On the newly opened Lord's Middle Ground in July 1809, Thomas Howard of Mitcham took 9 wickets in a Surrey v England fixture and announced himself as the leading fast underarm bowler in the country — the first since David Harris's death in 1803 to dominate a major match by pace alone. His performance gave Surrey a rare win over England and reset the bowling hierarchy of the late underarm era.
David Harris's death in 1803 had left a vacuum at the top of the bowling tree. From 1804 to 1808 no fast underarm bowler had clearly led the country.
Howard had taken 7 wickets in a Surrey v MCC fixture in May 1809 and was selected for the major match against England on the strength of that.
Howard had been a regular for Surrey since 1805 but was overshadowed by the established names — Beldham, Walker — through the early Lord's seasons. The 1809 match was his breakthrough. On the new Middle Ground's hard surface he bowled at a pace contemporaries said had not been seen since Harris, taking 5 for 38 in the first innings and 4 for 41 in the second. Surrey won by three wickets — only their second win over England in five seasons.
4 Jul 1809: Match opens on the newly turfed Middle Ground
Howard takes 5 for 38 in England's first innings
England follow on, conceding a 70-run lead
Howard takes 4 for 41 in the second innings
Surrey chase 92 for victory, three wickets down
c. 1780
Howard born at Mitcham, Surrey
1805
First major matches for Surrey
4-5 Jul 1809
9 wickets v England at the new Middle Ground
1822
Final major match
Howard bowled in major cricket until 1822, taking more than 400 wickets. He was the leading fast bowler of the period 1809-1815.
The arrival of the leading fast bowler of the late underarm era — and a fitting opening match for Lord's new Middle Ground.
Howard's 1809 performance is considered the breakthrough that re-established fast bowling as the dominant attack of the late underarm era. He bridged the period between Harris and the rise of roundarm in the 1820s.
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1811-07-04
The 1811 Lord's season was the leanest of the Middle Ground years. With the Napoleonic blockade at its tightest, willow scarce, professionals diverted to militia service and the betting public's purses thin, only fourteen major matches were played at Lord's all summer. The 1811 season is the clearest measure of cricket's wartime contraction.
Officers vs Civilians
1812-12-15
By the close of 1812 cricket was being played regularly in both Madras and Bombay — the earliest documented fixtures in either Presidency. Garrison officers and civilian East India Company servants ran the matches; the Madras Gazette and Bombay Courier preserved the earliest scoresheets. The Calcutta game (documented 1804) had been joined by all three Presidency capitals.
Kent vs MCC
1813-09-09
On 9-10 September 1813 Kent played the MCC at the Vine, Sevenoaks — the first post-war major match at the historic Kent ground and the start of the Vine's revival as a regular major venue. The Vine had hosted little major cricket since 1808; the September 1813 fixture marked its return to the front rank.