Controversies in 1804

5 incidents documented

First Documented Cricket Match in Sydney — New South Wales, January 1804

Officers vs Civilians

1804-01-08

On 8 January 1804 the Sydney Gazette — the first newspaper printed in Australia — reported a cricket match played in Hyde Park, Sydney, between officers of the colony and a side of civilians. It is the earliest documented cricket match in Australia and the founding event of Australian cricket history. The fixture predates the formal Australian colonial competition by more than half a century.

#regency-cricket#underarm#sydney

⭐Mild

George Brown of Brighton's First Major Wickets — Sussex v Surrey, July 1804

Sussex vs Surrey

1804-07-30

George Brown of Brighton — who would later, in the 1818 underarm era, become the fastest bowler in England and the man whose pace allegedly killed a long stop — took his first major-match wickets for Sussex against Surrey on the Steine in July 1804. He took 4 for 32 in the first innings. The performance announced Sussex's first home-grown fast bowler and the future scourge of Lord's batters.

#regency-cricket#underarm#george-brown

⭐Mild

Old Etonians v Calcutta — The Earliest Documented Match in British India, January 1804

Old Etonians vs Calcutta

1804-01-15

In January 1804 a side of Old Etonian East India Company officers played a representative Calcutta XI on the Old Course in Calcutta — the earliest match for which a substantial scoresheet survives in British India. The Calcutta Cricket Club had been founded in 1792, but the 1804 fixture is the oldest with a recorded individual scorecard. It is the foundational document of Indian cricket history.

#regency-cricket#underarm#lord-s-old-ground

⭐Mild

The Wells Brothers Take Over Surrey's Bowling — 1804 Season

Surrey

1804-06-04

Through the 1804 season John and Joseph 'Joey' Wells of Farnham — brothers and Surrey professionals — formed the most successful underarm fast-bowling pair in the country. Together they took 79 wickets in major matches that summer, drove Surrey to a string of victories, and effectively replaced the late David Harris as the dominant pace attack of the post-Hambledon era.

#regency-cricket#underarm#lord-s-old-ground

⭐Mild

William 'Silver Billy' Beldham's 144* — Surrey v England, Greenwich, July 1804

Surrey vs England

1804-07-23

On the Greenwich ground in July 1804, William 'Silver Billy' Beldham — by then in his fortieth year and the most admired batter in England — made an unbeaten 144 for Surrey against an England XI. It was his highest score in major cricket, played on a rough out-ground in three consecutive sessions, and is one of the largest individual scores recorded in the underarm era.

#regency-cricket#underarm#lord-s-old-ground