extreme cricket

Also from Strutt's Sports and Pastimes

* CRICKET ON HORSEBACK.--The advertisement columns of the Kentish Gazette of 29th April 1794, contain the following:--
"Cricketing on Horseback.--A very singular game of cricket will be played on Tuesday, the 6th of May, in Linsted Park, between the Gentlemen of the Hill and the Gentlemen of the Dale, for one guinea a man. The whole to be performed on horseback. To begin at nine o'clock, and the game to be played out. A good ordinary on the ground by John Hogben."

* In Lilywhite's Score Sheets it is stated that, in or about 1800, Sir Horace Mann caused a cricket match to be played on ponies at Harrietsham

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Comments: extreme cricket

the poor bloody ponies. I also believe that Tyke Tossing was a pastime of the 18thC
Posted by Brownie at August 3, 2005 06:31 PM

Oh yes - it would certainly frighten the horses wouldn't it.
A flipper might be ok - but a bouncer or a bean ball...
Maybe it was the likely cost of equine protective gear that meant it was never going to rival the conventional game.
Posted by boynton at August 3, 2005 06:53 PM

Cricket on horseback would present some serious challenges for spin bowlers, wouldn't it?

Still not sure how the batting would work. And the LBW rule might get a little complicated to apply. And would we need new categories of out? For example: out (thrown by horse), out (horse bolted) out (horse fouled wicket).
Posted by Gummo Trotsky at August 3, 2005 07:35 PM

off the subject......Are you also Norabone?
Posted by at August 4, 2005 10:03 AM

Yes and a Run Out might be difficult to call.
Suspect the 3rd umpire would become standard.

I wonder if a batsman/horseman was injured, whether a proxy would run between the wickets? If so you'd want a thorougbred as a runner(12th horse) I imagine.

No - I am not Norabone. I find one web pseudonym is enough.
Posted by boynton at August 4, 2005 11:51 AM

As compared to the great Australian tradition of playing one handed, with a beer can in the hand.
Posted by Scott Wickstein at August 4, 2005 08:42 PM

well - we have to be fair to England, don't we.
How else are they going to feel at all competitive?
Posted by boynton at August 4, 2005 08:51 PM

have you tried running "Cricket on Horseback" through thesaurusizer? To comment cross-post, if I may.

"The vigorous to be performed on horseback", it says, among other things. Now that I'd pay to see...
Posted by dave at August 5, 2005 06:21 AM

A passing unattended achievement of fives legacy be played in Linsted Music Hall, betwixt the Gentlemen of the plummet and the Gentlemen of the dingle, for one tester a man.
Sir Horace Mann caused a contention cohabitation to be played on ponies at Harrietsham.
Posted by boynton at August 5, 2005 12:47 PM

"Sir Horace Mann caused a contention cohabitation to be played on ponies at Harrietsham."

He did? What a cad!
Posted by Scott Wickstein at August 5, 2005 04:38 PM