Flashback: The first centurion in First-Class cricket
Hitting a century is a proud feeling for any batter. But have you ever wondered when cricket’s first-ever century was hit? Former England cricketer John Small was the one who reached to the milestone for the first time ever in first-class cricket.
Small entered the record books when while playing for Hampshire XI against Surrey XI in the English domestic season in Hambledon in 1775, he breached the three-figure mark in the sport for the first time.
Hampshire XI batted first and Small, who opened the innings, scored 38 in the first innings. He slammed exactly 100 runs more in the second innings to take his match tally to 138. He played a total of 111 first-class matches and mustered 3348 runs at an average of 16.74, which included one century and ten half-centuries and the highest score of 138. He remained not out nine times in 209 FC innings.
Born on April 19, 1737, in Empshott in Hampshire, Small his debut in FC cricket for Hampshire XI against England in June 1772. In his debut game, the right-handed batter had struck 78 out of the total team total of 146 in the first innings and 34 off 79 in the second innings as his side won the clash by 53 runs. His last game came against Marylebone Cricket Club at Old Lord’s in August 1798 in which he managed to score only two and a duck.
Nicknamed ‘Old Small’, Small was regarded as one of the greatest batters of the 18th century who also dominated cricket for two decades from the 1760s. He was associated with the famous Hambledon Club. Small passed away on December 31, 1826, aged 89y 256d in Petersfield, Hampshire, England.
