Recently I wrote about the rather unusual spectacle of Clown Cricket in Lincolnshire back in the mid-19th century. It might surprise you to know that there are instances of cricket being played in far stranger circumstances than this. Here’s three examples…

1. Broomstick Cricket

In 1874 the Lincoln Cricket Club held a game between the first eleven and second eleven in which, while the seconds could use normal cricket bats, the first eleven played out their innings using broomsticks. The idea, presumably, was to “even the playing field” and make it a fairer contest. A contemporary newspaper report suggests that the match “caused considerable amusement among the spectators”…although presumably the Lincoln second eleven weren’t so amused, as they made only 40 runs in reply to the “Broomsticks’” 135!

2. One-Armed v One-Legged Men

In 1863 the Stamford Mercury reported that: “A two days’ match was played last week in Kennington Oval between eleven one-armed and eleven one-legged men. The play was witnessed by some 3,000 persons, and after a number of ups and downs, which afforded a vast amount of amusement to the spectators, the game terminated in favour of the one-legged eleven.”

3. Cricket On The Ice

In his memoirs of sport in Grimsby, Bob Lincoln recalled one match which took place during the severe winter of 1878-9 – hardly cricket weather or cricket season, but they didn’t let that stop them!

“During the severe winter 1878-9 skating was naturally the order of the day, and it suddenly occurred to me that a novelty in the shape of a cricket match on skates would be an attraction, and with this idea in view arrangements were made for one to be played on the pond in the West Marsh, which is now a portion of the Alexandra Dock, for the benefit of the Grimsby and District Hospital.”

Sadly the weather didn’t last quite as long as Bob and his friends were evidently expecting:

“Unfortunately on the eve of the match a decided thaw set in, with the result that not only was the attendance materially affected, but there was also about one inch of water on the ice. This doubtless caused any amount of fun, but was decidedly unpleasant for those unfortunates who were the unwilling cause of it.”

Nonetheless the match did make a decided profit for the Grimsby club, as 3000 spectators turned up to watch (and were presumably amused by what they saw!)

Has your club ever played a match under unusual circumstances? Get in touch and let us know!