John Crawte (1763 – 7 October 1836) was an English cricketer who played as a left-handed batsman[1] during the period between 1788 and 1807.

John Crawte
Personal information
Born1763
Frensham, Surrey
Died7 October 1836 (aged 72–73)
Boxley, Kent
BattingLeft-handed
RoleBatsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1788–1803England XI
1788–1798Surrey
1789–1792Kent
FC debut24 July 1788 England XI v Hampshire
Last FC11 July 1803 England XI v Surrey
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 57
Runs scored 879
Batting average 9.15
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 62
Catches/stumpings 12/–
Source: CricInfo, 17 January 2023

Crawte was born in Surrey and christened at Frensham in December 1763.[2] He is known to have lived in the Alresford area of Hampshire and played for Alresford Cricket Club before he was persuaded to move to Kent by Stephen Amherst, a major patron of Kent matches, towards the end of the 18th century.[3][4]

Crawte was considered a fine batsman who played David Harris, the best bowler of the era, better than any other player.[3] He played in a total of 57 matches which are now considered to have first-class status between 1788 and 1803.[2][5] He played 15 times in first-class matches for England sides,[a] 14 for Surrey sides and 13 times for Kent teams as well as for combined teams and those organised by Kent patrons, including Richard Leigh and the Earl of Winchilsea. He continued to play non-first-class cricket for Kent sides, including for Rochester, into the early 1800s.[2]

Crawte died in October 1836 at Boxley in Kent.[2][5]

Notes edit

  1. ^ During the time Crawte played, England sides were not representative of the country. Instead, they were sides composed of players from a range of locations brought together to play against another side.[6] Crawte made his first-class debut for an England XI in 1788 which included players from Middlesex, Kent and Surrey.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Pycroft, p. 155.
  2. ^ a b c d John Crawte, CricketArchive. Retrieved 2023-01-17. (subscription required)
  3. ^ a b Arlott LTJ (1978) Alresford's Famous Cricketers, Alresford Historical and Literary Society. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
  4. ^ Pycroft, p. 136.
  5. ^ a b John Crawte, CricInfo. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  6. ^ Birley, p. 364.
  7. ^ Hampshire XI v England, Sevenoaks, July 24 - 25, 1788, scorecard, CricInfo. Retrieved 2023-01-17.

Bibliography edit

  • Birley D (1999) A Social History of English Cricket. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978 1 78131 1769
  • Pycroft J The Hambledon Club and the Old Players, in Lucas EV ed (1907) The Hambledon Men, p. 136, p. 142. London: Henry Frowde. (Available online at Wikisource. Retrieved 2022-03-20.)

External links edit