The first of twenty volumes which are the major source books about the history of the game. All cricket writers and historians use these books whether they acknowledge them or not. “Few books, other than the Bible or Shakespeare can ever have been thumbed so freely and cribbed from so flagrantly” said HP Thomas, a later well known cricket historian.
The first 14 volumes were published between 1862 and 1895, they covered the game in unbelievable detail from its beginnings until 1878. Volume one covers the period 1746 – 1826, so that is the one of relevance to this site.
A general history with a decent section on early cricket. Available here.
1920s. Six very long pamphlets written by PF Thomas, they deal with particular issues concerning early in enormous details, while fail to cohere to provide a coherent view of the development of the game. If you want to spend a lot of time thinking about issues such as the origin of the word ‘cricket’, these writings are a good place to start. That is, if you can find them – they are very rare.
1980. The great Encyclopedic of Cricket, a very wide coverage. The sections of early cricket history can be found here.
A general history with a good section on early cricket. Excellent maps and tables relating to early cricket. You will see a few on this site.
A general history with a decent section on early cricket. Benny Green is a very witty author, not known as cricket historian per sé, but his love of the game shines through.
Rowland Bowen is an extraordinary figure, widely known for having chopped one of his own legs off – we now call this urge Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID). More about his life can be gleaned here.
The book (1970) is one of the great books of cricket history. Bowen is incredibly well informed about world cricket and is on a mission to downplay the English involvement, hard though that may be. Strong on early cricket, this book should be reprinted. If you can get hold of a copy – do.
Birley is a brilliant writer, concentrating on social aspects of the game. Never less than skeptical of the cricketing establishment.
A very fine book, maybe winning best in show award, at least for a general history. John Major is of course, a former Prime Minister, one of a rare bred whose reputation grows with time. It must be said, he acknowledges considerable help in both researching and writing this book, but his tone of voice still shines through. Plenty of material about early cricket.
The one full length book to concentrate of the early game. a lot of time is spent contextualising the subject with in terms of broader English history. A very worthy aim, but sometimes reads like a PhD thesis.
A compendium of the great writings, can be read here.
Impressive history of cricket at Broadhalfpenny Down, even if it plays fast and loose with facts on occasions. For instance, the first cricket building, The Lodge, he says was located at Broadhalfpenny Down; it wasn’t, it was at Windmill Down. And that is hardly a secret.
Ashley Mote though is a discredited character. A far-right politician who has the distinction of being disowned by Nigel Farage, he was imprisoned for fraudulently claiming expenses from the European Parliament.
This book serves as a reply to The Glory Days. Goulstome takes Mote and other cricket writers to task for several inaccuracies. |For instance he devotes a chapter to explaining why the cricketer involved in the large bat incident is not Shock White by Thomas White of Reigate. He is also particularly keen on family trees, they crop up throughout the book, doing not much more than listing out names of people who we nothing about, a bit like a telephone directory.
It is both the best and the worst of cricket history. The research is meticulous, but there is no colour, no judgement, to make the text readable.
1871 – An early book of cricket history
1979 – Great history of cricket equipment, good coverage of early cricket
1983 – Fine book of cricket paintings, especially old cricket paintings.
A wonderful internet resource of information. If you want scorecards, averages, names – here they are