List of historically significant English cricket teams facts for kids

This "A to C" team was actually a Kent team! They picked players whose names started with A, B, or C. Their opponents, called "D to Z" (who were a Hampshire team), picked players whose names didn't start with A, B, or C. It was a very unusual match! The game was played at a neutral ground in Surrey.

These two "A to K" versus "L to Z" matches were truly alphabetical. Players were chosen based on the first letter of their last name. They were played at Lord's, a famous cricket ground, and included top players like Jem Broadbridge and William Lillywhite.

Teams called "A to M" and "N to Z" played five times. However, old records suggest these teams were actually named after their organizers, Earl of Winchilsea and Sir Horatio Mann, and weren't really picked alphabetically.

The Arundel club probably officially started in 1704. But two years earlier, an Arundel team played against a team put together by Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond. The Arundel ground at Bury Hill was used for many important matches in the 1700s. The Arundel club still plays cricket today in local leagues.

Bedfordshire is first mentioned in two matches against a combined Huntingdonshire & Northamptonshire team. The county's first main supporter and captain was John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford.

The very first known written rules for cricket, called the Articles of Agreement, were created by Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and Alan Brodrick. These rules were for two matches they organized in 1727. We don't know the results of those games.

This team played in the earliest known organized cricket match in the world! It was at Chevening, Kent, against a team called Weald and Upland.

The first mention of a team from Chatham, Kent, was a match against "West of Kent" in 1705. This was one of the earliest important cricket matches we know about. The Chatham club eventually stopped playing, and there isn't a modern team quite like it.

Chelsea Common was a cricket ground that mostly disappeared under buildings later on. Records show five important matches involving the Chelsea club or played on their common. Their first recorded match was against Fulham in 1731, which Fulham won.

In 1724, a match involving Chingford ended early because the Chingford team refused to finish the game when the other team, Edwin Stead's XI, was winning. A judge, Lord Chief Justice Pratt, ordered them to finish the game so that all bets could be settled! The game was completed in 1726, but we don't know the final score.

Croydon was a very important club in the 1730s. Sometimes, it even represented the whole county of Surrey!

This team played against "A to C." The "D to Z" team was actually a Hampshire team, and they picked players whose names didn't start with A, B, or C. It was a fun, unusual way to pick teams!

Dartford was one of the earliest and most important cricket clubs in England, playing many significant matches throughout the 18th century.

Sometimes called "East Kent," these teams were often really the personal teams of Sir Horatio Mann. They played seven matches against the "West Kent" team.

Essex was an important county team in early cricket history, playing many matches against other counties and clubs.

The Free Foresters were a famous "wandering" cricket club, meaning they didn't have a home ground but traveled to play matches. They were known for playing friendly but competitive games.

Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet was a big supporter of cricket in Sussex. He ran his own team for many years. His team is believed to have achieved the earliest known innings victory in 1729!

The "Gentlemen" teams were made up of amateur players (those who played for fun, not money). They often played against "Players" teams, who were professional cricketers.

This team played one match against the Gentlemen of Middlesex. We don't know the result of that game.

This team played one match against the Gentlemen of London. We don't know the result.

This was a team put together by Arthur Gilligan. They played a match in 1925, and then Gilligan brought the team back in 1958 to play against international touring teams at Hastings.

The Hambledon Club was incredibly important in cricket history! Teams from Hambledon were often called "Hampshire" teams, but sometimes they were specifically "Hambledon" teams representing their town.

This combined team from three counties played against Edwin Stead's XI. It was likely organized by Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet.

I Zingari is one of the oldest and most famous "wandering" cricket clubs. Their name means "The Gypsies" in Italian, because they traveled around to play matches.

Kent was one of the strongest and most important county teams in the early days of cricket. They played many famous matches.

This team played against the "A to K" team, with players chosen based on the first letter of their last name.

These were special matches where a team of left-handed players played against a team of right-handed players.

The London club was very important in the early 1700s, almost like a county team. They were famous for playing at the Artillery Ground and were especially good at single wicket cricket (a type of game with fewer players). The original London club became less active later in the 1700s.

These teams were formed by combining players from London and Surrey. They often played against strong Kent teams, as Kent was considered the best county at the time.

These were fun matches where a team of married players played against a team of single players!

Middlesex was an important county team in early cricket, playing many matches against other counties and clubs.

This team represented the "Minor Counties," which are smaller cricket counties in England that don't play in the top-level County Championship.

Mitcham was one of the earliest and most active cricket clubs, playing important matches for over a century.

This team played against the "A to M" team. As mentioned before, these teams were likely named after their organizers, not truly picked alphabetically.

These teams were often called "England" or "All England," but they usually meant "The Rest of England" playing against a specific club or county. Famous versions included William Clarke's All-England Eleven and the United All-England Eleven.

Northamptonshire first played as part of a combined team with Huntingdonshire, and then on its own against Buckinghamshire. Their first main supporter and captain was George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax.

These were matches where players over 30 years old played against players under 30. It was a fun way to see how different age groups performed!

This was a team made up of players from three different Kent villages, who joined together to play against Dartford.

The "Players" teams were made up of professional cricketers (those who played for money). They often played against "Gentlemen" teams, who were amateur players.

Portsmouth played against Slindon in Slindon's very first important match.

Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond, was a big supporter of cricket. He's known to have been involved in a match against Arundel in 1702, which his team won.

Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, was a very important person in cricket, especially in Sussex. He ran his own team for many years and was later involved with the famous Slindon.

These teams played in special "Left-handed vs. Right-handed" matches, which were quite unique!

Sevenoaks was an active club in Kent, playing a number of important matches at their home ground, the Vine Cricket Ground.

These teams played in the fun "Married vs. Single" matches!

Slindon was a very strong and important cricket club in the 1740s, known for its skilled players.

Edwin Stead was a key supporter of cricket teams in Kent in the 1720s. He ran his own team and also led teams representing the county of Kent.

Surrey was one of the earliest and most important county teams in English cricket history.

Tonbridge played against Dartford in 1723. The next year, they teamed up with Penshurst and Wadhurst for another match against Dartford.

This was a very famous professional cricket team that toured around England, playing against local clubs and county teams.

This team took part in the world's earliest known organized cricket match at Chevening, Kent, playing against the Chalkhill team.

Sometimes called "West Kent," these teams were often the personal teams of the Duke of Dorset or S. Amherst. They played many matches against the "East Kent" teams.

This club was an important early cricket club in London.

The name "Yorkshire" was first used for a team when the Sheffield Cricket Club played against Norfolk in 1833. Sheffield teams often called themselves Yorkshire when playing against other counties. The first "Roses Match" against Lancashire happened in 1849. The official Yorkshire County Cricket Club was formed in 1863.

This was a special team put together for just one match against an "All-England" team. The All-England team won easily!