Greatest Cricket Moments

First Post-War Sussex v Kent Fixture — Brighton, July 1819

1819-07-26Sussex vs KentSussex v Kent, the Steine, Brighton, 26-27 July 18191 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 26-27 July 1819 Sussex played Kent on the Steine at Brighton — the first formal Sussex v Kent fixture since the Napoleonic Wars and the start of one of the longest-running rivalries in English county cricket. Sussex won by seven wickets, helped by 67 from George Brown and a 44 from John Hammond. The fixture was repeated annually thereafter and is the foundation entry of the modern Sussex-Kent series.

Background

Sussex had emerged as a major county since 1801. Kent had been a major county since the eighteenth century. The two had played occasional matches but had not had a regular fixture for over a decade.

What Happened

Sussex and Kent had played informal fixtures during the Napoleonic War years but no representative fixture had been arranged since 1808. The post-war revival of major cricket made the rivalry's renewal possible. The July 1819 match was raised at Brighton — by then the dominant Sussex venue — for stakes of 100 guineas. Sussex fielded Brown, Hammond and a strong supporting cast; Kent included the young John Bligh and the veteran professionals Tom Ray and Edward Knatchbull. Sussex won comfortably.

Timeline

1801

Sussex's first major match (v Hampshire)

1808-09

Wartime gap in Sussex-Kent fixtures

26-27 Jul 1819

First post-war Sussex v Kent at Brighton

1839

Sussex CCC founded

1842

Kent CCC founded

Aftermath

The Sussex v Kent fixture became annual. It survived the formation of both county clubs (Sussex 1839, Kent 1842) and continues to the present day.

⚖️ The Verdict

The renewal of the Sussex-Kent rivalry — and one of the seedbeds of modern county cricket.

Legacy & Impact

The 1819 match is the foundation entry of the modern Sussex v Kent rivalry — one of the oldest continuously-running fixtures in English cricket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the modern Sussex v Kent fixture continuous from 1819?▾
With interruptions in the mid-nineteenth century, broadly yes. Both counties identify the fixture as one of the oldest in English cricket.

Tags

#regency-cricket#underarm#sussex#kent#brighton#1819#iconic-moment

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