Talk:1734 English cricket season

No

You'll find that long distance coach travel only took off so to speak in the period just before the Napoleonic Wars. The advent of Notts, Norfolk and Sheffield matches after 1830 is a good guide. A coach in 1725 could only carry half a dozen people at significant cost. To travel from Leeds to London and back and play a match would have entailed three weeks. It was difficult to go from London to Brighton bag and baggage with a team in 1820 - and expensive. Pilch based himself in Town Malling you'll remember, it being impossible to trak from Suffolk. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.173.203.182 (talk) 12:33, 29 November 2016 (UTC)

You're right. I've removed the paragraph. I think the earliest reference to team travel might still be the Hambledon wagon which overturned once (in the 1770s?). Of course the real impact on cricket travel was the railways, as William Clarke famously took advantage. Thanks very much. Btw, let me know if you are okay with the matchlists in these reviews especially where there are borderline cases involving teams with few mentions (e.g., Chelsea v Fulham). Thanks again. Jack | ^{talk page} 13:58, 29 November 2016 (UTC)

I think that pre 1800 generally, it is difficult to exclude any match that found its way into the press. With exceptions, we can only guess as to the standard. Those are the so called important matches. But I would get as many matches as possible into a list. Post 1815 of course there are no brains but to my mind, not enough matches in the west or in my own area are included. The Oswestry games of c1820 and all the Salop games 1840ish either by the town team or Sir TC Eyton XI should be in. Some of these attracted several hundred spectators. Would be a test match could do the same. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.173.203.182 (talk) 09:02, 30 November 2016 (UTC)

The conditions we've laid down for early matches in first-class cricket include: "The historical view centres on the historical significance of a match (which is of course subjective) and its known contemporary importance measured by, as is often the case with early matches, the amount of money at stake. Other factors are the size of the crowd, if known, and the fact that a match was deemed notable enough to be reported in the press". That said, there are a few I've tentatively placed under "other events" so they should be in the main list. Single wicket is in a separate list but it has the same importance. I would draw a line at the Lord's fire in 1825 as I think we are on fairly sure ground from 1826, apart from matters of detail like bowling analyses. I'd be happy to look at the Oswestry/Salop/Eyton games, etc. as I've always thought you have a good point above the so-called "remote areas". I'll make a note. Thanks for your help which is very useful. Jack | ^{talk page} 09:47, 30 November 2016 (UTC)