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Gentlemen v Players was a long-running series of English first-class cricket matches. Two matches were played in 1806, but the fixture was not played again until 1819. It became an annual event, usually played at least twice each season, except for the years 1826, 1828, 1915–1918 and 1940–1945. In essence, it was a match between teams consisting of amateur ("Gentlemen") and professional cricketers ("Players") that reflected the English class structure of the 19th century: the Players were working class cricketers who earned their living through the game, whilst the Gentlemen were middle- and upper-class cricketers, usually products of the public school system, who were unpaid.
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.
Amateur status had a special meaning in English cricket. The amateur in this context was not merely someone who played cricket in his spare time but a particular type of first-class cricketer who existed officially until 1962, when the distinction between amateurs and professionals was abolished and all first-class players became nominally professional.
Through the Napoleonic Wars, county cricket virtually died as cricket was impacted by losses of investment and manpower.
References
- ↑ CricketArchive. Retrieved on 18 July 2009.
- ↑ Altham, p.61-62.
