List of early English cricketers to 1771
Year Name Sides Notes
1747 John Bell Dartford and Kent Noted wicketkeeper who was referred to after his death as the most noted cricketer in England . Ran the Eleven Cricketers public house on East Hill in Dartford
1747 Thomas Bell Dartford and Kent Brother of the above . Condemned to death in 1762 but later reprieved
1747 John Mansfield Sevenoaks and Kent Batsman noted for single wicket appearances
1747 John Larkin Hadlow and Kent Noted single wicket performer
1747 Jones Hadlow and Kent Mentioned in match reports from 1747 to 1749
1747 Joseph Rudd Sussex Noted single wicket performer
1747 Pye Sussex Noted single wicket performer
1747 Robert Eures Bexley and Kent Known to have been a good batsman who played for All-England teams
1747 Thomas Jure London Mentioned in match reports from 1747 to 1749
1747 Allen Kent Recorded in one match in 1747
1748 Durling Addington and Surrey Mentioned in match reports from 1748 to 1761
1748 John Capon London and Surrey Mentioned in match reports from 1748 to 1755
1748 George Carter London Recorded four times from 1748 to 1749
1748 Walker London Recorded in one single wicket match in 1748
1749 John Frame Dartford and Kent Arguably the first great fast bowler in cricket history and had a long career from 1749 to at least 1774
1749 Perry Surrey Mentioned in match reports from 1749 to 1755 . Has been confused with the 1726 player , who could have been a relation
1749 Humphreys Surrey Recorded in two matches in 1749
1749 John Colchin Bromley Probably Robert Colchin 's brother ; recorded in two matches in 1749
1749 Joseph Hitches Colchin 's XI Recorded three times in 1749
1749 Thomas Southam Colchin 's XI Recorded three times in 1749
Cricketers -- 1746 to 1760
Main article : History of cricket ( 1726–63 )
This is a list of the earliest known English cricketers whose careers began prior to the first matches which are considered to be first-class status in 1772. The list is by season, this being the season in which the player's name first appears in surviving 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. In the early 1760s, pitched delivery bowling was introduced and this necessitated the invention of the straight 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 are preserved on a regular basis.