Mitcham Cricket Green
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Mitcham Cricket Green is a cricket ground in Mitcham in London, historically in Surrey, at grid reference TQ275685. It is the home of Mitcham Cricket Club and is reportedly the oldest cricket ground still in use, having been used for cricket since 1685.[1]
In the 19th century the Australian cricket team would stay at the Cricketers pub which overlooks the green and practise on the green whilst on tour. The pub also held the changing rooms for the club during the late 18th century, with the scorer having a position on the balcony of the inn. The present pavilion was built in 1904 and is unique in being the only cricket pavilion to be separated from the ground by a road, the A239. [2]The most notable match of recent times was the Golden Jubilee Challenge Match, a match held between Mitcham and Hambledon Club, the two oldest clubs in the country, in honour of the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Ian Botham made a guest appearance with the Queen's Jubilee Baton. The match was a two innings affair.[3]
The Cricket Green also lends its name to the nearby area, and is a Conservation area and council ward.[4]
| English cricket venues in the 18th century |
|
Artillery Ground | Bishopsbourne Paddock | Broadhalfpenny Down | Bromley Common | Dartford Brent | Duppas Hill |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Shaw, Phil. "Cricket: After 400 years, history is made next to the A323", The Independent, July 13, 2003, pp. 12. “Mitcham Green has been in continual use as a cricket venue for 317 years”
- ^ Mitcham Cricket Ground. Heritage Sites. London Borough of Merton (18 October 2006). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
- ^ Shaw, Phil. "Cricket: After 400 years, history is made next to the A323", The Independent, July 13, 2003, pp. 12.
- ^ Councillors. London Borough of Merton Website. London Borough of Merton (29 January 2007). Retrieved on February 6, 2007.
