Introduction
The first recorded game of cricket between two all-women teams took place back in 1745, but we must fast-forward to 1811 for the first county match, pitting Surrey against Hampshire on neutral ground in Middlesex. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the players and a fashionably boisterous crowd, even ‘rain stopped play’ could not dampen the occasion and a good time was had by all.
THIS extraordinary performance, between the Hampshire and Surrey heroines, commenced on Wednesday, the 2d instant,* in a field belonging to Mr Strong, at the back of Newington-green, near Ball’s Pond, Middlesex. The wickets were pitched at eleven o’clock. It was made by two Noblemen, for five hundred guineas.* This grand match was to have taken place at Clapham a few weeks back, but, owing to some unforeseen misunderstanding, it was put off till the time mentioned.
The ground, which is spacious, was enlivened with marquees and booths, well supplied with gin, beer, and gingerbread. The performers in this contest were of all ages and sizes, from fourteen to sixty; the young had shawls, and the old, long cloaks. The Hampshire were distinguished by the colour of true blue, which was pinned in their bonnets in the shape of the Prince’s plume. The Surrey was equally as smart: their colours were blue, surmounted with orange. They consisted of eleven on each side.*
* Here, instant means ‘of this month’. Thomas Rowlandson’s eyewitness sketch (see above) was dated October 3rd, which was day two. Friday and the weekend were rest days, and the game concluded on the Monday.
* A guinea was a pound and a shilling, or twenty-one shillings. Professional gentlemen such as physicians and lawyers often charged their fees in guineas, as did gentlemen of the turf at sporting events. Five hundred guineas was equivalent to £525, or a little under £40,000 in today’s money.
* There followed here a list of the players’ names. They were: Surrey: Ann Baker, Ann Taylor, Mary Barfutt, Hannah Higgs, Elizabeth Gale, Hannah Collas, Hannah Bartlett, Maria Cooke, Charlotte Cooke, Elizabeth Stick, and Mary Fry. Hampshire: Sarah Luff, Charlotte Pulbain, Hannah Parker, Elizabeth Smith, Martha Smith, Mary Woodson, Nancy Porter, Ann Poulters, Mary Nevile, Mary Hislock, and Mary Jongan. At sixty years of age, Surrey’s Ann Baker was the most senior player on the field, and also “the best runner and bowler on that side”. The youngest that day was fourteen.
* See the sign for The Plume of Feathers pub at Princetown, Devon, at Wikimedia Commons.
Précis
On the morning of October 2nd, 1811, the first ball was bowled in the earliest-recorded county cricket match contested by two teams of women. A large crowd gathered in north London to drink beer, munch gingerbread, and watch the ladies of Hampshire and Surrey, aged between fourteen and sixty, battle it out in their bright team colours. (57 / 60 words)
On the morning of October 2nd, 1811, the first ball was bowled in the earliest-recorded county cricket match contested by two teams of women. A large crowd gathered in north London to drink beer, munch gingerbread, and watch the ladies of Hampshire and Surrey, aged between fourteen and sixty, battle it out in their bright team colours.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, just, must, ought, since, whereas, whether.
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