1797 English cricket season

In the 1797 English cricket season, MCC enjoyed great success on the field, winning 9 of its 11 matches.

Matches

First mentions

* John Bennett (Hampshire cricketer) – played 61 matches from 1797 to 1818
* John Gibbons (MCC cricketer) (MCC; amateur) – played 18 matches from 1797 to 1801
* J. Pontifex (MCC; amateur) – played 15 matches from 1797 to 1810
* Hon. Charles Douglas (MCC; amateur) – played 13 matches from 1797 to 1799
* Benjamin Clifton (Middlesex; amateur) – played eleven matches from 1797 to 1798
* G. Cooper (MCC cricketer) (MCC; amateur) – played six matches from 1797 to 1807
* Earl of Dalkeith (MCC; amateur) – played four matches in 1797
* May (Hampshire cricketer) – played four matches from 1797 to 1798
* Lord Yarmouth (MCC and Surrey; amateur) – played three matches from 1797 to 1799
* George Boult junior (Middlesex; amateur) – played two matches in 1797
* Clair (Hampshire cricketer) – played two matches from 1797 to 1803
* Gunnell (Surrey cricketer) – played two matches from 1797 to 1810
* Wilson (Surrey cricketer) – played two matches from 1797 to 1809

Leading batsmen

Note that many scorecards in the 18th century are unknown or have missing details and so it is impossible to provide a complete analysis of batting performances: e.g., the missing not outs prevent computation of batting averages. The "runs scored" are in fact the "runs known".

Lord Frederick Beauclerk scored 758 runs to top the 1797 runscoring list

Others who scored more than 200 runs were John Hammond 603; John Tufton 592; Tom Walker 491; William Beldham 430; Edward Bligh 382; William Fennex 346; Robert Robinson 310; James Aylward 296; Charles Lennox 270; Henry Tufton 246; Harry Walker 243; Jack Small 227; Thomas Ray 214

Leading bowlers

Note that the wickets credited to an 18th century bowler were only those where he bowled the batsman out. The bowler was not credited with the wickets of batsmen who were caught out, even if it was "caught and bowled". In addition, the runs conceded by each bowler were not recorded so no analyses or averages can be computed.

Lord Frederick Beauclerk with a massive haul of 66 wickets was easily the top bowler

Other leading wicket-takers were John Wells 31; Thomas Boxall 24; Thomas Lord 20; Sylvester 20; John Hammond 18

Leading fielders

Note that many scorecards in the 18th century are unknown or have missing details and so the totals are of the "known" catches and stumpings only. Stumpings were not always recorded as such and sometimes the name of the wicket-keeper was not given. Generally, a catch was given the same status as "bowled" with credit being awarded to the fielder only and not the bowler. There is never a record of "caught and bowled": the bowler would be credited with the catch, not with the wicket.

Thomas Ray took the most known catches with 19 but he may have been beaten by John Tufton who definitely took 18 (plus one definite stumping) but could have had more. The Tufton brothers again starred in the field and Henry was the best keeper with 11 ct, 15 st. There were another 3 catches and 3 stumpings credited to one or other of the Tuftons.

Other good performances were by Charles Lennox 16 ct, 1 st; Lord Frederick Beauclerk 12 ct; John Wells 11 ct 5 st; Edward Bligh 10 ct; William Beldham 9 ct; William Fennex 9 ct; Andrew Freemantle 9 ct; John Hammond 9 ct, 7 st; Sylvester 8 ct

References

* "Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket" by G B Buckley (FL18)
* "Fresh Light on Pre-Victorian Cricket" by G B Buckley (FLPV)
* "Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century" by Timothy J McCann (TJM)
* "The Dawn of Cricket" by H T Waghorn (WDC)
* "Scores & Biographies, Volume 1" by Arthur Haygarth (SBnnn)
* "Scores 1790-1805" (annual issues) by Samuel Britcher