1550 The approximate year in which the game
of cricket was started to be played in Guildford,
Surrey. 1598 The term ‘Cricket’ found a mention in
Florio's Italian-English dictionary. 1610 There is a reference found to
‘cricketing’ between Upland and Weald near Chevening,
Kent. 1611 French-English dictionary of Randle
Cotgrave translated the French term ‘crosse’ as a
cricket staff. 1676 First reference found to cricket being
played ‘abroad’, by Britishers residing in Aleppo,
Syria 1694 Two shillings and sixpence were paid for
a ‘wagger’ (wager) about a cricket match at Lewes 1697 First reference made to ‘a great match’
(in Sussex) involving 11 players a side for fifty
guineas 1700 Cricket match was announced on Clapham
Common.
Important dates in cricket history (1701-1800)
1709 First ever recorded inter-county match
takes place between Kent and Surrey. 1710 First reference found to cricket at
Cambridge University 1727 Articles of Agreement governing the
conduct of games between the teams of Mr Brodrick of
Peperharow, Surrey and the Duke of Richmond. 1729 Year of the earliest surviving bat.; it
belonged to John Chitty, and is now at The Oval
pavilion. 1730 First recorded match at the Artillery
Ground, central London. It’s still the ‘cricketing’
home of the Honorable Artillery Company. 1744 Kent defeated All England at the
Artillery Ground by one wicket. The year also marked
the first known version of the ‘Laws of Cricket’.
They were issued by the London Club, and formalized
the pitch as 22 yards long strip. 1767 The approximate year when the foundation
of the Hampshire based Hambledon Club, the leading
club in England for the next three decades, took
place. 1769 First recorded century, by Duke of
Dorset's player John Minshull XI versus Wrotham. 1771 Width of bat was limited to 4 1/4
inches, the dimension that has remained ever since. 1774 LBW law was devised. 1776 The earliest known scorecards at the
Vine Club of Sevenoaks (Kent) 1780 The first ever six-seamed cricket ball.
It was manufactured by Dukes of Penshurst (Kent) 1787 First match took place between White
Conduit Club v Middlesex at Thomas Lord's first
ground, Dorset Square (Marylebone). The year also
marked the formation of Marylebone Cricket Club by
the White Conduit Club members. 1788 First revision by MCC of the Laws of
Cricket 1794 First ever recorded inter-schools match
took place between Charterhouse and Westminster. 1795 First recorded instance of a ‘leg before
wicket’ dismissal
