2-888-737 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Cricket - drawn by Duncan, 1850. 'The Cricket season commences late in May, and is, therefore, now in full force. Cricket has its changes as well as all other things mundane. In 1746, we read of "a challenge given by Lord John Sackville, on the part of the county of Kent, to play all England; and it proved to be a well-contested match, as will appear from the manner in which the players kept the field. The hitting, however, could neither have been of a high character, nor, indeed, safe, as may be gathered from the figure of the bat at that time, which was similar to an old-fashioned dinner-knife-curved at the back, and sweeping in the form of a volute at the front and end'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.