John Wood (Kent cricketer, born 1745) facts for kids

John Wood (born in 1745, died in July 1816 in Seal, Kent) was an English cricket player. He played for Kent. His cricket career started in the 1760s. This was before detailed records for top-level matches were kept. His known career in "first-class" cricket lasted from 1772 to 1783. First-class cricket means the highest level of professional matches at that time.

Who Was John Wood?

John Wood was a talented cricketer from Kent. He was known for his skills on the field. He played during a time when cricket was becoming very popular in England.

A Common Name, Two Players

It can be a bit tricky to learn about John Wood. This is because another cricketer named John Wood played at the same time. That other John Wood played for Surrey. People often confused the two players.

Cricket records show that a player named "Wood" played in many matches. It's sometimes hard to tell which John Wood it was. But historians have worked hard to figure out which matches belong to John Wood of Kent.

What Was He Like?

According to John Nyren, a famous cricket writer, John Wood of Kent was a "change bowler." This means he was a bowler who could change the pace or style of his bowling during a game. Nyren also said he was tall, strong, and a very good all-around player.

In 1773, John Wood had a serious knee injury. People were worried he might need a leg amputation. But he was back playing cricket in 1774. This shows he recovered well from his injury.

Early Matches

The name John Wood first appears in cricket records around 1769. One John Wood played for Caterham against the famous Hambledon. This was likely the John Wood from Surrey.

However, in the same year, a player named Wood played for the Duke of Dorset's team. This match was against Wrotham. Since the Duke of Dorset had strong connections to Kent, this player was probably John Wood of Kent.