Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond

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2nd Duke of Richmond's XI

The Duke has been described as early cricket's greatest patron. Although he had played as a boy, his real involvement began after he succeeded to the dukedom. He captained his own team, and his players included some of the earliest known professionals, such as his groom Thomas Waymark. Later, when he patronised Slindon Cricket Club, Richmond was associated with the Newland brothers. His earliest recorded match is the one against Sir William Gage's XI on 20 July 1725, which is mentioned in a surviving letter from Sir William to the Duke.

Records have survived of four matches played by Richmond's team in the 1727 season. Two were against Gage's XI and two against an XI raised by the Surrey patron Alan Brodrick. These last two games are highly significant because Richmond and Brodrick drew up Articles of Agreement beforehand to determine the rules that must apply in their contests. These were itemised in sixteen points. It is believed that this was the first time that rules (or some part of the rules, as in this case) were formally agreed upon, although rules as such definitely existed. The first full codification of the Laws of Cricket was done in 1744. In early times, the rules would be agreed upon orally, and were subject to local variations; this syndrome was also evident in football until the FA was founded, especially regarding the question of handling the ball. Essentially, the Articles of Agreement focused on residential qualifications, and ensuring that there was no dissent by any player other than the two captains.

In 1728, Richmond's Sussex played twice against Edwin Stead's Kent, and lost both matches.A contemporary source stated that: "(Kent's) men have been too expert for those of Sussex". In 1730, Richmond's XI played two matches against Gage's XI, and another match against Surrey, who were backed by a Mr Andrews of Sunbury-on-Thames. Richmond lost to Andrews. The second of his matches against Gage, due to be played at The Dripping Pan, near Lewes, was "put off on account of Waymark, the Duke's man, being ill".

In 1731, Richmond was involved in one of the most controversial matches recorded in the early history of cricket. On 16 August, Sussex played Middlesex, who were backed by Thomas Chambers, at an unspecified venue in Chichester. Middlesex won this match, which had a prize of 100 guineas, and a return was arranged to take place at Richmond Green on 23 August. The return match was played for 200 guineas, and it is notable as the earliest match of which the team scores are known: Richmond's XI 79, Chambers' XI 119; Richmond's XI 72, Chambers' XI 23–5 (approx.). The game ended promptly at a pre-agreed time although Chambers' XI with "four or five more to have come in" and needing "about 8 to 10 notches" clearly had the upper hand. The result caused a fracas among the crowd on Richmond Green. They were incensed by the prompt finish because the Duke of Richmond had arrived late, and had delayed the start of the game. The riot resulted in some of the Sussex players "having the shirts torn off their backs", and it was said "a law suit would commence about the play". In a note about another match involving Chambers' XI in September, G. B. Buckley recorded that Richmond may have conceded the result to Chambers, presumably to stop the threat of litigation.

Richmond is not mentioned in cricket sources again for ten years. He may have stepped aside after the 1731 fracas, but it is more likely that he terminated the Duke of Richmond's XI after he broke his leg in 1733, and could no longer play himself. Instead, he channelled his enthusiasm for cricket through a team from the small village of Slindon, which bordered on his Goodwood estate.

Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond

Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond

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About Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond

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Related journals

Live room · 1 here

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Early life

Cricket career

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Single wicket

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