Fascinating story of how cricket was born in Hampshire

According to the record books, a game similar to cricket was played for decades before Hambledon and Broadhalfpenny Down earned their place in history as the cradle of the sport.

It has been suggested by some individuals that the term cricket may have originated from the Old Saxon terms cpyce, referring to a stick, or cricc, which signifies a long wooden pole that then became criccett for a short length of wood.

It is widely accepted among historians that a Hambledon Cricket Club came into existence around the year 1750.

In the historical annals of Hambledon, the first known mention of cricket traces back to 1756. This reference can be found within the pages of The Oxford Gazette and Reading Mercury publication, recounting a peculiar incident involving a missing dog during a cricket game held at Broadhalfpenny Down.

Players photographed in a Southampton park about 1909. (Image: Archive)

The achievements of Hambledon Cricket Club were truly exceptional.

Records show the club won 29 games against an all-England team and also beat Kent 19 times and Surrey 12 times.

In June 1777, Hambledon played England for 1,000 guineas and won.

The last recorded game played by the original team was at Lords in 1793.

In honour of the founding club, a monument was installed at Broadhalfpenny Down in 1908.

Hampshire first played first-class cricket in 1864, and first competed in the County Championship in 1895, the sixth year in which the Championship was held. They were winners in 1961 and 1973.

They also won the NatWest Trophy - now the C&G Trophy in 1991, the now-defunct Benson & Hedges Cup - in 1988 and 1992, and the Sunday League in 1975, 1978 and 1986.

On September 3 2005 Hampshire won the C&G Trophy by 18 runs, including a century from Zimbabwean Sean Ervine, against Warwickshire.

The American and White Star cricket team in 1907. (Image: Archive)

One of the first photographs of a Southampton cricket team is thought to have come from the 1880s.

The players can be seen sporting neckties, a distinctive element of cricket fashion, along with the classic long-handled bats that were popular during that era.

In a crowd where every face is adorned with hair, it is evident from the full beards that the spirit of WG Grace had left its mark on these players, indicating a nod to the past era of cricket legends.

However, only nine of the men pictured are in cricketing gear and why is the distinguished gentleman seated, left of centre, holding a photo in his left hand and a cigar in his right?

A couple of decades later and a group of Edwardian players commissioned a professional photographer, Adolphe Rapp of 39, Bernard Street, Southampton, to capture the team in one of the local parks.

Once more, numerous players were seen wearing ties, indicating a sense of formality among the team. However, it was noticeable that there was a shortage of equipment, as some members of the team can be seen with only a single shinpad.

Around the same time, a picture was snapped of the American and White Star cricket team garbed in top hats and white flannels.