Richard Nyren facts for kids

Richard Nyren (1734 – 1797) was a famous English professional cricketer. He played during the golden age of the Hambledon Club. Richard was a true all-rounder, meaning he was good at both batting and bowling. He was also one of the first well-known left-handed players.

Nyren was the captain of the Hampshire cricket team. His team included other great players like John Small and Thomas Brett. Richard Nyren played in at least 51 known matches between 1764 and 1784. People called him the team's "general" on the field. He also helped manage the club and arranged food for match days.

Richard Nyren's Cricket Journey

Early Days in Cricket

Richard Nyren lived in Sussex in 1758. He moved to Hambledon by 1762. We first hear about him playing cricket in 1764. He was the captain of the Hambledon team. They beat Chertsey by 4 wickets. This game was played at Laleham Burway in September.

Many Hambledon matches were played from 1764 to 1771. But we don't have all the details about them. Nyren was definitely playing during this time. More complete records started in 1772. In 1769, he captained Hambledon again. They won against Caterham at Guildford Bason.

In September 1771, Nyren led Hambledon against Chertsey. This game is famous as the "big bat match". A Chertsey player used a very wide bat. Thomas Brett from Hambledon complained about it. Nyren supported Brett. This led to a big change in the Laws of Cricket. In 1774, a new rule limited the width of cricket bats.

Playing Years: 1772 to 1774

Richard Nyren was very loyal to his team. He was never recorded playing for any team other than Hambledon or Hampshire. This was unusual for his time. From 1772, detailed scorecards were kept. Nyren played in 48 first-class matches until he retired in 1784. The Hambledon/Hampshire team was very strong. They were considered the best team in 10 seasons.

In 1772, Nyren played for Hampshire against Kent. He scored 29 runs, the highest in the match. Hampshire then played three first-class matches. Nyren led them to win two games against All-England. They played at Broadhalfpenny Down and Guildford Bason.

The year 1773 was tough for Hambledon. They lost all nine of their known matches. Nyren led the team in most of these games. But Hampshire did better in 1774. They beat an All-England Eleven twice. However, they lost twice to Kent, who were very strong. Nyren captained the team in all 5 of his known games that year.

Great Moments: 1775 to 1777

In 1775, Nyren played in 4 first-class matches. He was not in one of the most famous games ever. This was when a Hambledon team beat a Kent team by one wicket. A player named John Small was nearly out three times. The ball went through the two-stump wicket without knocking off the bail. This led to the rule for adding a middle stump.

Nyren did play against Surrey in July 1775. He scored his highest known score of 98 runs. He and John Small had a huge partnership. Small went on to score 136 runs. This was the first recorded century in first-class cricket. Hampshire won by a lot of runs. After Nyren was out, two club officials were upset. They had bet against Hampshire. Nyren told them: "Another time, don't bet your money against such men as we are."

In 1776, Hampshire finally started beating Kent. Nyren played in all 7 of Hampshire's first-class matches. In one game, he scored 70 runs and took 3 wickets. His runs made a big difference. Later, he helped Hampshire win another game. He also took 5 wickets in one innings against Surrey.

The year 1777 was another great one for Hambledon. Hampshire played All-England six times and won four. In June, Hampshire beat All-England by a huge margin. James Aylward scored a record 167 runs. Nyren also scored 37 runs in that game. In August, Nyren took 4 wickets. Hampshire won by just 1 wicket.

Later Years: 1778 to 1784

By 1778, Richard Nyren was about 44 years old. He played in fewer matches. From June 1778 until his last game in 1784, he played 19 more times. He was still a good bowler. In July 1778, he took 4 wickets against All-England.

In 1779, Hambledon had one of its best seasons. They won all four first-class matches. Nyren took at least 16 wickets. He was mostly bowling by now, batting lower in the order. He played only two games in 1780. But he still bowled well, taking 5 wickets against Kent. He continued to take good wickets in 1781 and 1782. He helped Hampshire win a close game against Kent in 1781.

Nyren stopped playing cricket in 1784. Around this time, the White Conduit Club started playing. This was a sign of change for Hambledon. Many rich cricket fans started looking for a London club. Richard Nyren's last game was in June 1784. All-England beat Hampshire. Nyren scored 0 and 8 runs, and took no wickets.

Richard Nyren's Cricket Style

Batting and Bowling Skills

Richard Nyren was left-handed for both batting and bowling. He was one of the earliest well-known left-handers. Other left-handed players of his time included James Aylward and Tom Sueter.

Nyren was a bowling all-rounder. He and Thomas Brett were the main bowlers for Hambledon. He bowled underarm at a fast-medium speed. People said his balls were "provokingly deceitful." This meant they were tricky for batsmen to hit.

Leadership and Coaching

Many people thought Nyren was the best all-round player. He was seen as the expert in all cricket matters. At Hambledon, he was "the chosen general of all the matches." He made all the decisions. If there was a question about cricket rules, everyone asked Nyren. His decision was always accepted. A great example is the "big bat" incident in 1771. Nyren, Brett, and Small helped change the Laws of Cricket.

Nyren was also a successful coach. He helped a young bowler named David Harris. Harris used to bowl too many "full tosses." Nyren taught him how to bowl with better line and length. This helped Harris become a top bowler in the 1780s.

Richard Nyren's Personality

People often called Richard Nyren "The General" on the cricket field. His friends knew him as Dick. He was a "very stout man" but also "uncommonly active." He was about five feet nine inches tall. He stayed fit in winter by hunting, shooting, and fishing.

His son, John Nyren, wrote about him. He said his father was a "thoroughbred old English yeoman." This means he was a strong, independent, and honest man. Richard Nyren was not afraid to speak his mind. He would stand up for what was right. Even if it meant disagreeing with important people like the Duke of Dorset. Once, when Nyren was proven right, a patron shook his hand.

Richard Nyren's Life Outside Cricket

Family and Home Life

Richard Nyren's uncles were famous cricketers from Slindon. They taught him how to play when he was a boy. In 1758, he married Frances Pennicud in Slindon. By 1762, he had moved to Hambledon.

He became the landlord of a pub called The Hut. Later, its name changed to the Bat and Ball Inn. This pub is very famous in cricket history. It's still open today, right next to the Hambledon Club's ground. In 1772, Nyren took over another pub, the George Inn. This one was in Hambledon village. His friend William Barber took over the Bat and Ball. Nyren also had a small farm.

Club Duties and Legacy

For many years, Nyren and Barber managed the food for match days. They set up booths at the cricket grounds. They offered "excellent cold collation" for ladies and gentlemen. This included beef, ham, chicken, and tarts.

Nyren was also the Secretary of the Hambledon Club for a while. One of his jobs was to collect money from members who hadn't paid. This was often a difficult task.

Richard Nyren's son, John, wrote a famous book. It was called The Cricketers of My Time. This book tells us a lot about his father and the Hambledon Club.

The Hambledon Club was successful because its members and players worked together. Nyren was a key player. After he stopped playing, he became the Club Secretary. He worked with the Treasurer, John Richards. They tried to keep the club going.

However, a new cricket ground opened in London. It was called Lord's. Many Hambledon members started a new club there. This was the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The MCC soon became the most important cricket club. Lord's became the new main place for cricket.

Richard Nyren moved to Bromley-by-Bow in 1796. He passed away there on April 25, 1797.