The cradle of cricket

A picturesque village green.

Clouds scattered across a brilliant blue sky.

The sound of leather on willow.

Cricket. So much more than a sport. There’s something quintessentially British about a lazy summer’s afternoon watching a game of cricket on the village green, refreshments in hand, the scoreboard ticking over.

And here in Hambledon, we have a special connection with the game…

Formed around 1750, Hambledon Cricket Club quickly became the most powerful cricket club in the country, attracting many of the top players of the day.

Under the guidance of club captain Richard Nyren – who was the landlord of The Bat and Ball Inn – Hambledon achieved great success.

Fans would flock to Hambledon to watch the matches and witnessed several famous victories over the All England team; on one occasion, Hambledon triumphed by a staggering innings and 168 runs.

Hambledon is also credited with developing many of the laws of cricket, including length bowling, the use of a third stump and regulating the width of the bat.

The rise of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1787 meant control and administration of the game gradually passed from Hambledon to Lord’s cricket ground in London.

Hambledon Cricket Club moved to a new location at Ridge Meadow sometime during the 19th century - still home to the Hambledon team today – while a memorial stone now stands on Broadhalfpenny Down, which now plays host to the Broadhalfpenny Brigands Cricket Club.

Although Hambledon cannot be credited with creating the game of cricket, it certainly played a vital role in creating its enduring appeal and has rightly earned its place in the history books.

The village remains popular with cricket fans from far and wide, eager to pay a visit to ‘The Cradle of Cricket’.