William Mathews (born 23 March 1793 at Crondall, Hampshire; died 20 August 1858 at Woodbridge, Suffolk) was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1821 to 1830. He was mainly associated with Surrey and made 31 known appearances in first-class matches. [1]
Mathews took part in the Gentlemen v Players matches between 1824 and 1830, usually representing the Players, but in 1825, he was a given man for the Gentlemen. He played for All-England in the 1827 roundarm trial matches and was one of the signatories to the petition after the second game that called upon the authorities to ban roundarm. [2]
Gentlemen v Players was a long-running series of cricket matches that began in July 1806 and was abolished in January 1963. It was a match between a team consisting of amateurs and a team consisting of professionals that reflected the English class structure of the 19th century. Typically, the professionals were working class people who earned their living by playing cricket, while the amateurs were middle- and upper-class products of the public school system, who were supposedly unpaid for playing. The professionals were paid wages by their county clubs and/or fees by match organisers, while the amateurs claimed expenses. However, while rules to distinguish amateurs from professionals were established by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the system of allowable expenses was both controversial and complex, enabling some leading amateurs to be paid more than any professional for playing cricket.
Thomas Walker was an English cricketer who played for Hampshire in the days of the Hambledon Club and later for Surrey. He was famous for his brilliant defensive batting. He is also credited with introducing roundarm bowling, the predecessor of modern overarm bowling.
The Reverend Lord Frederick de Vere Beauclerk, a 19th-century Anglican priest, was an outstanding but controversial English first-class cricketer, the leading "amateur" player of the Napoleonic period.
In English cricket, the years 1826–1845 were dominated by the roundarm bowling issue, which was resolved when the style was legalised in 1835, and by the formation of the first modern county clubs between 1839 and 1845.
Frederick William Lillywhite was an English first-class cricketer during the game's roundarm era. One of the main protagonists in the legalisation of roundarm, he was one of the most successful bowlers of his era. His status is borne out by his nickname: The Nonpareil.
James "Jem" Broadbridge (1795–1843) was an English professional cricketer who is widely considered the outstanding all-rounder in England during the 1820s. He played mainly for Sussex teams and made 102 known appearances in first-class cricket from 1814 to 1840, being best remembered for his part in the introduction of roundarm bowling. He played for the Players in the Gentlemen v Players series and the South in the North v. South series.
The roundarm trial matches were a series of cricket matches between Sussex and All-England during the 1827 English cricket season. Their purpose was to help the MCC, as the game's lawgivers, to decide if roundarm bowling should be legalised or if the only legitimate style of bowling should be underarm, which had been in use since time immemorial.
Cricket, and hence English amateur cricket, probably began in England during the medieval period but the earliest known reference concerns the game being played c.1550 by children on a plot of land at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, Surrey. It is generally believed that cricket was originally a children's game as it is not until the beginning of the 17th century that reports can be found of adult participation.
Alfred James "Dandy" Lowth was an English cleric and first-class cricketer with amateur status. As a cricketer he was active from 1836 to 1841, when his career was cut short because of failing eyesight.
Harvey Winson Fellows was an English amateur cricketer. He was the brother of Walter Fellows.
Herbert Jenner was an English barrister. As an amateur cricketer he played first-class cricket from 1825 to 1838. He changed his name to Herbert Jenner-Fust in 1864.
Edward Sayres was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1838 to 1842.
Joseph Makinson was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1856 to 1873.
Joseph McCormick was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1854 to 1866.
Reginald Hankey was an English first-class cricketer, active from 1853 to 1860.
Robert Turner King was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1846 to 1851.
George Brown was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1819 to 1838.
Edwin Napper was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1839 to 1862.
Henry Tobias Frere was an English first-class cricketer.
Through the Napoleonic Wars, county cricket virtually died as cricket was impacted by losses of investment and manpower.