Details of only three significant matches have survived the 1766 English cricket season. [note 1]
On Thursday, 6 February, Robert Bartholomew died. He had played for Surrey in the 1750s and may have been related to the Bartholomews who played for Chertsey in the 1770s. He was the master of the Angel Inn at Islington and also of White Conduit House. [5]
Perhaps another nail in the coffin of the Artillery Ground when its latest keeper Mr Read died on Thursday, 25 September. Like George Smith before him, he was also the landlord of the Pyed Horse Inn. [5]
Sussex met Hampshire at a place called the Race Down, in the county of Hampshire. [6] The London Evening Post on 8 May 1766 said: "On Thursday the 19th, will be played a Grand Subscription Cricket Match, play'd on the Race Down, between the Counties of Hampshire and Sussex. The Wickets to be pitched by Ten o'Clock". It is known that Hampshire won. [7]
This is the earliest reference to Hampshire as an individual county team. Whether the Hambledon Club was involved is unrecorded. Some historians believe it was at about this time that the club, as distinct from a parish organisation, was founded. After the first innings the odds were 40 to 1 against Hampshire. Another source has recorded Tuesday, 17 June as the date, and has surmised that Goodwood was the venue, but all that can be said for certain is that the Hampshire team won. [8]
On 29 September, Bourne, long associated with Horatio Mann, played Dartford on Bishopsbourne Paddock. No details are known of the game apart from a brief mention in the Kentish Weekly Post. [9] [10]
As late as 8 October, Chertsey met Hambledon on Dartford Brent, a neutral venue. The result is unknown. [6] [9]