This is a list of the earliest known English cricketers whose careers began prior to the first matches which are now considered to hold first-class status in 1772. The list is by season, this being the season in which the player's name first appears in sources.

Cricket underwent radical changes during the 18th century. Patronage and popular support enabled it to outgrow its roots as a village pastime and develop into a major sport. The Laws of Cricket were first written in 1744 and revised in 1774, and in the early 1760s pitched delivery bowling was introduced which necessitated the invention of the straight cricket bat: an evolution in bowling and batting techniques that radically changed cricket.

The earliest known scorecards date from 1744, but it was not until 1772 that they began to be completed and preserved on a regular basis.

Cricketers

To 1725

Many of the surviving records regarding cricket in the 17th century are from court cases. These include some of the names of people known to have played cricket. For example, in a court case held at Guildford in 1598, John Derrick recalled playing cricket on a particular parcel of land when he was a pupil at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford fifty years earlier,^[1] whilst in 1611 Bartholomew Wyatt and Richard Latter of Sidlesham in Sussex were both prosecuted for "breaking the Sabbath" by playing cricket on a Sunday.^[2] The earliest known reference to cricket in London in 1617 concerns Oliver Cromwell, the future Lord Protector, who played the game there whilst training at the Inns of Court.^[3]

A 1624 case records that Jasper Vinall of West Hoathly in Sussex died as the result of an injury during a game, caused by a blow on the head from Edward Tye's bat. He is the sport's earliest known fatality.^[4] Further court cases throughout the 17th century record the names of those prosecuted for breaking the sabbath,^[5] involved in tithe disputes^[6] or in disputes over unpaid wagers.^[7]

Sir Robert Paston mentioned in a letter that he had been "cricketting" on Richmond Green in 1666,^[8] whilst at around the same time John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough had played cricket whilst a pupil at St Paul's School, London.^[9] A reference in 1676 records Henry Tonge playing cricket at the British Mission in Aleppo, Turkey, the earliest known record of cricket being played outside England.^[10]

By the beginning of the 18th century, records of the names of cricketers begin to emerge.

This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2023)

Year	Name	Location	Notes
1702	Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond	Sussex	The sport's earliest known leading patron who is known to have organised and possibly played a match in 1702.[11] His son, the 2nd Duke, continued the family connection with the sport.
1709	William Bedle	Dartford and Kent	Bedle's 1768 obituary states that he was the "most expert cricket player in England".[12][13] Considered the first great player of the game.[14]
1724	Edwin Stead	Kent	A leading patron of Kent cricket who died young in 1735.[14][15][16]
	William Goodwin	Sunbury and Middlesex	Described as "able to play at cricket with most people", Sunbury had a noted team.[17]
1725	Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet	Sussex	Along with the 2nd Duke of Richmond, one of the leading patrons of early cricket who also played the game.[18][19][20] His estate at Firle in Sussex was an important early venue.[21]
	Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond	Sussex and Slindon	One of the leading patrons of early cricket who also played the game, including against teams organised by Sir William Gage.[18][19][20][22]
	Edmund Chapman	Chertsey, Croydon and Surrey teams	Believed to have played for Chertsey and possibly Croydon and Surrey teams, his 1763 obituary described him as "one of the most dextrous cricket players in England" and as "an eminent master bricklayer".[23]

1726 to 1750

The first scorecards to have survived date from the 1744 season. These record the names of each player involved in matches between London and a combined Surrey and Sussex side^[a] and those who played in a match between an England XI^[b] and a Kent side, which is the first match for which methods of dismissal are known.^[26] Both matches took place at the Artillery Ground in London in June.

This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2023)

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=James_Bryant_(English_cricketer)
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Year	Name	Sides	Notes
1726	Perry	London	Born in Surrey. Along with Piper, took part in the earliest known single wicket match in 1726.[27][28] A contemporary report calls the two players "the noted Perry of London and the famous Piper of Hampton".[29]
	Piper[28]	Hampton
1727	Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton	Surrey	A Surrey patron who was partly responsible for drawing up the first known rules of the game.[11]
	Thomas Waymark	Sussex and Berkshire	A miller from Berkshire who was employed by Darville and, at times, by the Duke of Richmond. A "famous player",[30] considered the first great all-rounder, Waymark played for over 20 years and was noted for his "extraordinary agility and dexterity".[31]
1729	John Chitty	Surrey	The owner of what is now the world's oldest surviving cricket bat, which is kept in the museum at The Oval.[32]
1730	Mr Andrews	Sunbury and Surrey	A Surrey patron who challenged the Duke of Richmond's team in 1730.[33]
1731	Frederick, Prince of Wales	Surrey	Heir to the throne who became interested in cricket when he first came to England from Hanover and was a leading patron from 1732. He is known to have first played the game in 1735.[34][35]
	Tim Coleman	London	Described in a contemporary report as "the famous Tim Coleman".[35]
	Thomas Chambers	Middlesex	A Middlesex patron who challenged the Duke of Richmond's team in 1731.[36]
1734	Charles Sackville, 2nd Duke of Dorset	Kent	An occasional patron of Kent cricket who organised and played in matches alongside his brother Lord John Sackville.[37][38]
	Lord John Sackville	Kent	A leading patron of Kent cricket who was also a noted player.[37][38] Organised and captained the Kent side which played an England XI at the Artillery Ground in 1744.[26]
1735	Cook	Brentford	Described by a contemporary reporter as "one of the best bowlers in England".[39][40] Recorded in two matches in 1735 at Moulsey Hurst. He played as a given man for London against Surrey on 7 June and for a combined London and Middlesex XI versus Kent on 12 July.
	Dunn	London	Mentioned in three match reports.[39]
	Ellis	London	Described by a contemporary reporter as London's "best bowler".[39]
	Wakeland	London	Made two known appearances in single wicket contests.[41]
	Wheatley	London	A batsman who is known to have been a distiller by trade.[39]
	Marshall	London	Recorded in one match in 1735.[41]
	Pool	London	Recorded in one match in 1735.[41]
	Mr Jervoise	Croydon and Surrey	A Surrey patron who was active in 1735.[40]
	Wood	Woodcot, Surrey	Mentioned briefly in a 1735 report. There were apparently two Woods of Woodcot.[39]
1736	George Oldner	London	Appeared in a top-class single wicket contest, alongside Wakeland, against two unnamed Richmond players who were reputedly the best in England.[42]
1737	John Boots	Sussex	Village cricket player who died during a match after colliding with another player.[43]
	Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough	London	Patron and team captain.[44]
1739	John Bowra	Bromley	Known as the "Kentish Shepherd" and believed to be the father of William Bowra.[45]
1740	Darville	Berkshire	Thomas Waymark's employer at Bray Mills in Berkshire.[28][46] A patron who is recorded playing in three single wicket matches in 1748.[47]
	John Newland	Slindon, England	Brother of Richard Newland.[28] First mentioned in correspondence to Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle by the 2nd Duke of Richmond as someone "that you must remember".[48]
	George Smith	London	A publican who was also the groundkeeper of the Artillery Ground. Although he was an occasional player, including in single-wicket matches, he was better known for his financial problems and his battles against bankruptcy.[47][49]
1741	John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford	Bedfordshire	Patron who, "owing to ... gout", played infrequently. Organised matches at his estate at Woburn Abbey.[50]
	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax	Northamptonshire	Patron and captain.[51]
	John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich	Huntingdonshire	Played for Eton College Past and Present against the Gentlemen of England at Newmarket in 1751 and is known to played in two single wicket matches the same year.[28][52] Patron and captain.[51]
	Richard Grenville	Buckinghamshire	Patron and captain.[53]
1743	Richard Newland	Slindon, England	One of the most outstanding batsmen of era before the introduction of the pitched delivery. Made the highest known individual score of the period, 88 runs for England against Kent at the Artillery Ground in 1744. Brother of Adam and John Newland.[28]
	John Bryant[c]	Kent and Slindon	A bricklayer from Kent and brother of James Bryant.[50] Known to have played in single-wicket matches from 1743 onwards.[55][56] Played in both 1744 matches at the Artillery Ground later the same year.[d][57]
	John Cutbush	Kent	Played in a single-wicket match in 1743 billed as contested by "the six best players in England",[55] and for Kent against England at the Artillery Ground in 1744.[56]
	Ridgeway	Sussex	From Sussex. Played in the match 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex team.[24]
	Robert Colchin	Bromley and Kent	Known as Long Robin, Colchin was a controversial figure who was considered the best all-rounder of his time.[28] He was an outstanding single wicket player and an influential match organiser.
	Tom Peake	Chelsfield and Kent	From Chelsfield in Kent.[28] A Kent player who was frequently called upon as a given man.
	Val Romney	Sevenoaks and Kent	Lived at Sevenoaks and was employed as a gardener at Knole by the Duke of Dorset. Considered "a famous player" who played regularly.[28] Noted for his leadership and described by James Love as "a mighty player".[56]
	William Hodsoll[e]	Dartford and Kent	A tanner from Dartford in Kent, Hodsoll was described as outstanding bowler[28] who was rated among "the six best players in England".[55][56]
	William Sawyer	Richmond and Surrey	From Richmond in Surrey.[28] Rated among "the six best players in England".[55][56]
	Lord Montfort	London	Patron and team captain who led a combined London, Middlesex and Surrey XI in May 1743.[58]
	Stephen Rose	Chertsey	An army deserter reported to be "a famous cricket player".[59]
1744	Adam Newland	Slindon, England	Brother of Richard Newland and a member of the Slindon team.[28]
	Little Bennett[f]	London	From Surrey[50] and possibly the brother of Tall Bennett. The two are noted to have been two of the best batsmen of their time.[28] One of the Bennetts played in the match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side in 1744.[24]
	Tall Bennett	London	From Surrey[50] and possibly the brother of Little Bennett. One of the Bennetts played in the match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side in 1744.[24]
	Collins	Surrey	From Surrey. Played in the match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side in 1744.[24] Also mentioned in 1748.
	Edward Aburrow Sr	Slindon and Sussex	A known smuggler who played under his alias Cuddy to disguise himself. Father of the Hambledon player of the same name, he is recorded in matches to 1751. A noted single wicket player.[50]
	George Jackson	Addington and Surrey	Born in Surrey[28] and known to have been a good batsman who frequently played in single wicket contests,[citation needed] he is recorded in matches to 1752, including playing in the 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side.[24]
	Green	Amberley and Sussex	From Sussex. Played in both of the 1744 matches for which scorecards survive.[24][26] Recorded in matches to 1747.
	Howlett[28]	London	Made two known appearances, one in the 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side,[24] and the other in 1745.
	James Bryant[c]	Bromley, Kent	From Kent. Brother of John Bryant.[50] Played for Kent against an England XI in 1750.[60]
	James Love	Richmond	A playing member at Richmond but better known as a poet.[61]
	Joseph Harris	Addington and Surrey	Brother of John Harris.[28] Both brothers played in the 1744 matches.[24][26] Recorded until 1756.
	John Harris	Addington and Surrey	Brother of Joseph Harris.[28] Both brothers played in the 1744 matches.[24][26] Recorded until 1754.
	John Mills	Horsmonden and Kent	Lived at Horsmonden in Kent. Described as "a famous bowler"[28] but is only recorded in one match for Kent against an England XI at the Artillery Ground in June 1744.[26][61][62]
	Kips	Eltham and Kent	A wicket-keeper[28] from Eltham in Kent[46] who is recorded from 1744 until 1747, including playing for Kent against England in the 1744 match for which a scorecard survives.[26][61]
	Maynard	Surrey	Born in Surrey[28] and recorded in 12 matches to 1750, including in the 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side.[24]
	Norris	London	Made two known appearances, including playing in the match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side in 1744.[24] Last noted in 1745.
	Stephen Dingate	Reigate, Surrey	Born in Surrey and employed by the Duke of Richmond.[28] Played in both of the 1744 matches for which scorecards survive.[24][26]
	Stevens[g]	Surrey	Two players, brothers called Stevens,[28] were billed as going to play for the Surrey and Sussex side against London in 1744. Some sources suggest that neither played.[24][54]
	Tom Faulkner	Addington and Surrey	Born in Surrey, although he lived in the midlands for a time.[28] Played in the 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side.[24] A prominent single wicket player who is recorded to 1761.[citation needed] Was also a boxer.[28]
	Andrews	Slindon and Sussex	Recorded as playing in the 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side by some sources.[54]
	Bartram	Kent	Played for Kent against England in the 1744 match.[26][61] Described as "a famous bowler".[50]
	Butler	London	Recorded as playing in the 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side by some sources.[54]
	Danes	Kent	Played for Kent against England in the 1744 match.[26][61]
	Hoder	London	Recorded as playing in the 1744 match between London and a Surrey and Sussex side by some sources.[54]
	Mills	Kent	From Bromley in Kent.[28] Recorded alongside John Mills as playing in the match between Kent and England in 1744.[26][61]
1745	Broad	Addington and Surrey	From Dartford in Kent.[50] Mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1750.
	John Borah	Long Robin's XI	From Bromley in Kent.[50] Recorded in matches from 1745 until 1749.[63][64]
	Howard	Kent	Born in Kent[28] and mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1752.[60]
	Robert Lascoe[h]	Bromley and Kent	Mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1748.[65]
	William Anderson	London	Mentioned in match reports from 1745 to 1752.[50] It is believed a benefit match was held for him in 1753.
	Hodge	Long Robin's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.[63]
	Jacob Mann	Richard Newland's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.[63]
	Martin	Richard Newland's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.[63]
	Norton	Richard Newland's XI	Recorded in one match in 1745.[63]
1747	John Bell	Dartford and Kent	Wicket-keeper from Dartford,[50] who was referred to after his death as "the most noted cricketer in England".[citation needed] Ran the Eleven Cricketers public house on East Hill in Dartford.[citation needed]
	Thomas Bell	Dartford and Kent	Brother of John Bell. Condemned to death in 1762 but later reprieved.[50]
	J Mansfield	England	Known to have played in matches in 1749.[64]
	John Larkin[28]	Hadlow and Kent	Noted single wicket performer who is first recorded as playing in 1747.[65]
	Jones	Hadlow and Kent	Mentioned in match reports from 1747 to 1749.[65]
	Joseph Rudd	Sussex	Noted single wicket performer.[66]
	Pye	Sussex	Employed by the Duke of Richmond.[28] Noted single wicket performer.[66]
	Robert Eures[i]	Bexley and Kent	Lived in London.[28] Known to have been a good batsman who played for England teams.
	Thomas Jure[28]	London	Mentioned in match reports from 1747 to 1749.[65]
	Allen	Kent and Middlesex	Recorded in one match in 1747. Originally from Dartford.[50]
	Henry Venn	England	Evangelical minister born at Barnes, Surrey who is known to have played for an England XI against Surrey in 1747. Was considered one of the best batsmen at Cambridge University.[46][67]
1748	Durling	Addington and Surrey	Born in Surrey[28] and mentioned in match reports from 1748 to 1761.[47]
	Joseph Budd		Employed by the Duke of Richmond,[50] Budd played in matches in 1748 and 1749.[68]
	John Capon	London and Surrey	Born in Surrey.[50] Mentioned in match reports from 1748 to 1755.[65]
	George Carter[50]	London	Recorded from 1748 to 1749.[65]