On this day in history : 26th July 1745 – The first ever recorded ladies’ cricket match takes place, near to Guildford, Surrey – between the villages of Hambledon and Bramley….
The Reading Mercury reported a few days later….
“The greatest cricket match that was played in this part of England was on Friday 26th of last month, on Gosden Common, near Guildford, between eleven maids of Bramley and eleven maids of Hambledon, all dressed in white. The Bramley maids had blue ribbons and the Hambledon maids red ribbons on their heads. The Bramley girls got 119 notches and the Hambledon girls 127. There was of both sexes the greatest number that was ever seen on such an occasion. The girls bowled, batted, ran and catches as well as most men could do in that game”….
The first known women’s cricket club was formed in Yorkshire in 1887 – and was called ‘The White Heather Club’…. Three years later a team known as the ‘Original English Lady Cricketers’ was formed…. This first-ever recorded paid women’s cricket team toured England between 1890 and 1892 – and apparently made quite a tidy sum…. However, their manager absconded with the money….
Cottage Capers 