420:
483:
473:
It is sometimes said that Small invented the straight bat, replacing the old curved bat in the 1760s after bowlers started pitching the ball instead of skimming or trundling it. It is more accurate to say that he was the first batsman to master the use of the straight bat and that he subsequently
378:
matches, but he seems to have been less successful in this form of cricket than in the eleven-a-side version. On 22–23 May 1775, he played in one single wicket innings that was of enormous significance in the evolution of the sport because it led directly to the introduction of the third (middle)
247:
Small was a playing member of
Hambledon during its years of greatness. He was definitely playing for Hambledon by 1764 and his name is found in the club's scorecards until 1798 when he was over 60. Knowledge of the early years of his career are sketchy due to the lack of detailed records before
362:
out of a team total of 146. In the second innings, he scored 34 out of 79 and his team won by 53 runs, an illustration of his enormous value to
Hampshire. His innings of 78 was the highest individual score definitely recorded to that time. Although higher scores such as
379:
stump to what had always been a two-stump wicket. This was the single wicket "fives" game at the
Artillery Ground when a Hambledon Five defeated a Kent Five by one wicket, the not out batsman being Small who in the course of his second innings was beaten three times by
370:
Small's 1772 aggregate of 213 runs from six innings would give him an average of 35.50 if all his innings were completed (scorecards in 1772 do not confirm the not out batsmen). This may seem low by modern standards but scores were much lower in general at the time.
466:
technique. He was noted for his sound defence but he was also a fluent strokemaker who used his wrists particularly well. John Nyren described him as the "best short runner of his day" and believed him to be "the first who turned the short run to account".
317:
used a bat that was as wide as the wicket, possibly in an attempt to force an issue about the width of the new straight bats that had recently replaced the old curved sticks. Whether that was White's intention is unclear but his action ensured that a
406:
set a new mark with a score of 167. Small scored this century in the 5th wicket turned the match in
Hampshire's favour, and they eventually won by 296 runs after having looked certain to lose before Small and Richard Nyren came together.
383:, only for the ball to pass through the two-stump wicket each time without hitting the stumps or the bail. As a result of Lumpy's protests, the middle stump was legalised and introduced, although its introduction was gradual.
493:
He was married and had at least five children including three daughters who died in childhood (see photograph of the family's tombstone). His wife Ann (born c.1739) died on 22 November 1802, aged 63. His two sons,
248:
scorecards became common from 1772, but it is believed he began playing in top-class cricket during the 1750s and may well have taken part in the earliest known
Hambledon matches, a tri-series against
279:. This was a feat almost unheard of at that time but it is not quite clear from the original source if it was in one innings or his match total. Only a week later, playing for Hambledon against
502:, also played senior cricket. Mrs Ann Small was a vociferous supporter of the Hambledon team and was a regular attendee at its matches, often travelling with the team to away games too.
350:
and three 1772 cards have survived. Small played in all three matches and was easily the season's highest runscorer with 213 in his six innings. The only other player to exceed 100 was
298:
states that "the utmost activity and skill in the game was displayed by each individual through the whole course of this match, but particularly the batting of Messrs Small and
532:, who, when learning of Small's musical skills, sent him "a handsome violin". Small returned the favour by sending the Duke a present of two newly made cricket bats and balls.
548:. Small received high praise indeed for Nyren wrote that "(Small) shines among them (i.e., the Hambledon players) in all the lustre of a star of the first magnitude" (i.e., a
367:'s 88 in 1745 and Small's own 140-plus in 1768 have been mentioned in the sources, it is not clear if those were definitely made in one innings or if they were match totals.
1165:
703:
229:, Small is the first person known to have been described in literature in terms that attest him to have been a "superstar". In 1997, he was named by
402:'s score of 107 set in 1769 and it was the first century scored in a match that has been awarded first-class status. It lasted only until 1777 when
555:
His legacy is well summarised by a contemporary verse about him which, it is believed, he displayed on a sign outside his workshop in
Petersfield:
200:
in important cricket. The strength of the
Hambledon/Hampshire team during Small's prime years can be seen in the team being rated the (unofficial)
17:
283:
at
Broadhalfpenny Down, Small scored "about four-score notches ... and was not out when the game was finished", Hambledon winning by 7 wickets.
1145:
1125:
1120:
1170:
1155:
314:
972:
470:
Small rarely if ever bowled but he was "an admirable fieldsman, always playing middle wicket" and "as active as a hare".
1175:
529:
490:
Nyren says that Small was "a remarkably well-made and well-knit man of a handsome countenance and honest expression".
1030:
1150:
211:
Small was a very influential player who was involved in the creation of two significant permanent additions to the
322:
which limited the width to 4.25 inches. This rule supported a written motion presented by
Hambledon bowler
582:
577:
355:
147:
1160:
1140:
1135:
430:
305:
Small was involved in one of the most controversial incidents in early cricket history when
Hambledon played
330:
and senior batsman Small. The original of Brett's memorandum, bearing Small's signature, is maintained by
1130:
391:
364:
347:
280:
261:
217:: the maximum width of the bat and the introduction of the middle stump (out of the three stumps) of the
31:
192:
of the 18th century and acknowledged as having been the first to master the use of the modern straight
780:
403:
272:
865:
323:
540:
Like so many of his contemporaries, Small's fame is based largely on the testimony paid to him by
331:
459:
306:
287:
265:
249:
1091:
313:
in September 1771. Hambledon won the match by 1 wicket. It was in this game that Chertsey's
1115:
1110:
160:
8:
903:
395:
354:
who made 136, also in six innings. In the first match of the season, Small scored 78 for
276:
180:
who played during the 18th century and had one of the longest careers on record. Born at
359:
208:, where he was in residence for most of his life and where he established businesses.
1026:
982:
968:
463:
387:
197:
189:
834:
Note that the term "short run" refers to what would now be called a "quick single".
1040:
951:
319:
291:
213:
201:
737:
462:, Small did much to lay the foundations of what can now be recognised as modern
351:
310:
226:
1104:
1064:
1052:
1018:
939:
927:
455:
399:
380:
375:
327:
222:
1095:
915:
891:
514:
486:
John Small's tombstone in the churchyard at St Peter's Church, Petersfield.
994:
525:
510:
299:
205:
196:
which was introduced in the 1760s. He probably scored the earliest known
193:
98:
419:
1006:
541:
506:
495:
704:"Who has the most Test wickets without dismissing the same man twice?"
390:
in a first-class match when he made 136 not out for Hampshire against
271:
In August 1768, Small scored more than 140 runs for Hambledon against
571:
549:
499:
335:
231:
185:
79:
181:
75:
509:
but he later expanded his business to include the manufacture of
177:
521:
218:
204:
in 10 seasons: 1766–1771, 1776–1777, 1779 and 1783. He died at
176:(19 April 1737 – 31 December 1826) was an English professional
225:. Acclaimed as the greatest player associated with the famous
482:
346:
The production of match scorecards became common from the
386:
Small's most famous feat was scoring the earliest known
528:. One of his greatest admirers was the cricket patron
260:
The earliest definite mention of Small dates from the
505:
Outside cricket, Small's profession was originally a
454:
Along with other greats of the Hambledon era such as
294:and won by 4 wickets. A contemporary report in the
1166:Hampshire and Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers
1102:
965:From Commons to Lord's, Volume Two: 1751 to 1770
932:Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development
956:Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744–1826)
902:
264:when Hambledon played three matches against
477:
188:, he is generally regarded as the greatest
520:Small was musical and could play both the
1039:
30:For other people with the same name, see
987:Sussex Cricket in the Eighteenth Century
950:
896:A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914)
620:
618:
616:
481:
326:that was counter-signed by club captain
1063:
1057:Cricket Scores, Notes, etc. (1730–1773)
1051:
1017:
938:
821:
819:
817:
815:
813:
811:
606:
604:
602:
374:Small has been recorded in a number of
14:
1103:
1075:
981:
914:
890:
842:
840:
689:
687:
449:
1146:Left-Handed v Right-Handed cricketers
1005:
926:
908:Hambledon Cricket Chronicle 1772–1796
613:
993:
962:
808:
599:
414:
944:Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket
920:A Social History of English Cricket
837:
684:
587:100 Greatest Cricketers of All Time
474:manufactured them in his workshop.
237:100 Greatest Cricketers of All Time
24:
1126:English cricketers of 1787 to 1825
1121:English cricketers of 1701 to 1786
563:Pitches a wicket, plays at cricket
530:John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset
25:
1187:
1085:
242:
418:
18:John Small (Hambledon cricketer)
884:
858:
849:
828:
799:
773:
764:
755:
738:"The origins of cricket jargon"
730:
721:
410:
696:
671:
662:
649:
640:
627:
13:
1:
1156:White Conduit Club cricketers
592:
341:
255:
7:
1171:Sir H. Mann's XI cricketers
1009:(1998). Ashley Mote (ed.).
898:. George Allen & Unwin.
578:Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
10:
1192:
934:. Eyre & Spottiswoode.
781:"From Minshull to Collins"
569:In 1997, in an article in
286:In 1769, Hambledon played
131:Domestic team information
29:
1176:Cricketers from Hampshire
1023:Barclays World of Cricket
1011:The Cricketers of my Time
999:The Glory Days of Cricket
546:The Cricketers of My Time
535:
157:
153:
143:
138:
135:
130:
122:
114:
106:
87:
61:
51:
46:
989:. Sussex Record Society.
565:With any man in England.
478:Family and personal life
398:in July 1775. This beat
302:on the Hambledon side".
1151:People from Petersfield
1076:Wilson, Martin (2005).
332:Marylebone Cricket Club
727:Ashley-Cooper, p. 177.
567:
559:Here lives John Small,
487:
427:This section is empty.
557:
485:
1161:East Kent cricketers
1141:Hampshire cricketers
1136:Hambledon cricketers
904:Ashley-Cooper, F. S.
866:"Woodcock's Hundred"
785:www.espncricinfo.com
101:, Hampshire, England
47:Personal information
1078:An Index to Waghorn
1069:The Dawn of Cricket
585:named Small in his
561:Makes bat and ball,
450:Style and technique
396:Broadhalfpenny Down
320:new rule was passed
277:Broadhalfpenny Down
43:
1131:English cricketers
963:Maun, Ian (2011).
488:
221:either end of the
39:
1071:. Electric Press.
974:978-0-9569066-0-1
967:. Martin Wilson.
825:Nyren, pp. 57-58.
610:Haygarth, p. 242.
447:
446:
334:in its museum at
171:
170:
27:English cricketer
16:(Redirected from
1183:
1081:
1072:
1060:
1048:
1041:Underdown, David
1036:
1025:. Willow Books.
1014:
1002:
990:
978:
959:
952:Haygarth, Arthur
947:
935:
923:
911:
899:
878:
877:
875:
873:
862:
856:
853:
847:
846:Mote, pp. 96-97.
844:
835:
832:
826:
823:
806:
805:Haygarth, p. 25.
803:
797:
796:
794:
792:
777:
771:
770:Haygarth, p. 25.
768:
762:
761:Haygarth, p. 21.
759:
753:
752:
750:
748:
734:
728:
725:
719:
718:
716:
714:
700:
694:
691:
682:
675:
669:
666:
660:
653:
647:
644:
638:
631:
625:
622:
611:
608:
442:
439:
429:You can help by
422:
415:
166:
102:
94:
91:31 December 1826
83:
71:
69:
44:
38:
21:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1185:
1184:
1182:
1181:
1180:
1101:
1100:
1088:
1033:
975:
887:
882:
881:
871:
869:
864:
863:
859:
854:
850:
845:
838:
833:
829:
824:
809:
804:
800:
790:
788:
787:. 20 April 2007
779:
778:
774:
769:
765:
760:
756:
746:
744:
736:
735:
731:
726:
722:
712:
710:
702:
701:
697:
692:
685:
676:
672:
668:Buckley, p. 56.
667:
663:
657:Dawn of Cricket
654:
650:
645:
641:
632:
628:
623:
614:
609:
600:
595:
564:
562:
560:
538:
480:
452:
443:
437:
434:
413:
365:Richard Newland
344:
296:Reading Mercury
292:Guildford Bason
258:
245:
214:Laws of Cricket
202:Champion County
167:
164:
97:
96:
92:
74:
73:
67:
65:
57:
42:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1189:
1179:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1099:
1098:
1087:
1086:External links
1084:
1083:
1082:
1073:
1065:Waghorn, H. T.
1061:
1053:Waghorn, H. T.
1049:
1037:
1031:
1021:, ed. (1986).
1019:Swanton, E. W.
1015:
1003:
991:
979:
973:
960:
948:
940:Buckley, G. B.
936:
928:Bowen, Rowland
924:
912:
900:
886:
883:
880:
879:
868:. ESPNcricinfo
857:
848:
836:
827:
807:
798:
772:
763:
754:
729:
720:
695:
693:Nyren, p. 156.
683:
679:Cricket Scores
670:
661:
648:
646:McCann, p. 73.
639:
635:Cricket Scores
626:
612:
597:
596:
594:
591:
537:
534:
479:
476:
451:
448:
445:
444:
425:
423:
412:
409:
352:William Yalden
343:
340:
311:Laleham Burway
257:
254:
244:
243:Cricket career
241:
235:as one of its
227:Hambledon Club
169:
168:
158:
155:
154:
151:
150:
145:
141:
140:
137:
133:
132:
128:
127:
124:
120:
119:
116:
112:
111:
108:
104:
103:
95:(aged 89)
89:
85:
84:
63:
59:
58:
55:
53:
52:Full name
49:
48:
40:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1188:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1108:
1106:
1097:
1093:
1090:
1089:
1079:
1074:
1070:
1066:
1062:
1058:
1054:
1050:
1047:. Allen Lane.
1046:
1045:Start of Play
1042:
1038:
1034:
1032:0-00-218193-2
1028:
1024:
1020:
1016:
1012:
1008:
1004:
1000:
996:
992:
988:
984:
980:
976:
970:
966:
961:
958:. Lillywhite.
957:
953:
949:
945:
941:
937:
933:
929:
925:
921:
917:
916:Birley, Derek
913:
909:
905:
901:
897:
893:
892:Altham, H. S.
889:
888:
867:
861:
852:
843:
841:
831:
822:
820:
818:
816:
814:
812:
802:
786:
782:
776:
767:
758:
743:
739:
733:
724:
709:
708:ESPN Cricinfo
705:
699:
690:
688:
680:
674:
665:
658:
652:
643:
636:
630:
621:
619:
617:
607:
605:
603:
598:
590:
588:
584:
583:John Woodcock
580:
579:
574:
573:
566:
556:
553:
551:
547:
543:
533:
531:
527:
523:
518:
516:
512:
508:
503:
501:
497:
491:
484:
475:
471:
468:
465:
461:
457:
456:Billy Beldham
441:
432:
428:
424:
421:
417:
416:
408:
405:
404:James Aylward
401:
400:John Minshull
397:
393:
389:
384:
382:
381:Lumpy Stevens
377:
376:single wicket
372:
368:
366:
361:
357:
353:
349:
339:
337:
333:
329:
328:Richard Nyren
325:
321:
316:
312:
308:
303:
301:
297:
293:
289:
284:
282:
278:
274:
269:
267:
263:
253:
251:
240:
238:
234:
233:
228:
224:
223:cricket pitch
220:
216:
215:
209:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
162:
156:
152:
149:
146:
142:
134:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
105:
100:
90:
86:
81:
77:
72:19 April 1737
64:
60:
54:
50:
45:
37:
33:
19:
1096:ESPNcricinfo
1077:
1068:
1059:. Blackwood.
1056:
1044:
1022:
1010:
998:
995:Mote, Ashley
986:
964:
955:
946:. Cotterell.
943:
931:
919:
907:
895:
885:Bibliography
870:. Retrieved
860:
855:Mote, p. 95.
851:
830:
801:
789:. Retrieved
784:
775:
766:
757:
745:. Retrieved
742:BBC Bitesize
741:
732:
723:
711:. Retrieved
707:
698:
678:
673:
664:
656:
651:
642:
634:
629:
624:Mote, p. 97.
586:
576:
570:
568:
558:
554:
545:
539:
519:
511:cricket bats
504:
492:
489:
472:
469:
453:
435:
431:adding to it
426:
411:Later career
385:
373:
369:
345:
324:Thomas Brett
315:Thomas White
304:
295:
285:
270:
259:
246:
236:
230:
212:
210:
173:
172:
165:31 July 2009
118:Right-handed
93:(1826-12-31)
36:
1116:1826 deaths
1111:1737 births
1080:. Bodyline.
1007:Nyren, John
983:McCann, Tim
526:double bass
438:August 2023
360:All-England
348:1772 season
300:John Bayton
262:1764 season
206:Petersfield
99:Petersfield
1105:Categories
1092:John Small
910:. Jenkins.
593:References
542:John Nyren
460:Tom Walker
174:John Small
68:1737-04-19
56:John Small
41:John Small
32:John Small
1094: at
1013:. Robson.
1001:. Robson.
677:Waghorn,
655:Waghorn,
633:Waghorn,
575:, former
572:The Times
550:superstar
356:Hampshire
342:1772–1775
256:1764–1771
252:in 1756.
232:The Times
186:Hampshire
178:cricketer
148:Hampshire
144:1768–1798
110:Old Small
82:, England
80:Hampshire
1067:(1906).
1055:(1899).
1043:(2000).
997:(1997).
985:(2004).
954:(1862).
942:(1935).
930:(1970).
922:. Aurum.
918:(1999).
906:(1924).
894:(1962).
791:4 August
747:4 August
713:29 March
681:, p. 76.
659:, p. 33.
637:, p. 66.
524:and the
358:against
307:Chertsey
288:Caterham
266:Chertsey
250:Dartford
182:Empshott
161:CricInfo
159:Source:
107:Nickname
76:Empshott
872:31 July
581:editor
507:cobbler
464:batting
388:century
198:century
190:batsman
126:Batsman
115:Batting
1029:
971:
536:Legacy
522:fiddle
392:Surrey
336:Lord's
281:Sussex
219:wicket
515:balls
136:Years
1027:ISBN
969:ISBN
874:2009
793:2023
749:2023
715:2022
513:and
498:and
496:Jack
458:and
273:Kent
139:Team
123:Role
88:Died
62:Born
552:).
544:in
500:Eli
433:.
394:at
309:at
290:at
275:at
194:bat
1107::
839:^
810:^
783:.
740:.
706:.
686:^
615:^
601:^
589:.
517:.
338:.
268:.
239:.
184:,
163:,
78:,
1035:.
977:.
876:.
795:.
751:.
717:.
440:)
436:(
70:)
66:(
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.