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The history of cricket from 1726 to 1740 covers the period during which cricket established itself as a major sport in London and the south east of England. In 1726, it was already a thriving sport in the south east and, though limited by the constraints of travel at the time, it was slowly gaining adherents in other parts of England. Having been essentially a rural pastime for well over a century before the English Restoration in 1660, it had become a focus of wealthy patrons and gamblers whose interests were to fund its growth throughout the 18th century. Their investment poured money into the game and created the earliest county teams, the first professionals and the first major clubs. Media interest in cricket grew as the newspaper industry developed, a lead being taken by two new publications. London's Artillery Ground became the sport's focal point with major contests showcased in front of large crowds. The concept of a championship existed although there was no official competition, matches being arranged largely ''ad hoc''. Cricket mirrored society and, as violence was an accepted part of Georgian society, so violent incidents fuelled by alcohol or gambling were simply seen as part of the game. Despite this, attempts were being made to ensure order both on and off the field of play. The earliest known written rules were deployed in 1727. Ground enclosure began in 1731 and, later in the decade, admission fees were introduced. ==Continuing growth of cricket== Cricket was still a regional sport in England, albeit a very popular one, as the constraints of travel limited its introduction to the rest of the country, although there are mentions of it being played in Gloucestershire in 1729 and Buckinghamshire in 1730. Its focal point in the mid-18th century was the Artillery Ground at Finsbury in London. Around 1730, this succeeded Kennington Common as the preferred home venue of London Cricket Club and became the stage for numerous major events, including lucrative single wicket contests. While London represented the metropolitan side of cricket, there were several famous rural clubs like Dartford, Chertsey and Croydon which could challenge London and provide the main strength in their respective county teams, Kent and Surrey. Middlesex and Sussex could also put strong teams into the field. Well-known venues of the time included the Artillery Ground, Dartford Brent, Kennington Common, Moulsey Hurst and Richmond Green. Cricket thrived on the funds provided by patronage, gambling and large, enthusiastic crowds. As its popularity grew, it began to spread outwards from its south-eastern heartland.〔Waghorn, ''Dawn of Cricket'', p. 27.〕 The game had already reached the Americas and India as confirmed by references to the game being played overseas by English sailors and colonists in the first quarter of the 18th century.〔Haygarth, p. vi.〕〔Bowen, p. 50.〕〔Simon Worrall, (''Cricket, Anyone?'' ), Smithsonian Institution Magazine, October 2006. Retrieved on 30 March 2007.〕〔William Byrd, ''The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover'', Dietz Publishing, 1941, pp. 144–146.〕 The most prominent patrons in the 1720s were Edwin Stead (Kent), the 2nd Duke of Richmond, Sir William Gage (both Sussex) and Alan Brodrick (Surrey). Some matches in the 1720s were arranged at places like Peper Harow and Penshurst Park which have long been horse racing locations; today, they both house point-to-point racecourses. There were strong gambling connections between cricket, racing and prizefighting throughout the 18th century with matches being staged at venues like Moulsey Hurst or the Forest New Ground at Nottingham; and the fact that MCC and the Jockey Club were both founded by the "Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Club" which used to meet socially at the ''Star & Garter'' on Pall Mall in London. Gage and Richmond continued to support cricket through the 1730s when additional patrons were the Prince of Wales and Lord John Sackville. Among the few players whose names have been recorded were Thomas Waymark, Tim Coleman and John Bowra. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of cricket (1726–40)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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