Firle: One Of World's Oldest Cricket Fixtures Takes Newest Format

One of the oldest fixtures in sporting history — the cricket match between the Gentlemen of Lewes and the Gentlemen of Firle — is to be played in the game’s newest format, the "100", this Wednesday 22 July.

The players of Firle Cricket Club in East Sussex said that the poster in the Firle clubhouse, also copied in village's pub, The Ram, shows that this particular contest has been on the sporting calendar since at least 1851.

According to the history books, the game was played on Thursday 4 September that year, with the poster proudly boasting: “A DINNER will be provided by Mr Mockett, of the Ram Inn, at Two o’clock”.

Historical references to the team known as the "Gentlemen of Lewes" date back to 1753.

In those days, the club believes the "Gentlemen" played their home fixtures on the Dripping Pan, Lewes, now the home of Lewes Football Club.

With recreational cricket now permitted again in the wake of coronavirus, players said a time traveller from 1851 would notice some major differences between the first recorded game and this week’s fixture.

Alas, no dinner will be served in the pub — all players are required to bring their own refreshments.

In its instructions, the club at Firle intends that social distance on the pitch will be observed — second, fourth, and six slips only, and no silly mid anything.

Wicket takers and team mates will observe Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty’s advice not to hug but just bump elbows.

And hand sanitizer breaks every few overs — for all fielders’ hands and the ball — are now a routine part of the post-COVID game.

But, according to Firle Cricket Club, most different of all on Wednesday will be the format.

With coronavirus delaying the start of the England & Wales Cricket Board’s new 100 competition, the Gentlemen of Firle and Lewes have decided to swap out the old-fashioned Twenty-20 format and try the "100".

It involves ten, ten-ball overs, allowed to be bowled by multiple bowlers, with five from one end, five from the other.

Steve Hall, skipper of the Gentlemen of Lewes, said:

“After a crazy year, it’s great to back doing what we do best — and in some cases worst: playing cricket.

Even before the pandemic, we’d decided to give the modern ‘100’ twist to this most ancient of fixtures – a game with its origins five years before New Zealand was established as an independent country.

It’s sure to be chaotic, though it’s fair to say that some of our more errant bowlers have been known to bowl ten-ball overs in the usual format.

We love playing Firle, and we can’t wait to see how it goes this week.”

Shaun Treloar, the Firle captain, added:

“The club are delighted and excited to be hosting our inaugural 100 match against one of our oldest opponents.

"We are all excited by the change in format and are hopeful our bowlers have the stamina for 10 ball overs, the batsmen just hope they can stay in that long for a change.

"With the weather set fair, another barmy (Ed: you meant 'balmy'?) night of cricket as the sun sets in Firle is eagerly awaited.”

The fixture is to be played from 5.30pm behind the Ram Inn at Firle this Wednesday 22 July.