand only. |
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28 May. Four men of Kent played four of Brentford for £50 at Westerham in Kent, articles being drawn to play or pay.[5]
4 June. The return match of the above was scheduled at Kew Green.[5]
29 June. There was a two threes contest for £50 at Mickleham Downs in Surrey between three men of Surrey and three men of Sussex. The report in the London Evening Post says they were esteemed the best players in the respective Counties but unfortunately does not name them. The Sussex three won.[5]
Sometime in August, Mr Edward Stead and three colleagues played a four-a-side game against four Brentford men for a considerable wager. The Brentford men won. This may have been a repeat of the games on 28 May and 4 June.[5]
On Monday 17 August, a twelve a side game was played at Tonbridge and was backed by a great many of the noblemen and gentry of that place. It seems to have been a tight contest which was unfinished on the day, so another date was chosen for the conclusion, but nothing further is known.[4]
October. A match on Datchet Heath, near Windsor, is the first reference to cricket in Buckinghamshire.[1]
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