Richard May (cricketer) facts for kids

Richard May was a well-known cricketer who played in the 1700s. He was famous as a bowler for teams from Kent. Richard played cricket during the 1760s and 1770s.

His main cricket career lasted from 1773 to 1780. Richard had a brother named Tom May, who was also a cricketer for Kent. Tom was known as a great batsman.

Who Was Richard May?

Richard May was a talented cricketer from England. He was especially good at bowling, which means he threw the ball to try and get the other team's players out. He played for Kent, a county in England, during a time when cricket was still developing.

Richard and his brother Tom often played in the same matches. Back then, cricket records were not always very detailed. Sometimes, the scorecards didn't write down the full names of players. This makes it hard for historians to tell Richard and Tom apart in some old games.

Playing Cricket for Kent

Richard May was a key bowler for Kent's cricket teams. He helped his team compete in many matches during his career. His brother Tom May was known for his batting skills, meaning he was good at hitting the ball.

An old saying about the brothers shows how important they were to their team:

Tom was for batting, Dick for bowling famed

This verse tells us that Tom was famous for hitting the ball, and Richard was famous for bowling it.

Life Beyond Cricket

Not much is known about Richard May's personal life outside of cricket. We do know that he worked as a gamekeeper. A gamekeeper is someone who looks after wild animals on a large estate, often for hunting.

Richard May worked as a gamekeeper on the estate of Sir Horatio Mann. This estate was located at a place called Bourne Park House. Richard May passed away around the year 1796.