Greatest Cricket Moments

William Lambert's 107* at the New Lord's — Surrey v England, August 1814

1814-08-15Surrey vs EnglandSurrey v England, Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, 15-16 August 18141 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

On 15-16 August 1814 William Lambert scored 107 not out for Surrey against England at the new Lord's ground in St John's Wood — the first century by a professional batter at the new ground and one of the great innings of Lambert's career. The match was Surrey's first major fixture at the new Lord's and the innings was widely reported as confirmation of Lambert's status as the leading all-round cricketer in England.

Background

Lambert had been the leading professional batter since the late 1800s. The August 1814 match was his first major fixture at the new ground.

What Happened

Lambert was thirty-five and had been at the top of the game for a decade. The August 1814 match was Surrey's first at the new Lord's, which had opened in June. Lambert came in at no. 4 with Surrey 38 for 2 and stayed at the wicket through the rest of the day and into the second morning, scoring 107 not out from a Surrey total of 234. The bowling — including Lord Frederick Beauclerk's lobs and Tom Howard's pace — was the strongest available. Lambert was unbeaten at the close, and Surrey won the match by an innings.

Timeline

22 Jun 1814

New Lord's ground opens

15-16 Aug 1814

Lambert's 107* — first professional century at new Lord's

1817

Lambert's two-centuries match against Epsom

1818

Lambert banned after match-fixing accusations

Aftermath

Lambert continued to dominate Regency cricket for three more seasons. His 1817 Sussex v Epsom fixture — the two-centuries match — was his peak; his 1818 banning ended his career.

⚖️ The Verdict

Lambert's first century at the new Lord's and one of the defining innings of the early St John's Wood era.

Legacy & Impact

The 1814 century is one of the foundation innings at the new Lord's. It is recorded in Bentley and reproduced in every nineteenth-century history of the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was 107 the highest score on the new ground at the time?▾
It was the highest by a professional. Lord Frederick Beauclerk had passed it earlier in the same season with an amateur century, also at the new ground.

Tags

#regency-cricket#underarm#william-lambert#century#surrey#lords#1814#iconic-moment

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