Sporting and Athletic Records

GENTLEMEN Y. PLAYERS 57 L Player Runs Wickets 78 Average 21-57 24-37 26-94 27-09 G. E. Palmer H. Trumble i68 3 707 970 2791 29 T. W. Garrett G. Giflfen 36 103 VI.—GENTLEMEN v. PLAYERS The first of these matches was played in 1806, and altogether 133 games have been played, though not always under the title of GEN­ TLEMEN v. PLAYERS . Many of the earlier games were played under unequal conditions, the GENTLEMEN receiving 1 odds' in one form or another. Thus in 1806 they were given two leadingprofessionals of the day to help them; in 1824 there were 14 GENTLEMEN to the PLAYERS' 11; in 1827—17 GENTLEMEN ; in 1831 —11 GENTLEMEN to 9 PLAYERS ; in 1832 the GENTLEMEN'S wickets were smaller than the PLAYERS '; in 1836 there were 18 GENTLEMEN , and so forth. These absurdities culminated in 1837 when in the famous "Barn-door Match " or "Ward's Folly" the PLAYERS were made to defend wickets of four stumps 36in. high andI2in. wide, while the GENTLEMEN played in front of ordinary wickets; even so the PLAYERS won in a single innings! In 1838 was played the last match at odds (except two holidaymatches at Brighton and Canterbury in 1845 and 1846—both drawn) so that from 1839 onwards the encounters have been serious: at the same time it must be borne in mind that in the early days of the fixture the PLAYERS generally beat the GENTLEMEN , 'odds' and all. Present Score (all Matches) Players 60, Gentlemen 51, Drawn ai, Tie 1, Total 133.