William Sawyer (cricketer) facts for kids

William Sawyer (born around December 3, 1712 – died around April 2, 1761) was an English cricket player. He played cricket during the 1730s and 1740s. William was mainly connected with the Richmond and Surrey teams. We don't have many records from his time. But we know he played in at least six important matches between 1736 and 1747. He lived his whole life in Richmond and worked there as an innkeeper.

William Sawyer's Cricket Journey

Early Matches and Injuries

In June 1736, a big cricket match took place at Kennington Common. It was a "single wicket" game. This means only one or two players from each team batted at a time. The report mentioned two famous Richmond players. They were thought to be the "best two in England." We believe one of these players was William Sawyer. Sadly, one of the Richmond players got a serious injury. The ball hit his nose after coming off his bat. Some people insisted he keep playing, caring more about their bets than his health.

Being Called "One of the Best"

William Sawyer was definitely playing cricket in the 1730s. In 1743, he was even called "one of the best six players in England." This shows how good he was.

Famous Single Wicket Game (1743)

Sawyer is first clearly mentioned in a newspaper report from July 11, 1743. This was another famous single wicket game. It was played at the Artillery Ground in London. The Daily Advertiser newspaper said the six players in this game were the "best in England."

Teams and Results

The teams were:

• Three of Kent: William Hodsoll (from Dartford), Val Romney (from Sevenoaks), and John Cutbush (from Maidstone).
• Three of All-England: Richard Newland (from Slindon), John Bryant (from Bromley), and William Sawyer.

Kent won this exciting game by just 2 runs. The London Evening Post newspaper reported that about 10,000 people watched the match. A rematch was planned, but it didn't happen.

Playing for London (1743)

On July 25, 1743, Sawyer played for the London team. He was a "given man," which means he was brought in from another team to help London. They played against Addington at the Artillery Ground. Addington won this game easily. They scored 110 runs, while London only managed 32 and 74 runs.

Matches with Scorecards (1744)

In 1744, we have more details about Sawyer's games. Scorecards from two matches have survived.

• On June 2, London played Slindon at the Artillery Ground. Sawyer was on the London team. He scored 4 runs in each part of the game. Slindon won by 55 runs.
• On June 18, Sawyer was again a "given man." This time he played for the Kent team against the All-England team. This match was also at the Artillery Ground. Sawyer scored 0 and 5 runs. Kent won this close game by 1 wicket.

Last Known Game (1747)

William Sawyer's last known game was on August 31, 1747. He played for the All-England team against Kent at the Artillery Ground. We don't know the final score of this match. It had been postponed earlier because of an election.