Greatest Cricket Moments

Earliest Documented Cricket at Cardiff — Wales, 1834

1834-08-12Cardiff vs CowbridgeCardiff v Cowbridge, Cardiff Castle Field, 12-13 August 18341 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 12-13 August 1834 a Cardiff side played Cowbridge on the field below Cardiff Castle — the earliest documented cricket match in south Wales and the foundation entry of Welsh cricket history. The fixture was reported in the Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian and is the first preserved Welsh major-style scoresheet.

What Happened

Cricket had been played informally in south Wales since the early nineteenth century, principally by the English-influenced merchant class of the coastal towns. The August 1834 Cardiff v Cowbridge fixture is the earliest with a full scoresheet. Cardiff won by 27 runs in a two-day match. The Castle Field, on land owned by the Marquess of Bute, served as Cardiff's principal cricket ground until the 1860s.

Timeline

12-13 Aug 1834

First documented cricket in south Wales

1888

Glamorgan CCC founded

1921

Glamorgan first-class status

⚖️ The Verdict

The foundation entry of Welsh cricket history.

Tags

#roundarm-era#early-victorian#cardiff#wales#welsh-cricket#1834#iconic-moment

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