Cricket – Extremely Rare and Early 18th Century Cricket Bat – a fascinating cricket bat, shaped like an enlarged hockey stick and bears matching characteristics to one of the earliest known examples displayed at The Oval pavilion (see ‘The Wisden Book of Cricket Memorabilia’, 1990, p229 “J.C. 1729”). This particular example is a left-handed bat, length is 38” (96.5cm), weight 3lbs (1.36kg) and at its widest point is 4” (10cm) wide. It has evidence of use to hammer in stumps, there are screws to the bottom of the shaft where likely a plaque was once attached, the top of the handle has pins and a slit to suggest evidence of a cord binding at some stage, there is a large crack throughout the head of the bat with a chip to the top. It is possible this was caused as a result of dealing with the grub bowling style that was used during that period (see M.C.C. Collection Print ‘The Game of Cricket as played in the Artillery Ground, London, 1743’ by Francis Hayman R. A). This style of bat became obsolete when a third stump was introduced in 1780. This example was originally obtained via the Taylor family who are connected to the Clapshaw Business. Purportedly rescued from Breaston CC Derbyshire (1836), once on display in the pavilion in the Soldier and Sailor Sports Ground.