1881 English cricket season

1881 was the 95th season of cricket in England since the foundation of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). There was a first outright title win by Lancashire and a strike by the Nottinghamshire professionals, led by their main bowler Alfred Shaw, over benefits and terms.[1]

1881 English cricket season

Champion County

[a]

Playing record (by county)

CountyPlayedWonLostDrawn
Derbyshire8251
Gloucestershire10424
Hampshire2020
Kent10370
Lancashire13[b]1003
Middlesex9[b]333
Nottinghamshire12444
Surrey14491
Sussex12381
Yorkshire161033

[2]

Leading batsmen (qualification 20 innings)

1881 English season leading batsmen[3]
Name Team Matches Innings Not outs Runs Highest score Average 100s 50s
A. N. HornbyLancashire
MCC
25380153418840.3637
W. G. GraceGloucestershire1322179218237.7124
Charles LeslieOxford University
Middlesex
13232741111 not out35.2825
George UlyettYorkshire24402124311232.7119
Walter ReadSurrey1630193116032.1016

Leading bowlers (qualification 1,000 balls)

1881 English season leading bowlers[4]
Name Team Balls bowled Runs conceded Wickets taken Average Best bowling 5 wickets
in innings
10 wickets
in match
Allen HillYorkshire13454374310.166/1820
George NashLancashire18265575210.717/2241
Alec WatsonLancashire35048166911.827/3752
Dick BarlowLancashire29889407911.898/2952
Tom EmmettYorkshire24389197612.098/2261

Nottinghamshire strike

Nottinghamshire’s professionals, led by Alfred Shaw, held a strike over playing contracts agreed by the MCC and secretary Captain Henry Holden. The players demanded security of contract for all games during the season and the right to organise their own terms[5] rather than those set by the MCC, which during the 1870s as county cricket grew established a strong grip on terms for professional players.[5]

The dispute meant that seven of Nottinghamshire’s top players did not play for the first half of the season, and leading batsman Arthur Shrewsbury played only three first-class games all year.[1] Shaw and Shrewsbury used the dispute to organise an eight-month tour of Australia and New Zealand during the winter.[1]

Notable events

  • The scheduled 18 to 20 July county match between Lancashire and Middlesex was cancelled because Harrow Wanderers booked Lord’s ground and no alternative arrangement could be made to play the game.

See also

Notes

a An unofficial seasonal title sometimes proclaimed by consensus of media and historians prior to December 1889 when the official County Championship was constituted. Although there are ante-dated claims prior to 1873, when residence qualifications were introduced, it is only since that ruling that any quasi-official status can be ascribed.
b The match between Middlesex and Lancashire at Lord’s was cancelled because Harrow Wanderers had booked the ground on the same day.

References

  1. When cricketers went on strike
  2. Wynne-Thomas, Peter; The Rigby A-Z of Cricket Records; p. 54 ISBN 072701868X
  3. First Class Batting in England in 1881
  4. First Class Bowling in England in 1881
  5. Kynaston, David; WG’s Birthday Party; p. 28. ISBN 1408810115

Annual reviews

  • John Lillywhite’s Cricketer’s Companion (Green Lilly), Lillywhite, 1882
  • James Lillywhite’s Cricketers’ Annual (Red Lilly), Lillywhite, 1882
  • John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack 1882
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