I wondered if anyone knew the hours of play in first class cricket over the last 150-200 years? Today it's pretty regulated. In England, we are generally 11.00 - 6.00 (6.30). But around the world matches can start as early as 9.30 or if pink ball cricket, as late as 2.00pm. Going back a few years India and Pakistan tended towards 5.5 hours per day, and before that Australia often went for a 5 hour day. More interesting (for me anyway), are the hours of cricket in the 19th century. Pre-1900 as far as I can tell, play on the first day sort of started around 12.30 on the first day, finishing at 6.30. There was no tea break. Then 11.30 - 6.30 on the 2nd, and 11.30 - 5.00ish on the 3rd day. However, I suspect it was much less regular than even this. While train travel had transformed travel between matches, you still had to take a coach and horses for the final part of a journey. Reading my older pre-1890 Wisdens, matches started when the tent was up, boundary ring set out, and teams ready. A bit like village cricket today.
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Hours of play over the last 200 years?
- Thread starter Cricnerd
- Start date