1822 English cricket season

1822 was the 36th season of cricket in England since the foundation of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). John Willes brought the roundarm issue to a head and sacrificed his own career in the process. The outstanding batsman James Saunders made his known debut. Details of nine matches are known.

Events

• The roundarm issue came to a head in 1822 when, in the MCC v. Kent match at Lord's, John Willes of Kent opened the bowling and was no-balled for using a roundarm action, a style he had attempted to introduce since 1807. Willes promptly withdrew from the match and refused to play again in any important fixture.
• Roundarm was a natural reaction to the growing predominance of batsmen over the age-old underarm style of bowling. Its adherents argued that the legalisation of roundarm was essential to restore the balance between batting and bowling. However, high-scoring matches were still comparatively rare owing to vagaries in pitch conditions.
• Nine matches were recorded in 1822:
• 20–21 May — Cambridge University v Cambridge Town Club @ University Ground, Cambridge
• 10–11 June — MCC First XII v MCC Second XII @ Lord's Cricket Ground
• 24 June — MCC First XI v MCC Second XI @ Lord's Cricket Ground
• 27–28 June — Godalming v Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) @ The Burys, Godalming
• 1–2 July — Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) v Godalming @ Lord's Cricket Ground
• 8–10 July — Gentlemen v Players @ Lord's Cricket Ground
• 15–16 July — Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) v Kent @ Lord's Cricket Ground
• 25–27 July — Kent v Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) @ West Kent CC, Chislehurst
• 12–14 August — England v The Bs @ Lord's Cricket Ground

Notes

References

Bibliography

Further reading