Berkshire county cricket teams have been traced back to the 18th century but the county's involvement in

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

goes back much further than that.

17th century

As elsewhere in south east England, cricket became established in Berkshire during the 17th century and the earliest village matches took place before the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

. It is believed that the earliest county teams were formed in the aftermath of the

Restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...

in 1660.

18th century

Berkshire had a leading county team in the 18th century, particularly in the period from c.1769 to 1795. The team is recognised as having first-class status during that time. The county organisation was centred on the Old Field ''aka'' Maidenhead Cricket Club which played at

Old Field, Bray Old Field at Bray, Berkshire was a noted cricket ground in the late 18th century. It was used as the venue for four first-class matches between 1792 and 1795 in addition to several minor matches.Arthur Haygarth, ''Scores & Biographies'', Volume ...

. This club was usually representative of the county. G. B. Buckley, ''Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket'', Cotterell, 1935

Arthur Haygarth Arthur Haygarth (4 August 1825 – 1 May 1903) was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians. He played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club and Sussex between 1844 and 1861, as well as num ...

, ''Scores & Biographies'', Volume 1 (1744-1826), Lillywhite, 1862

H. T. Waghorn Henry Thomas Waghorn (11 April 1842 – 30 January 1930), was a cricket statistician and historian. He is best known for his two classic researches into cricket's early history: ''The Dawn of Cricket'' and Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730 - 1773 ...

, ''The Dawn of Cricket'', Electric Press, 1906 Noted Berkshire players included

Thomas Waymark Thomas Waymark (probably born 17 June 1705) was an English professional cricketer in the first half of the 18th century. He is one of the earliest known players on record and is widely accounted the sport's first great all-rounder. Cricket car ...

and George T. Boult.

19th century

The present

Berkshire County Cricket Club Berkshire County Cricket Club is one of twenty National county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Berkshire. The team is currently a member of the National Counties Champions ...

was formed in 1895 but it has never had first-class status, always being a member of the

Minor Counties Championship The NCCA 3 Day Championship (previously the Minor Counties Cricket Championship) is a season-long competition in England and Wales that is contested by the members of the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA), the so-called national cou ...

.''Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1896''

References

Bibliography

* * * {{English cricket teams in the 18th century History of Berkshire English cricket teams in the 18th century Former senior cricket clubs Cricket in Berkshire